Where would you rather be right now? It’s 6 AM, I’d rather stay in my nice warm bed. If the bed were in Hawaii, I wouldn’t complain

Are you an only child? No, but my brothers are significantly older than I, so all the research says I might as well be.

If you could make one thing disappear for good, what would it be? World poverty or my belly

What do you think about Obama’s stimulus package? Undecided. I’m taking a wait and see stance.

Are you a viking? More of a Chieftan

So, do you have a Gaiaonline account? No, but don’t ask me about other places

Are you spoiled? I don’t think so

What is your favorite vegetable? Currently green beans

Do you tend to give second chances? And thirds, after that I give up.

Ever dyed your hair black? No, red highlights are as daring as I get with hair

Are you a heavy sleeper? I wish

Do you sleep with the T.V. on? Not usually, the TV has a timer. It goes off by itself unless I forget to set it.

Would you burn the American flag for one million dollars? Now there’s a heavy question. Could I burn a really old tattered one and use some of the money to replace it and 1000 of it’s friends? I’m a patriot, I’d have a hard time with this one.

When was the longest period of time you have stayed awake? There were a few 40+ hour times during production time in High School theater

Do you cuss a lot? Too much

What is/was your favorite school subject? Geometry. Yes, I am sick. I love the logic. I was heavily into music in High School too.  Mr Martin’s Orchestration & Composition class was awesome.

What kind of posters do you have in your room? A romantic scene, a bridge over a river, surrounded by shade trees with just little bits of moonlight shining through

Are you generally a happy person?  I try to be. I show my frustration too much though.

If you could choose one person to have dinner with, who would it be & why? There are so many people that interest me. I’d probably pick a storyteller like the guy that wrote “a walk in the woods”

Do you own a cam-er-a? Nikon D40

What was the last movie you have seen in theaters? Probably a Harry Potter or LOTR movie. It’s been a while.

How was your last birthday? Nice. Lunch with Rae, dinner with Roomie. Shot a few pics at the lake. It was a good day.

Can you surf? I’m a champion web surfer, the kind on water? Not so much.

What happened at 7 AM this morning? Hasn’t happened yet. I’ll be getting ready for work.

Is there anyone close to you in jail at the moment? No

Where will you be next Saturday night? Probably at home. I don’t go out much.

Are you currently wearing socks? no

How often do you do your homework? When it needs to be done.

Do you play any sports? Does tonsil hockey count?

What do you miss most about being a kid? My parents

Have you ever spread a rumor about someone? Anyone that hasn’t is probably lying. Ever is a long time. I haven’t done any of that lately.

Do your friends tell you that you resemble someone famous? Yeah, but the resemblance is weak

Have you ever met a famous person? Bozo, Ringmaster Ned, and a few motivational speakers/sports figures through work

Are you interested in photography? Yes

Do you know how to drive a stick shift? Yes

Do you own any small pets? 3 cats

Have a family member that owns a SNUGGIE? Lord I hope not.

You know what a SNUGGIE is, right? Duh!

Ever seen an anime (Japanese cartoon) before? My ex liked them

If you could tell someone something right now, what would it be…? I’m right here, come get me.

2. What is the furthest distance you have traveled by each method listed above?

My last good road trip was Chicago to Morgantown WV, to Leesburg VA to Scranton PA, then on to Ithaca and Rochester NY then back to Chicago.   The last time I flew was to Hawaii. It was worth the headache.

3. When flying, do you prefer to fly during the daytime or during the night?

Toss up,  I like watching the scenery during the day, but  I think it’s interesting seeing things lit up at night too.  We flew back from Hawaii at night. It’s really dark over the ocean.

4. Take the quiz: What’s Your Travel Personality?

Your Travel Personality Is: The Bonder

For you, travel is less about where you’re going – but who you’re going with. It’s no fun to experience an amazing city or a beautiful beach without your friends. In fact, it doesn’t really matter where you go… because you and your friends always figure out how to have fun!

5. If you had the chance to take a one-year vacation and spend that time traveling anywhere in the country you wanted by motor home, would you do it, and if so, where would you most likely wind up?

Absolutely, as long as everything at home was taken care of. It’s hard to say where I’d wind up, somewhere in the mountains probably. I really want to explore the Ozarks and the Rockies. That would keep me busy for a while.

6. Do you have any superstitions or rituals you rely on before or during a big trip?
Nope, no travel rituals. Just get ready and go.

