Link Up for the Random Dozen

Feel free to copy and paste the questions, post your answers, then come back here and link up so that we can come visit you. Hopefully, no one will die this week, preventing me from visiting you.

I have to tell you that question #11 was written in honor of my friend Linda at Mocha with Linda who told me a celeb look-alike story once that I have never forgotten.

It's just a little story but one of those that when someone tells you, you fall off your chair laughing like you're drunk because it just strikes you as so stinkin' funny. I don't even know why it's so funny to me. I am SURE it will not be as funny to you as it was to me, but all I can say is, it has never failed to crack me up whenever I think of it, which I try not to do often because my boss frowns on my falling off the chair at work.

Here is an excerpt from the post wherein I respond to the story, February, 2008:

Favorite comment of the week:

Regarding my post called Old Happens, which speaks to the natural phenomenon of thighs sliding down our legs and other aging atrocities, one commenter said, "I don't know why, but when I was in high school, my mother told me that I looked like Ted Koppel."

Well, dear Reader, I don't believe a satisfactory explanation exists for this kind of crazed attack, except that maybe it was the day your mom's menopause kicked in AND she got a bad haircut AND an eviction notice AND the McDonald's employee messed up her drive though order AGAIN.

Still. There had to be more frustration than that to inspire that kind of remark.

So maybe you then made a smart-alecky high schooler remark which proved to be your mom's tipping point, so she glanced around the room desperately looking for some way to unleash her exasperation, and Nightline just happened to be on, and so she yelled to you, "And YOU ... why, you look just like ... Ted Koppel!"

Oh, dear Reader, I am as sure that you do not look like Ted Koppel as I am of the inexplicable two pound weight gain that greets me every morning on the scale.

No one looks like Ted Koppel except for Hermie the Elf. [You aren't Hermie, are you?]









And so my "Dear Reader" and Co-Lid Linda knows exactly how to get me every time in a comment--she brings up the Ted Koppel incident.

And I am defenseless.

OK, the questions: [I'm answering tomorrow.]

1. Tell me the absolute best way to watch a movie.
2. Do you ever think about your own funeral? If so, do you have specific ideas about how you would like it to be?
3. Are you more of a giver or a taker?
4. Vacations: planned activities and schedules, or play it by ear?
5. What is one often overlooked item in your home that needs to be cleaned regularly?
6. Name a cause that means a lot to you.
7. Do you eat a regular old peanut butter jelly sandwich, or do you customize it? And by the way, jelly or no jelly?
8. If we were having a conversation in person, how would I know if you were nervous?
9. Do you have an elaborate bedtime routine, or just the basics of tooth brushing and jammies?
10. Have you ever regretted something you wrote on your blog?
11. Has anyone ever told you that you look like a famous person or celebrity? Did you agree?
12. If you were going to dedicate a song to a loved one or friend, what would the song be and to whom would it be dedicated?

I'm a Catcher, and Random Dozen #4 Preview

Tuesday is here, and I'm heading back to work after time off for the funeral. It will be good to get back into routine.

Did I just say that?

This afternoon we have a home XC meet. I'm supposed to help in the chute as a "catcher." Basically, a catcher, or so I thought, just helps kids as soon as they pass the finish to get off the path.

But then I reviewed the job description:

As the runners enter the chute we must get them into single file, keep them up and walking through the chute. At the end of the chute we will pull the bottom tag off their bib for scoring, then manually write the runners' number down (for scoring backup), then get them out.

The problems arise when runner enters the chute and cramps, faints, is trying to pass/brake line, is dry heaving, or other conditions (unable to proceed under their own effort), we must literally/physically catch them from falling, walk them in position through the line or pending severity of condition, carry them past scoring, out of the chute to EMT.

Dry heaving? Collapsing? Carry them? EMT?!

ALERT!!! I am merely somebody's middle aged mom! I am not qualified for this position!

So I'm hoping and praying everyone stays upright and heave-free.

And now the Random Dozen preview. Remember--you don't answer today; you come back here Wednesday and link up on a Mr. Linky rink-a-ma-dink so that we can find you and you can visit others. I'm just giving you a head's up because there are 12 questions composed at the MENSA level, so it might take a few minutes to fully answer challenging questions like whether you like jelly on your pbj's.

