Link Up for Easter's Random Dozen & Springtime Fun

I went on my first real walk with Zoe this year because it's just now getting warm enough to take her out. She carried a Ritz cracker the whole way, except when she stopped to read "pee mail" at the hydrant and put her FACE on the hydrant and relieved herself in the other direction. ? I picked her up to avoid a mud puddle but stumbled and stepped into the La Brea Tar Pit of Muncie in my neighbor's yard. Mud squished all up over my flip-flops and between my toes. Fun times.

1. How do you feel about the marshmallow Easter Peeps?
2. Chickens are notoriously nervous creatures. When you are nervous, what is the best way to calm down?
3. People say, "April showers bring May flowers." Do you enjoy Spring rains?
4. When I was randomly flipping through TV channels this week, I saw a show in which tattoo parlor employees received tattoos of a co-worker's face on their bodies. I can't imagine having a portrait of a colleague tattooed on me. But if someone forced you to receive a portrait tattoo (face only) of anyone, who would it be? Why?
5. Would you rather have a tattoo (any kind) or a nose ring?
6. Do you have any special plans for Easter?
7. Cadbury Eggs or Reese Eggs?
8. What was the last thing/person you took a picture of?
9. What book are you reading now, or what was the last one?
10. What do you think is the most difficult task when it comes to Spring cleaning?
11. How many pairs of flip-flops do you own?
12. Which color makes you happiest?

Kissing Chickens & the Random Dozen Preview

I love chickens, especially baby chickens. All of my life I have had a peculiar affinity for the tiny, fuzzy, bony little peepers. So when Easter rolls around, I give in to my inner child and revel in the abundance of chickens in stores, etc.

Many of you do not know that I used to have some "backyard" chickens, even though I live in the city. I simply hid them from public view and enjoyed a summer of sitting in my backyard surrounded by various breeds, including my favorite, the Japanese Silkies, which look like giant babies. They cannot fly and are completely defenseless. They lay the cutest little eggs. I considered my time in the lawn chair amidst the chickens similar to a person being able to be IN the aquarium with fish.

Yep, I'm kissing a chicken.

I wasn't kidding when I said I love them.

So, this week's Random has a couple of chicken-dedicated questions. Other than that ... complete randomness. Because that's the name of the game.

Directions: This is the preview. Copy the code for the Easter button at the right of this page. Copy the questions, formulate answers, come back tomorrow and link your post here. Go visit others. Say nice things. Increase your blog traffic. Make your mom proud.

1. How do you feel about the marshmallow Easter Peeps?
2. Chickens are notoriously nervous creatures. When you are nervous, what is the best way to calm down?
3. People say, "April showers bring May flowers." Do you enjoy Spring rains?
4. When I was randomly flipping through TV channels this week, I saw a show in which tattoo parlor employees received tattoos of a co-worker's face on their bodies. I can't imagine having a portrait of a colleague tattooed on me. But if someone forced you to receive a portrait tattoo (face only) of anyone, who would it be? Why?
5. Would you rather have a tattoo (any kind) or a nose ring?
6. Do you have any special plans for Easter?
7. Cadbury Eggs or Reese Eggs?
8. What was the last thing/person you took a picture of?
9. What book are you reading now, or what was the last one?
10. What do you think is the most difficult task when it comes to Spring cleaning?
11. How many pairs of flip-flops do you own?
12. Which color makes you happiest?
Bonus Joke (not part of the Random): Why did the Easter egg hide?
He was a little chicken!
By the way, just so you know, the meaning of Holy Week and Easter is not lost on me. I believe in the empty tomb. It makes my life worth living.

Sunday Dinner - How I Coped

It is no secret that I am not a good cook. However much I like to watch the Food Network, like to bake, like to decorate what I bake, like to eat, I just don't cook well. Other than eggs, maybe.

When my kids were little, they would take the most beautifully decorated treats into their classrooms for their birthday parties, but then they might come home to eat over-cooked meatloaf, under-done baked potatoes and a side of canned corn. I would give cooking "the old college try," with the goal of offering protein, fruit, vegetable, grain, dairy and limited fats, but somehow, it just didn't look/taste like my mom's meals. But they lived. And they learned to appreciate cafeteria food.