I’ve got a lot to write about, but it needs to swim around my head for a couple more days. Here’s a meme in the mean time. Sorry about the formatting, I tried to figure it out, but the HTML isn’t showing the bullet points so I can’t delete them.

Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The list is short because I stopped watching the news. It all made me appalled and depressed
Where did most of your money go?
Food and shelter. Bills, bills, bills.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?

• My best friend moving back here
• Realizing that I have way too much stuff and letting go of it enough to see a difference in my house. This will continue.
• Dinner with my friend Rusty in Feb, and my cousin Don in November.

What song/album will always remind you of 2008?
Mandolin Song – Ezio
Compared to this time last year, are you:
1. happier or sadder? I wouldn’t say either. I’m more content and accepting of where I am, and understanding that I have a few things to process before true happiness will happen.
2. thinner or fatter? I’ve been playing with the same 30 pounds for 2 years. That will stop soon.
3. richer or poorer? Emotionally richer, financially poorer.
What do you wish you’d done more of?
Traveling. Sleeping. Reading. Writing.
What do you wish you’d done less of?
I spent a lot of time healing, and that was important, but at the time I really wished that I had the energy to be more productive. I laid around a lot for 8 or 9 months. It was unbelievable how much energy I didn’t have. I’m finally feeling like I’m myself again.
How will you be spending Christmas?
That has already been well documented here.
Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
People at work. I’m on the phone all day at work. I rarely pick it up at home.
Did you fall in love in 2008?
I met someone that I could easily love if the circumstances were right, which they aren’t. I’m still working on falling in love with myself again. There’s a lot of truth to the axiom that you can’t give something away that you don’t have to give.
How many one night stands in this last year?
If you define one night stands as sleeping with a stranger, I’ve never done that. Friendship and trust is important to me.
What was your favourite TV programme?
House, Idol, and repeats of West Wing on Bravo
Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is a waste of energy. Individuals either have a place in my life or they don’t. I don’t spend energy on the people that don’t.
What was the best book(s) you read?
I didn’t read much. Turns out I need reading glasses now. I got some new glasses with progressive lenses, but I hate them, so I’ll pick up a pair of reading glasses and get back to reading actual books soon.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
Ezio’s newest CD at a downloadable, legal, MP3 site.
What did you want and get?
Other than the new tech toys in #11, I got new carpeting in 2 rooms, and the furniture to finish my office remodel.
What did you want and not get?
A back deck, new flooring in the main part of my house, and a remodeled bathroom.
What were your favourite films of this year?
Wall-E
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 42 and I had lunch with my cousin’s wife, and then Roomie and I had my favorite pizza for supper.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
see #6
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Slightly cuter work clothes, but still basically a t-shirt and jeans kind of wardrobe.
What kept you sane?
Friends, writing, and kitties purring.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Fancy in the romantic sense? I am much more attracted to intelligence and humor than I am to “pretty boys” that take themselves too seriously. I think Hugh Laurie is adorable, and his portrayal of House is very good.
What political issue stirred you the most?
Prop. 8 pissed me off. When are people going to realize that they can’t legislate what people do in their bedrooms? It feels like a witch hunt to me.
Who did you miss?
My Dad. Especially around this time of year.
Who was the best new person you met?
I met, in person, a friend that I’ve been talking to on-line for a number of years. He and I lost touch for a bit but he popped back into my life when I needed a friend, and meeting him in person just deepened the friendship.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
1. I am loved unconditionally.
2. Possessions really don’t matter when it comes down to life and death.
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
“Here in your room
Where nobody can see
Voices are loud
But seldom clear
But beneath the confusion
That’s running so deep
There is a promise you must hear
The love that seems so far away
Is standing very near”

8 Things I Am Passionate About

1. Living – that became kind of important when I was diagnosed with cancer.

2. Learning something every day

3. My pets specifically, and animals in general.

4. Sleep has become a passion. Insomnia isn’t fun, at all.

5. Helping people. It starts at home. Be nice, love each other, and go into the world and be secure enough to spread the love.

6. My friends and family. I’m very blessed.

7. Uncluttering my life. Losing the negativity, whether it’s people, or just clearing out the vast amount of things I have, I’m learning that the simpler things are the better they are.

8. Photography, music, and occasionally cooking.

8 Things I Want To Do Before I Die

1. Fall in love with a man that loves me back, isn’t married, and conversely – isn’t afraid of attachment. Non-violent, non manipulative, fun loving, music loving, semi-horndog. Oh, and lives on the same continent. I’m getting picky in my old age huh?