1. Tell me the absolute best way to watch a movie.
2. Do you ever think about your own funeral? If so, do you have specific ideas about how you would like it to be?
3. Are you more of a giver or a taker?
4. Vacations: planned activities and schedules, or play it by ear?
5. What is one often overlooked item in your home that needs to be cleaned regularly?
6. Name a cause that means a lot to you.
7. Do you eat a regular old peanut butter jelly sandwich, or do you customize it? And by the way, jelly or no jelly?
8. If we were having a conversation in person, how would I know if you were nervous?
9. Do you have an elaborate bedtime routine, or just the basics of toothbrushing and jammies?
10. Have you ever regretted something you wrote on your blog?
11. Has anyone ever told you that you look like a famous person or celebrity? Did you agree?
12. If you were going to dedicate a song to a loved one or friend, what would the song be and to whom would it be dedicated?

Monday--Funeral Blues, the XC Meet, the New Girlfriend

And it is captivating post titles like this which keep you coming back here, right?

It's 4:00a as I write this. I don't know when I have been so glad to see a weekend + Monday come and go, but it's almost over. Thanks for all of your kind thoughts and prayers. I may not have responded, but I have read them all, and they touched me.

Last night on Facebook I came across a status update by Beverly Lewis which I wanted to share with you (I asked permission, but it was 3:50 am, and she didn't respond, go figure, so I just charged on ahead here) which said,

Unity is such a powerful force! Had the wonderful opportunity this weekend to connect both in person and by phone with very special people who I've met "virtually". Nothing virtual about real connections.

The line "Nothing virtual about real connections" jumped out at me because I thought of you who stopped what you were doing long enough to say a quick prayer or shoot off an email or comment here. It meant a lot to me, so thank you!

How was your weekend?

Saturday we had the weekly XC meet which I've been writing about for 5 weeks or so now. This time, though, I was a bad mom and stayed at home to clean my house because apparently, when you are sad, your house grieves, too, and shows it by throwing up all over itself for four days.

It took a whole day to get it in line, and trust me, I do not live in a huge castle.

So, what do you suppose happened while I was sacrificing the next big photo op to mop floors?

Jorge called me on the way home from the meet to say, "Ohhh, you're gonna be so mad!"

"Why? What happened? Is she OK? What's going on?"

He laughs and says, "She beat her time by 1:30 and got a ribbon!"

Un.be.lievable.

Not only did I miss this, but other people got pics of her coming through the chute--the elusive chute shot!

And to top it off, he emailed me a XC t-shirt smack-talk quote to add to my collection: "Since you're behind, how's mine?" Why must the good stuff of life elude me every time???

Sunday morning, I met my son's new girlfriend for the first time at church. Jorge was all worried I'd be too "energized" about all of this and might embarrass them, so he wanted me to just be aware of how awkward it would be for both of them, etc., etc.

Well.

Jorge was off the wall energized. It was like Freaky Friday between him and me. Freaky Sunday.

He even pulled up his cell phone at lunch and took their pic, which nearly stunned me into pausing while inhaling my Puerta Vallarta vegetable nacho extravaganza.

That was the most un-Jorge-like thing to do in the entire world.

Thank goodness everyone laughed.

I wonder if we'll ever see the girlfriend again.

After lunch, we came to the house (remember, she's never been here before) and immediately I saw that Zoe had pooped a little turd. It was tiny, but I knew there was probably more where that came from, and it was probably still near the "jetway," if you know what I mean. So I picked her up in the air like a sacrifice and waved her around to see if I could detect any remnants.

I wonder if we'll ever see her again.

Also, I had to run the vacuum again over my dark family room rugs because 6 hours or so had passed since I had last done so, and they were dirty again. (They show every thread, every piece of lint, but dog poo, not so much.) So here is the new girlfriend lifting her feet for me to vacuum.

I wonder if we'll ever see her again.

But I had to get it decent again because two people I hadn't seen in 25 years or so were just about to show up at my door to go with us to the mortuary in Indy.

The mortuary, not surprisingly, was difficult.

We went out to dinner afterward and shared stories about our friend and toasted him and laughed and laughed, which he would have loved. We wished he could've been there.

It was good to see both of our classmates, and I told them that we cannot wait another 25 years to see each other again because we would be in our 60's, and one of them reminded me that we might all be in our 60s someday, but he's still, like, 25, and probably will be then, too. I don't know how he does it.

I came home about 8:00 last night find that Zoe had done number one in our living room.

Since I was a little melancholy, I thought, "Great, Zoe. Thanks for adding crap TWICE to my crappy weekend."

But I'm choosing to focus on the good stuff: The dazed and confused and hopefully forgiving girlfriend and son, the good friends, the good memories.