But I can make a fabulous long-haired puppy cake or giant decorated cookies on a stick with people's names on them.



Anyway, I think most people enjoy doing what they're good at and the converse (That's not the right word. Help me, people, I'm on Benadryl.) of that. Thus: I don't enjoy cooking.

Last night, however, I spent nearly 4 hours in the kitchen preparing Sunday's meal: Cubed steaks for the crock pot, peeling and quartering potatoes for mashed potatoes, chopping and assembling a giant salad, deviling eggs and mixing Oreo Dirt Pudding.

Guess what? The experience wasn't that horrible. The reason? It finally occurred to me use my newly-inherited-from-my-daughter Ipod while I slaved in the kitchen.

Ohmygosh. Time flies when you're working with Tom Petty, Maroon 5, The Spinners, REO, Duffy, The Jackson 5, George Michael, Nora Jones, Joan Jett and John Mellencamp.

Thank you, my new best kitchen friends & Ipod. You have lightened a load, put a lilt in my step (albeit an awkward step) and allowed me to sing loudly without hearing myself. Of course, there was that one moment when I let an Aretha-worthy note fly, and Jorge, asleep on the couch, jerked, knocked the remote onto the wooden floor and jumped about four feet.

Anyway, my playlist made time in the kitchen fly. This is nothing short of miraculous.

And in honor of this momentous discovery, I had so much energy and "lilt" that I created a new mac and cheese dish in honor of Rob Thomas: "Pepper Jack Mac."

Who are you listening to currently?

Flashback Friday

What was Easter like when you were little? For example, did you receive a basket with toys and candy? Was the Easter Bunny part of your family's celebration? Did your family integrate both secular and spiritual aspects of the day? Did you dye Easter eggs. . . .and did your family eat them afterwards? Did you usually get a new outfit? (Post a picture if you have one!) Does any Easter stand out particularly? You might also share how your Easter today is similar or different to your childhood?

Easter was a wonderful holiday for me when I was little. I was reared in a home of faith, so going to church and remembering the meaning of Easter was important.

Now that that important stuff is out of the way, let me just say I also loved Easter for the "most wrong" of reasons: les bonbons.

My mom was not the sentimental type when I was young. She bought the dime store baskets woven of plastic straw wrapped in cellophane, which, looking back seems kind of disappointing considering all I did for my kids in the way personalizing each basket which they've had assigned to them since their first Easters.

But I am not my mom.

Not yet, anyway. But give me a couple of years because every day I'm becoming her more and more. Just ask my husband.

Anyway.

I have to admit I loved my ugly yearly baskets. So thank you, Mother.

Also, I have an affinity for pastels, so Easter decor and colors appeal to me, except for the Peeps. I cannot do Peeps.

Every Easter my mom would buy me a new church outfit, usually a dress with matching hat, gloves and purse. Oh, and anklets and white patent-leather type shoes that went "tip tap" when I walked across the kitchen linoleum.

That enchanting "tip tap" almost catapulted me into my tap dancing career, except dancing was against the law in my church of origin, so I didn't get far. In fact, I only got as far as the church sidewalk where the adults gathered after church for talk for 17 hours. With a little blonde heretic tap dancing around them.

The best Easter I ever had was the year aliens invaded my mother's body, and she somehow decided to give my brother and me two live chicks and a duckling, which we kept in a cardboard box for a couple of weeks. Heaven for a few weeks. I LOVE baby chickens.

So here are some pics from Easters past. I will probably do a post closer to Easter to comment on the Easter finery. For now, simply gaze upon the awkward family photos.






Thanks, Linda, at Mocha With Linda!

FB Status Update Today

Kristin is visiting IU's Campus today. Jorge left this message on FB for her: "Make sure you check out the common area on the 5th floor of Wilke. The floor is still stained by my tears from missing your mom." Very sweet. And an example of why I still love him

Random Dozen Preview

Hey, Everybody. Since I'm spending a lot of time at the hospital this week with my friend (see yesterday's post) "SouthLakesMom" at I Didn't Know THAT!" is hosting the Random Dozen this week. Please go there today for your preview and then link back there tomorrow. I think it will be fun to get a new perspective and unique questions to work with this week, don't you?