2. Travel – Australia, Europe, and Canada.  I’d like to see Asia too, but away from the cities. I like my vacations to be full of nature or interesting historical things. The less people that I have to deal with the better. I’m not good in crowds.

3. Own and ride frequently a Harley.

4. Visit the 25 States that I haven’t visited yet, preferably on the Harley.

5. Finish redecorating my house.

6. Have a dog. Probably a German Shepherd.

7. loose 100 pounds

8. See England by Helicopter (I have a friend that’s a pilot over there, I just have to get there, he’ll fly me around)

8 Things I Say Often (at the moment)

1.  Isn’t that joyful?  (usually when I step in early morning cat yack)

2. Huh?

3. DOWN!  (to the cat on the table)

4. Scoot! (to the cat that’s about to get stepped on)

5. Dude!

6. Cool!

7. Awesome!  (yes, I never left the 80s)

8.  Oh my.

8 Books I Have Read Recently

1. The Last Lecture – Randy Pausch

2. Eat Pray Love – Elizabeth Gilbert

3. Change your thoughts, Change your life – Wayne Dyer

4. Way of the Peaceful Warrior – Dan Millman

5. Keep Going – Joseph Marshall

6. The Lakota Way – Joseph Marshall

7. Healing and the mind – Bill Moyers

8. Still reading “Devil in the White City”  Erik Larson

8 Things That Attract Me To My Best Friends

1. Intelligence

2. humor

3. compassion

4. none of my friends are “plastic”, there’s no posturing, or pop culture trends in any of them. We’re all our own people. Original to the core.

5. most of my friends are incredibly free spirited, and creative.

6. confidence

7. laughter – the ability to just be silly and have fun

8. most of my friends are also incurable flirts, just like me. (I should mention here that all of my friends except my closest  & best friend are guys)

8 Songs I Could Listen To Over And Over

My musical tastes are all over the place. This will just be a sampling.

1.  KD Lang’s version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah

2.  Ave Maria – Placido Domingo and Michael Bolton (stop laughing, it’s good)

3. Almost anything by Ezio

4. I love Willie Nelson’s voice.

5. Angel from Montgomery (this version – Bonnie Raitt and John Prine)

6. This song got me through a lot of hard times in my life.  (Skip to about 2:30, that’s when the song starts)

7.  Mr Tanner by Harry Chapin – reminds me so much of my dad

8. May You Never – John Martyn – An Irish blessing, sung folk style

8 People Who Should Totally Do This Meme

If you do it, let me know. This one’s kind of labor intensive so tag yourself if you’re up to the task.

1. If you had to fill in as a substitute teacher at a local middle school, what subject would you be most comfortable teaching?  Music, or English. Anything but math or science.

2. When you were in school, what was a better indication of your true understanding of what you were learning: class participation, the accuracy of your homework, or your test scores? Test Scores. I didn’t participate unless I had to. I was the quiet one. I learned fast, got bored a lot, and my homework was mostly done at school while everyone else finished learning what I caught on the first pass through it.

3. You meet someone for the first time and have a brief conversation with them. If you run into them the next afternoon, how likely are you to remember their name?  I suck at remembering names. Lately I suck at remembering anything but I think that has more to do with sleep deprivation than any other issue.

4. Take the quiz: Do You Have Gaps in Your Knowledge?

5. If you had “gaps” in your knowledge, did you expect to have them where they were predicted? If you had none, which of the listed subjects would be the ones you’d most expect gaps to be?

Two subjects that I struggled with the most in college were Philosophy and Science (physics)

There Are 0 Gaps in Your Knowledge

Where you have gaps in your knowledge: No Gaps! Where you don’t have gaps in your knowledge: Philosophy Religion Economics Literature History Science Art

6. If you could go back to school for one semester free of charge and “try again” with any subject, which one would you choose and why? I’d try Chemistry. I think I’d understand a lot of the science that I don’t get if I could get a better basic understanding of chemistry.

1. My uncle once: Drove to my house to visit my mom and us kids. I noticed when he was leaving that he had a handicapped tag on his rearview mirror that said “vision impaired driver” and wondered what the rules about that were and just how safe it was for him to be driving. He was a cool uncle though. Always had a smile on his face, just like my dad.

2. Never in my life: would I have gotten in that car with him…

3. When I was five: 1971 was still an innocent time compared to now. All that I had on my mind was who would come over to swim or play today, and when was Electric Company on.