What did you do this weekend?

Grieving My Friend This Weekend, Back on Monday

Lifelong friend since early childhood ... 1st Communion at St. Lawrence Catholic Church


Through the stylish years ...

My senior crush, who unclogs my toilets, loves my kids and still makes me laugh several times a day ...

Jim's senior yearbook pic ...



Rebel football ...
Best man in our wedding ...



Jim's wedding ...

Jim and Dee recent photo ...



We will always love you, Jim and Dee.

Friday's Fave Five

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts a great Friday meme, which is cleverly named, FRIDAY'S Fave Five. You should jump in. Funny how when you're little, you don't like to be cut in line at school, but on blogs, you invite people to jump in. I guess I would appreciate it, though, if you read through this first! (Uh, but you don't have to, and I'll never know it.)



Here we go: #1. This is the dress I ordered on line from Penney's. For some reason, I've been looking for a black wrap dress for a long time. Made of matte jersey, which I love because it has "body." Also, v-neck but not too much chestage, covers upper arms and is a nice length. Bingo. It's on back order until 9.28, though. So I don't know if I truly like it yet, but I couldn't keep it to myself; I had to tell you about it because we are BFFs and we share everything important. I hope I look just like this in it, except not as brunette.



#2: The shot of Kristin I've been trying to get for four weeks. I am now an awesome mom.



#3: Katie took this pic of Jorge and me, which makes me smile. He does look a little tipsy here, but keep in mind he's a teetotaler and we're at a XC meet, so the only drug he's on is LUV.



#4: New candle holders that I bought at Cracker Barrel, that regional restaurant that most of you have never heard of (according to my Random Dozen meme) a few weeks ago with friends. Love getting the Fall decorations out because most of my house is done in autumnal colors. You can click on it if you'd like to see it better. And see my Kazakh "taking the trash out" shoes at the patio doors better.


#5: Last but not least is this picture taken by my friend, Claudia, which she posted on FB. I asked if I could post it here, and she said, "Yes." Which worked out nicely for me, since it's one of my favorite photos I've seen in a while and this is a meme about favorites. In case you can't make it out, it's a chipmunk sitting safely in the hands of Jesus in a cemetery.

Now, a couple of weeks ago, I posted on FB that on the way to work, I hit a chipmunk. And he died. That was the first live thing I've ever hit in 30 years of driving. Still, it made me feel really bad. So guess what the first thing I thought of was when I saw this pic?

Thanks, Claudia! Thanks, Susanne!




Have a great weekend, everyone!

Short Post

It's Thursday, 8:20pm, and I just returned from an outdoor tent celebration of the life of a friend who passed away, making this my second funeral of three this week.

Quickly just wanted to share a couple of thoughts relative to the significance:

... A home video of Lenette, mom of three, wherein her son asks her several years ago, "Do you like your life?" and she answers, "I love my life," and enumerates all the reasons she loves it. It was absolutely emotionally grueling to watch, but it was oh so good and important.

... Jorge and I walk to the car, and he observes that not everyone can say that. Her life may have been shortened, but she loved her boys and her life. There are people who live three times as long unhappy with everything. So we celebrate her love of life, and let that inspire us to love our lives even more.

... Should not put off going to see people who are ill, even if you think you might be taxing them or interrupting because you will regret it. Sadly, I did this with two of these friends. Two minutes is better than zero.

... A thought from the spouse of my dear friend who passed, "When your spouse is in a bad mood, be thankful. A bad mood is better than no mood." I will always remember that.

I would like to say to my husband one more time today, I love you. I promise to take you for good, bad, better, worse, sickness and health. I'll always be with you until the very end.

I'll be back to normal posting tomorrow, I hope.

My Answers to Random Dozen #3

I want to apologize to all of you who participated in the meme yesterday. I could not come around to see all of you because I was very saddened and distracted by the loss of a life-long friend yesterday. I just didn't have it in me to blog hop and comment. BUT ... I will get around to visiting your post. Thanks for understanding.

1. Please share one middle school memory. It can be good, bad, ugly, funny. Pictures or words, I don't care, just share.

Once, a friend asked me to go up to a boy and ask if he would like to go with her to a dance. Unbeknownst to her, I also had a crush on this boy, but I did as requested, although I was very nervous to even talk to him. So I said, "So and So wants to know if you would go to the dance with her, if she asked you." And he just looked at me and said, "You have gum on your lip."

DIED right there and slid into the cracks of the cheap tile floor in the band room. No one has seen me since.