Thanks for hanging in there with me. I should be able to host again next week.

What I've Been Doing

For the last few days, I've been spending a lot of time with my friend, Diane, at the hospital. Diane is coping with cancer via hospice care. Every day is a gift.

So, since she is part of our infamous "Girls Group" which meets every Wednesday night, we have decided that since Diane can't come to GG, we're takin' the party to her. And we have done so a couple of times this week!

Saturday night, we had a good time with 70s music, raspberry sherbet (her diet is very limited, but they let her have this, so we ran out and bought some and brought it back), various games, and even a tad bit of dancing. Her dad was so overcome with emotion that he cried big crocodile tears when he came in. And then Diane cried because her dad was so happy. Many of you know that he just lost his wife, Diane's mother, to brain cancer on March 7, yes, just a couple of weeks ago. He is enduring a lot for an 80 year-old man. What a sweetheart.

So here are some pics of the little party on the oncology floor. The reason Diane has on that sparkly hat is that she is a total girly girl, loves pink, sparkle, jewelry, BLING. So one of the GG brought this snazzy hat for her wear, which she did all night, except when her DAD wore it!

A Good Man (Blogger) is Hard to Find--Not Unlike a Great Pair of Shoes

Check out this site this weekend:


The Difference Between Men and Women #39: Shoes.

Luck O' The Twelve Fer Me

1. On a scale of 1-10, how superstitious are you, honestly?

Zero. Honestly. My mother, however, was apparently raised in a band of gypsies or simply went to their inculcation school. She has all of these weird superstitious sayings that are totally hilarious--If you bump heads, for instance, she says that's a sign you're going to sleep together. ! What?? Only she means it in the traditional Little House on the Prairie Innocent way. If you drop a spoon, that means somebody's coming for a visit, etc. I cannot even begin to list them all here. I was never allowed to count the cars in a train, rock an empty chair or open an umbrella in the house. OH, sweet freedom, how I'm glad I'm not superstitious.

2. Julius Caesar is quoted as saying, "I came, I saw, I conquered." Which circumstance or experience of yours does this saying best describe?

Any time I clean a closet I have this glorious, victorious feeling. But the ultimate moment for this is a long run.

3. If I peeked in on your day like a mischievous little leprechaun, at what time would I most likely find you blogging?

Lately, the evening, around 8 or 9. I am much more clever and alert in the mornings, however, which might explain my last few months of sluggish posts. But I'm only one woman, so I've got to post when I can.

4. Re springing forward for Daylight Saving Time, is there anything you've ever been really early or really late for?

Technically, it wasn't me who was late, but the first child of mine? She was due August 28, 1986, and arrived September 11, 1990. No, it just felt like years, but it was indeed a monstrously long overdue period. They do not let pregnancies drag on like that in the fancy world you people birth 'em in nowadays. If only Dr. Welby had induced me.

5. What are you most looking forward to concerning Spring?

Running outside.

6. Shamrocks are the national flower of Ireland and are picked on St. Patrick's Day and worn on the lapel or shoulder. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day?

I am typing this on St. Patty's day, and I am wearing black. And only one person is allowed to pinch me today, Jorge the Jabanero :)

7. One of Caesar's assassins, Casca, said, "But, for my own part, it was Greek to me," which of course means he didn't understand something. Probably his own lines in the play. Anyway, what is something that is "Greek to you," something incomprehensible or indecipherable?

I could offer such an exhaustive list. But I will say: most sports, fractions, why there are so many meetings at work, why my dog barks at me when I enter my own home, Wallstreet (stole that), how to navigate an airport, why people rely on curse words to attempt humor, theatrical musicals. There. That list will do for today.

8. Is March behaving more like a lion or a lamb where you live?

Lamby-poo.

9. "An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later." -Winston Churchill. If you had one extra hour per day every day, what would you do with it?

Run/write/hang out with my friends. If my kids wanted to hang out, I'd say that, but they're not that into me, so run/write.