4. High school was: an innocuous oasis from the rest of my life that really sucked. I didn’t care much about grades, but I had enough good friends that were there for me through some hard real life stuff.

5. I will never forget: how much my parents loved each other.

6. Once I met: Ringmaster Ned from Bozo Circus. I met Bozo too when I played the grand prize game. I only made it to bucket #2. I still have the set of Bozo buttons that was in bucket #1.

7. There’s this girl I know: that had everything she needed and lived happily ever after. I’m working on being her.

8. Once, at a bar: um, i had a really great Italian Beef sandwich? I don’t drink, and I don’t generally go to bars unless it’s a goodbye party for someone from work.  We used to stop after church on Sunday at a “Family Pub” and have Italian Beef’s and fries. That was a treat.

9. By noon, I’m usually: past my peak performance for the day. I’m a morning person.

10. Last night: I watched the olympics. There are some really incredible stories behind a lot of the athletes. It’s inspiring.

11. If only I had: the ability to sleep, I’d be back to my old self. I’m weaning off the effexor now. It’s not helping and it’s causing other issues.

12. Next time I go to church: will probably be someone’s wedding or funeral. 

13. What worries me most: finances

14. When I turn my head left I see: Tugger the cat

15. When I turn my head to the right I see: Teazer the cat. What can I say? My boy cats hang with me when I’m home.

16. You know I’m lying when: I’ve pretty much given up lying. I don’t feel the need to hide anything from anyone, so why bother.

17. What I miss most about the Eighties is: Minime was little then. There was a lot of joy when she was little. She was such a happy baby.

18. If I were a character in Shakespeare I’d be: Puck

19. By this time next year: I’ll weigh at least 75 pounds less

20. A better name for me would be: my name suits me. I didn’t always think that, but now I wouldn’t change it.

21. I have a hard time understanding: mean people. There’s no good reason to be that way.

22. If I ever go back to school, I’ll: Get a PhD in psychology and go into practice.

23. You know I like you if: I make lasagna for you

24. If I ever won an award, the first person I would thank would be: the person that handed me the award? That’s just good manners.

25. Take my advice, never: eat yellow snow? marry someone that you don’t have anything to talk to about? Pet a dog you don’t know? Tell someone you love them and not mean it? The advice I give is generally applicable to the situation.

26. My ideal breakfast is: Bacon, a blueberry muffin or pancake, maybe some baked oatmeal or egg strata. Nothing fancy, just good food.

27. A song I love but do not have is: There are a bunch of new CD’s by favorite artists that I haven’t kept up with – Nickel Creek, Big & Rich, and a few others. Yes, I like country music.

28. If you visit my hometown, I suggest you: Check out the museum campus. I could spend days there. Gotta eat at Lou Malnati’s too.

29. Why won’t people: realize that fighting never solved anything. Figuring out how to work together in peace is the real challenge.

30. If you spend a night at my house: You better like cats.

31. I’d stop my wedding for: If I ever get married again, which will take some kind of divine intervention to let me know he’s Mr Right, I doubt I’d stop my wedding for anything short of a death in the family or something like that.

32. The world could do without: politicians. They just complicate things and serve their own needs.

33. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: deal with my ex again.

34. My favourite blonde(s) is/are: My cousin Karl. He’s a good guy. I don’t know too many blondes.

35. Paper clips are more useful than: rubberbands?

36. If I do anything well it’s: things that I don’t talk about here Or reading people. I do that pretty well.

37. I can’t help but: sing along with the radio. It’s in my blood.

38. I usually cry: alone. I’m not good at being emotional in front of people.

39. My advice to my child/nephew/niece: be nice and tell the truth.

40. And by the way: tell someone you love that you love them. It will make both of you feel good.

I’m working on another web project. It’s a secret, but I’m enjoying developing it.

My 2nd quarterly check up found no Cancer, but I’m on antibiotics for another stupid infection. They’re giving me headaches, but no tummy trouble. I can deal with it for the week. I want this infecting banished forever.

My second job looks like it’s not going to work. I’m still hoping for a promotion/raise at work. I should find out about that in the next week or two.

That’s enough for now. Go ahead and munch on this:

Friday’s Feast:

Appetizer

Name something you would categorize as weird. – my big brothers are both kinda strange

Soup

What color was the last piece of food you ate?- chocolate

Salad

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy being alone? 5 I’don’t mind being alone, but I wouldn’t want that all the time

Main Course

Fill in the blank: I will not vote for Hillary in November.