2. What's your favorite Beatles song?

I've never been a huge fan, but lately, I have been enjoying "Revolution" a whole bunch. Like over and over.

3. If I asked you to describe your most comfortable outfit, what would it be?

This is easy. (Who am I talking to? I made the questions up, so I just said that to myself.) Thin black sweater, maybe a turtle or V-neck, dark, classic-fit jeans.

4. Would you rather host a party or be a guest?

I wrote this because I was getting ready to host a surprise party for my sister-in-law, and my ineptitude as a hostess was front and center in my mind. So I would rather be a guest. But I do like to decorate tables. But it's pathetic to decorate tables if you're not actually hosting people, I have found.

5. Do you think we will move completely from traditional books to digital ones, and if we do, are you OK with that?

I don't think we will for a few more years yet, but I think at some point, yes. There will always be collections of books, I think, in libraries, but they will be more like museum pieces. I personally like to hold and smell a book.

6. Do you learn best by reading, listening or experiencing?

What did you say? I wasn't listening. OH-Reading. Definitely. That's why I hate to call support for the software I use at church. I would rather print help off and refer to that than have them walk me through it while I'm nervous because I'll never remember it.

7. If you are (or when you were) single, what is the kiss of death for you concerning the opposite sex? (That is, what is one trait or behavior or habit or anything at all that immediately turns you off from considering that person a potential match for you?)

I absolutely hated to be sung to. It gave me the same feeling I have when I see the horrible auditions for American Idol--I want to hide under a pillow. More than the kiss of death, it was the plague of death. I would be so embarrassed for the person because no one sings as well as he/she thinks.

8. Snacks. Salty or sweet?

How do I manage to work these cookies into every single post?









9. Look around you in a four foot radius. What object is around you that you didn't realize was there or forgot was there? How long has it been there?

This strange, plastic, Gumby-like dog frame that I used to have on my desk at work. As you can see, Zoe is in the picture. I think I hate to throw it away but don't know what to do with it. Maybe I will take it back into work and when little kids come by my desk, they can play with it. That is a brilliant idea. Thanks. You're welcome.

10. What is your favorite Tom Cruise movie?

I loved Rain Man and The Firm.

11. You buy a bottle of shampoo and discover that you don't like what it does to your hair at all. What do you do with that full bottle?

I use it as body wash and leg shaving lubricant. Because it smells like coconut.

12. Your favorite Fall comfort food? (Last week it was beverage.)

There they are again. Oh, I don't really know. Who made up these stupid questions?! I guess I would say some kind of pumpkin muffin or bread. Oh, also apple crisp with plenty of topping. I like rich soups, too, like broccoli soup.

Random Dozen Meme, #3

*EDIT: Some of you have asked about my answers; I'm answering tomorrow. I may not always do this, but for now, it's working for me. Have a great meme!

Let's put on our Benjamin Franklin "Flyers" middle school gym suits circa 1975 and jump right in, shall we?

1. Please share one middle school memory. It can be good, bad, ugly, funny. Pictures or words, I don't care, just share.

2. What's your favorite Beatles song?

3. If I asked you to describe your most comfortable outfit, what would it be?

4. Would you rather host a party or be a guest?

5. Do you think we will move completely from traditional books to digital ones, and if we do, are you OK with that?

6. Do you learn best by reading, listening or experiencing?

7. If you are (or when you were) single, what is the kiss of death for you concerning the opposite sex? (That is, what is one trait or behavior or habit or anything at all that immediately turns you off from considering that person a potential match for you?)

8. Snacks. Salty or sweet?

9. Look around you in a four foot radius. What object is around you that you didn't realize was there or forgot was there? How long has it been there?

10. What is your favorite Tom Cruise movie?

11. You buy a bottle of shampoo and discover that you don't like what it does to your hair at all. What do you do with that full bottle?

12. Your favorite Fall comfort food? (Last week it was beverage.)

Can't wait to see how you tackle these questions. I'll answer them tomorrow!

Turn Back the Clock Tuesday and Previewing Tomorrow's Random Dozen

*Edit: Many of you asked-I bought those two racing grannies from yesterday's post at Books-A-Million.
















Oh have mercy. The year is 1974, and I'm about 12 years old. We were the Franklin Flyers because Benjamin Franklin flew a kite, you know. Doesn't "Flyer" sound like a fierce mascot?? Yeah I know, not so much.