10. Legend says that every Leprechaun has a pot of gold hidden deep in the Irish countryside. Aside from real gold or money, what material item would be in your dream pot of gold?

Shoes and handbags. Or handbags and shoes. NO-wait! Starbucks cards! NO--SHOES and Starbucks cards! Arrgh!

11. "The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you." Robert Louis Stevenson. Look around you right now and tell us about something essential or beautiful very near you that you take for granted every day.

Mobility. Just being able to get up and walk around is HUGE. I take my vehicle for granted sometimes. And I LOVE my bed, but I do not take it for granted. Almost every night I thank God for my bed, no kidding. Finally, the big blue sky. I love it.

12. Just for a bit o' fun, click here (www.blogthings.com/irishnamegenerator/) and then report your Irish name.

Mine is "Zoe O'Sullivan." I love it! Zoe was the first name I got, but I went back and re-hit it several times just for fun. Love it.

I hope you had a great Random this week. I thank you for playing along even if I didn't get around to visit you. I see you there and appreciate you. I hope it generates traffic for you.

Come back and visit. I promise to stop writing my post titles in weird "Irish." Or Gaelic. I will stop. Now. Goodbye.

Happy St. Patrick's Day on the Dozen O'Random!

1. On a scale of 1-10, how superstitious are you, honestly?

2. Julius Caesar is quoted as saying, "I came, I saw, I conquered." Which circumstance or experience of yours does this saying best describe?

3. If I peeked in on your day like a mischievous little leprechaun, at what time would I most likely find you blogging?

4. Re springing forward for Daylight Saving Time, is there anything you've ever been really early or really late for?

5. What are you most looking forward to concerning Spring?

6. Shamrocks are the national flower of Ireland and are picked on St. Patrick's Day and worn on the lapel or shoulder. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day?

7. One of Caesar's assassins, Casca, said, "But, for my own part, it was Greek to me," which of course means he didn't understand something. Probably his own lines in the play. Anyway, what is something that is "Greek to you," something incomprehensible or indecipherable?

8. Is March behaving more like a lion or a lamb where you live?

9. "An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later." -Winston Churchill. If you had one extra hour per day every day, what would you do with it?

10. Legend says that every Leprechaun has a pot of gold hidden deep in the Irish countryside. Aside from real gold or money, what material item would be in your dream pot of gold?

11. "The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you." Robert Louis Stevenson. Look around you right now and tell us about something essential or beautiful very near you that you take for granted every day.

12. Just for a bit o' fun, click here (www.blogthings.com/irishnamegenerator/) and then report your Irish name. Mine is "Zoe O'Sullivan." I love it!

Random Dozen: The Ides of March, St. Patrick's Day And Springing Forward

Since you don't all come here two days in a row all the time (a-hem!) I'm repeating just a tad of yesterday's post to set up the Random. If you were here yesterday, just pretend we're IRL friends because in actual Real Life, I repeat myself all the time. All the time! See?!

HA! My seemingly useless English degree comes in handy every 25 years or so! This must be one of those years!

Because I know what you're thinking: "What are the 'Ides?'"

About 4:1 on Admiral Aggie's Diamond, I'd say.

HA! That was a play on the word "odds!" But I meant "Ides."

Well, according to my 1985 BS in English (yes, it is a Bachelor of Science, Smarty Pants) "Ides" is a term used to denote the 15th of March, May, July and October. Julius Caesar was 86'd on the Ides of March, just like the seer warned him. And then William F. Buckley Shakespeare Jr. wrote a play called Julius Caesar which contained the line, "Beware the Ides of March." And we have been be-waring something we don't understand ever since.

I love the wealth of literary knowledge I gained at my alma matre, Ball State University. (Yes, that is the real name of the university where I received my BS in English.)

So we're going to have one or two questions on the Ides of March and such, and then we'll go directly back to random because that is what we do best here.

Remember: Today is the preview only. After you post your answers tomorrow, come back here to link up and share the pot 'o gold.


1. On a scale of 1-10, how superstitious are you, honestly?

2. Julius Caesar is quoted as saying, "I came, I saw, I conquered." Which circumstance or experience of yours does this saying best describe?