Dessert

Describe your sleeping habits. – my sleep habits are OK. I go to bed around the same time every night, etc. Actual sleeping is still a challenge though. Lunesta helps for about 6 hours a night, the rest is hit or miss.

I’ve been told many times by native Chicagoans (of which I am one) that I have a southern accent even though I’ve lived here my whole life.

I come by it honestly, I used to spend a lot of time with my grandparents in Southern Illinois, which as far as regional accents go is a lot like Kentucky/Missouri combined and not at all like the northern part of the Illinois accent. Even within Chicago itself there are regional accents. I’m a northsider. There’s also the South Side Irish accent, which is the one that all the comedians make fun of on TV, as well as the dialect used by the inner city people which is still changing based on shifting population groups. There’s much more of a Mexican influence on the inner city dialect than there used to be.

I also have friends in the deep south and southeast that I talk to frequently. My accent is worse for a few hours after we have any kind of lengthy conversations. I should mention that I live with a guy that is very well traveled but still has a touch of the same MO/KY accent that my grandparents had. It’s still really easy for me to slip into that region’s speak even though I haven’t been back to Southern IL since my grandmother died in 1984.

Figuring out where you’re from by your accent has always been a game/hobby with me.  I’ve gotten pretty good at it too.  My job allows me to talk to people all over North America, including Canada. I use both accents and linguistics to guess where they are from before they tell me. Different regions call certain things by different names.  Just ask someone what they call a can of soda (pop, soda, or coke  even if it’s not coke), a shopping cart (cart or carriage),  a milkshake (also called a carriage).  Use of the word “fixing” or “fixin’ “  will give away the difference between northerner, and a southerner, and then Texans have a more interesting application of that word. They’re not only fixin’ to go somewhere,  but they also use that word southern style as in Fixin’ Supper or the extreme “fixin’ to go fix supper”.  Breakfast is almost universally “breakfast”  but Lunch can be called “dinner” and dinner (what we call it in Chicago) is also called “Supper”.   There’s a difference in the north too. People from the northwoods in MN, WI, and MI say “eh?” at the end of most sentences, and that usually gets pinned on Canadians. but it’s not just them that do it.  You can tell a non-French Canadian by the way they say the world “about”, and the letter “Z” (”zed”).

My brother moved from Chicago to Maine for about 10 years, and now he lives in NC.  His accent is mostly NC after just a couple of years there, but he’s married for 20+ years to a woman from Maine and she’s definitely had an influence on what he sounds like.  It’s just another reason for me to make fun of him.  One of my best friends was raised in Kansas but lives in Dallas TX now.  We’ve had a lot of interesting conversations. He’s taught me how to speak Texan like a native. Most interesting to me is the use of terms referring to the person (you, y’all) or group (all of you,  y’all (southern or western), or: all y’all (only in Texas).

There are many regional clues if you just know what to listen for. That holds true for any country. I have friends in England, and the difference between northern, central, and southern English there are just as pronounced as the American versions of the language spoken  regionally here.

Anyway,  I found this test a while ago, and was sent the link to it again.  It pretty much pegged me with the regions that it lists.  It always surprises me when I see Philly on here. Philly speak and south side Irish Chicago speak aren’t that much different accent wise, but there’s not a lot of either in my own personal use of the language.  I don’t think so anyway.

Given the choice, would you prefer to live in the country or in the city? Country, absolutely, no looking back. I’m so done with the city. Give me a place where I can watch the sunrise and be surrounded by peaceful nature and I’ll be a lot happier.

Soup

Who is the cutest kid you know? My kid was awfully damn cute as a little kid. She had the biggest bright blue eyes and always smiled, but she’s not a kid anymore so she doesn’t qualify…. Currently, I’d say it would have to be a tie between Ben and Tommy. Kids of good friends. Both are going to be heartbreakers when they’re a little older.

Salad

Fill in the blank: I couldn’t believe it when I heard “your biopsy results show cancer”. That was pretty surreal.

Main Course

If you could star in a commercial for one of your favorite products, which one would you want to advertise? a really good camera that I’d get to keep after the commercial

Dessert

What type(s) of vitamins and/or supplements do you take on a regular basis? I take fish oil, baby aspirin, iron, a multivitamin, a calcium/vitamin D combo, and occasional fiber supplements when I need them (the last remaining side effect from surgery). I’m putting healthier things into my body now. I think it’s helping a little bit.