Here is my official 8th grade picture, and I apologize for the teeth, which look like the tongs on a fork. I never wore braces, but miraculously, my teeth straightened themselves out, moved closer together and look pretty decent today. I don't know what happened, but boy am I thankful. I'm sure my husband is, too.














Here is the 8th grade Franklin Flyer volleyball team, on which I was a nondescript member. In 6th grade, I won the MVP trophy, but by 8th grade, other girls' arms were bigger and stronger and they could serve "floaters." I'm not happy in this picture, not smiling because 1. The teeth 2. The lack of volleyball talent 3. There were some girls on this very team who were "mean girls," and you know what I mean by that. 4. Heartbreak over two boys, both ironically named "Bryan" with a "y." By the looks of my hairstyle, you'd think I was going bald in 8th grade and had a Trump comb-over.

And this "Turn back the Clock Tuesday" leads us right into the first question on tomorrow's Random Dozen meme, if you choose to participate. I will post my own answers Thursday. So if you'd like to get in on this one, come back tomorrow and link your post up so that we can come see your answers!

RANDOM DOZEN PREVIEW:

1. Please share one middle school memory. It can be good, bad, ugly, funny. Pictures or words, I don't care, just share.

2. What's your favorite Beatles song?

3. If I asked you to describe your most comfortable outfit, what would it be?

4. Would you rather host a party or be a guest?

5. Do you think we will move completely from traditional books to digital ones, and if we do, are you OK with that?

6. Do you learn best by reading, listening or experiencing?

7. If you are (or when you were) single, what is the kiss of death for you concerning the opposite sex? (That is, what is one trait or behavior or habit or anything at all that immediately turns you off from considering that person a potential match for you?)

8. Snacks. Salty or sweet?

9. Look around you in a four foot radius. What object is around you that you didn't realize was there or forgot was there? How long has it been there?

10. What is your favorite Tom Cruise movie?

11. You buy a bottle of shampoo and discover that you don't like what it does to your hair at all. What do you do with that full bottle?

12. Your favorite Fall comfort food? (Last week it was beverage.)

Weekend Recap

Hope you had a great weekend, whether it was packed with fun or spent relaxing.

Kristin brought home her school pics on Friday. It hit me that this is the last time this will ever happen for me as a mom. That is to say, next year she will be a senior, so there will be expensive studio photos, but no more of these traditional little photos. No more deciding what to wear on "picture day" at school. Sigh. This is my baby, and every teeny little step along the way of her growing up stings just a little.

Saturday morning, the three of us, Katie, Jorge and I, trekked out once again to Kristin's XC meet, where I hunted for the elusive "money shot" of Kristin running in the race--a pic where she does not appear to be running in London fog or is disguised as someone else's kid. Or a tree.

So here we are before her race. Just look at that face--an expression of her true feelings about us being there with camera in hand.


And please note what supportive, involved, maniacal parents we are, prepping her muscles and giving her pep talks beforehand.




And I'm pleased to report this serendipitous photo op:


Yes, I finally snapped a couple of her that are decent. So that quest was finally over, but my chase for the smack-talkin' inspirational team t-shirts was still on.

Like this one, for example: "Run like you stole something." Nice.


Or how about this one, a quote from Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights:


And there were a few more gems such as:

"The wolf is only as strong as the pack, and the pack is only as strong as the wolf."
"Our sport is what your team does for punishment."
"We don't run pretty fast. We are pretty, and we run fast." (Girls' team.)
Or how about this quirky one: "Insert clever team t-shirt message here" between parentheses.

After XC, we came home and cleaned the house and went to the grocery to get food for a surprise 50th birthday party I hosted for my sister-in-law, Cathy, on Sunday.

Here she is coming in the door as we yell, "Surprise." Note that we live in London, which is also foggy indoors, even though it looks like I might have blurred this picture, which we all know from the XC meets I never do. And then we all said in our best Cockney accents, "'Appy birfday, gurhlie!"


Here is another of my special effects shots called, "Double Blind: Flash Ricochet!"


Here is her son, Travis, and his 8 month old son, her first grandchild:


Here is the birthday girl with her cake:


Here is one of the gifts I gave her, wind-up grannies with walkers who race each other. These were so cute I almost didn't let her take them home.


Here is the entire group following my order to make a goofy face, which is probably my favorite family portrait of the fam ever:



Finally, I battled allergies all weekend with massive amounts of Benadyl and Claritin and ate my weight in sugar.

How about you? How was the weekend?

Tomorrow: Preview Wednesday's Random Dozen meme questions--get a headstart!