3. If I peeked in on your day like a mischievous little leprechaun, at what time would I most likely find you blogging?

4. Re springing forward for Daylight Saving Time, is there anything you've ever been really early or really late for?

5. What are you most looking forward to concerning Spring?

6. Shamrocks are the national flower of Ireland and are picked on St. Patrick's Day and worn on the lapel or shoulder. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day?

7. One of Caesar's assassins, Casca, said, "But, for my own part, it was Greek to me," which of course means he didn't understand something. Probably his own lines in the play. Anyway, what is something that is "Greek to you," something incomprehensible or indecipherable?

8. Is March behaving more like a lion or a lamb where you live?

9. "An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later." -Winston Churchill. If you had one extra hour per day every day, what would you do with it?

10. Legend says that every Leprechaun has a pot of gold hidden deep in the Irish countryside. Aside from real gold or money, what material item would be in your dream pot of gold?

11. "The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you." Robert Louis Stevenson. Look around you right now and tell us about something essential or beautiful very near you that you take for granted every day.

12. Just for a bit o' fun, click here (www.blogthings.com/irishnamegenerator/) and then report your Irish name. Mine is "Zoe O'Sullivan." I love it!

Beware the Ides of March? I Can Think of Better Things Than Ides to Beware Of

HA! My seemingly useless English degree comes in handy every 25 years or so! This must be one of those years! I know what you're thinking: "What are the 'Ides?'"

About 4:1 on Admiral Aggie's Diamond, I'd say.

HA! That was a play on the word "odds!" But I meant "Ides."

Well, according to my 1985 BS in English (yes, it is a Bachelor of Science, Smarty Pants) "Ides" is a term used to denote the 15th of March, May, July and October. Julius Caesar was 86'd on the Ides of March, just like the seer warned him. And then William F. Buckley Shakespeare Jr. wrote a play called Julius Caesar which contained the line, "Beware the Ides of March." And we have been be-waring something we don't understand ever since.

I love the wealth of literary knowledge I gained at my alma matre, Ball State University. (Yes, that is the real name of the university where I received my BS in English.) Yes, a lot of BS from BSU.

But here in America's Hometown, I can think of scarier things to beware of today:

1. HUGE potholes. Our city is notorious for tire-gnashing, car swallowing potholes. Exhibit A: Beware our version of "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" on my street alone. When you don't anticipate one of these, all of your teeth rattle in your head, and you want to throw up from the damage you know you've just done to your car. This thing is about 6" deep.



2. Slush. All that pretty winter snow whose prettiness lasted 3 hours on the first day is now the grimiest slush you can imagine, which the hems of pants are thirsty for. After my grocery trip to Wowmart Saturday, I had a 3-inch ring of water around the hems. I had to come in the door and get those off before even putting the groceries away. Please don't tell me it's sunny and *75 in your comments today, or I will banish you from this blog. Beware the slush. Or the slap of this blog author if you go bragging about your weather.

3. March Madness. In Indiana, Hoops is Evah-thang. In Florida, you have a pool in every backyard. Here, you have a beaten-up, mostly net-less basketball goal sunk into cement at the end of every driveway. Around this time of year, the word "bracket" pops up in every conversation in every venue, including weddings and funerals and from adjacent bathroom stalls. I don't speak "Bracket." Beware the mad fans of b-ball.

4. Pinching. There is a clever saying: "No green on March 17 means you gonna scream." Actually, I just made that up. But we do pinch the greenless here. How about where you are? Beware the pinchers.

5. Easter candy. It's out there, people. Some villainous Cadbury Eggs tried to reach out and grab me at the grocery, but I fleed. Flew. Fled. Whatever it takes!

What are YOU bewaring of today??

Premiere of "Flashback Friday" ~ Your First "Ride"

Today is the kick off at Mocha with Linda's place for her new meme, "Flashback Friday." Care to flash with us? Check out her prompt, write and link!

How and when did you learn to drive? Do you have any particular memories associated with getting your driver license? How old were you when you got your first car and what was it? Who paid for it?

Did you have Fun Fun Fun 'til your daddy took your T-bird away?

I learned to drive in the summer of 1977 (between freshman and sophomore year?) through driver's training at Muncie Southside High School. On my first day of actual driving with three other students in the car, our teacher yelled at all of us, especially me. For no reason. He was a lunatic. Here I am as a sophomore, I think:


I did not have to take an actual drive test on the day I received my license, just take the test. I cannot remember the moment I took the test or passed or had my picture taken, but I remember driving myself down 26th street that afternoon, stopped at a light thinking, "I am really driving this car. All by myself. There is no one else in the car with me. I'm driving myself to school." By the way, school was about 3 miles away from home.

Still--oh the thrill! Driving alone!

The best part of that beginning to drive business was that my much older brother dealt in cars, and he had found a used Chevy Camaro and convinced my parents into buying it for me: "Those heavy doors make it one of the safest cars out there." If I never thank my brother for anything else in life, I will always be thankful for that triumph!

So there I was at the light of Macedonia and 26th, the intersection between my elementary school on Macedonia (1st pic) and my high school on E. 26th Street (2nd pic). Poetic. In an orange Camaro with metallic flecks.










I drove that car all through high school and a couple of years of college, until the rust ate through the floorboard. On the day my brother came to haul it away, I was sad.

I ran and grabbed my dad's little camera and tried to take a picture, which I remember turned out very blurry. I hope that pic is still somewhere in my parents' house because at 47 I'm used to looking at blurry things and finding the beauty in them, anyway.

But here's a reasonable facsimile, minus the colored wheels. My apologies for blatantly using the image of someone's Camaro.



So I did have fun, fun, until Brother took the Camaro away. It was a great time in my life. Thanks for reminding me, Mocha Lid!

My Random

1. How old is the oldest pair of shoes in your closet?

I recently did a purge, so I think the oldest pair is maybe less than 5 years, and I will probably get rid of more soon. 'Cause I'm all about the gentrification of my closet.

2. Did you buy Girl Scout cookies this year? If so, what variety?

Oh baby. Do-Si-Dos and Samoas. I gave the Samoas away, and I ate 3/4 of the entire Do-Si-Do box. I was out of control at my desk. I told Jorge I felt like a bear tearing into a honeycomb. It's good that I can't smell as well as a bear, i.e., smell the cookies near the Scouts themselves, or I would probably gobble up a Scout and her mom at the grocery entrance where they have their table set up.

3. Do you know how to ballroom dance? If not, would you like to?

No, and no. That was easy.

4. Were you a responsible child/teenager?

Oh, very. My parents should have foregone the usual admonitions and encouraged me to break rules and slack off. Rule-follower all the way. Authority-pleaser. Now? Not so much. Mid-life has changed me. Sometimes I don't even make the bed before I go to work. (Only on my early days, however. The other days, I'm under strict orders from myself to make that bed.)

5. How many of this year's Oscar-nominated movies did you see?

I saw "Up" and "Up in the Air." I liked the second one better. No, I have not seen "Blindside" and have no desire to. I don't like "feel-good" movies.

6. If you're going to have a medical procedure done, such as having blood drawn, is it easier for you to watch someone else having the procedure done or have it done yourself?

Neither bothers me. But I would gladly take a little pain to spare my kids that little pain.

7. What is your favorite day of the week and why?

Friday, because it holds so much promise. Monday is second, because routine is comforting.

8. Do you miss anyone right now?

Yes.

9. Do hospitals make you queasy?

No. I probably could have worked in the medical field if I didn't have to deal with unhygienic people. The other stuff doesn't bother me. I love to watch operations on TV.

10. At which store would you like to max-out your credit card. Not that you ever would, you responsible person, you.

How did you know I was responsible before I told you??
I like B. Moss, New York & Co., & shoe stores. Handbags, shoes and blouses are my weaknesses. Household goods or books are nice, but if I had to choose, I'd choose clothing.

11. Are you true to the brand names of products/items?

Not so much. I do like Pantene's clarifying shampoo and Dove soap, which I've been using my whole life.

12. Which is more difficult: looking into someone’s eyes when you are telling someone how you feel, or looking into someone’s eyes when he/she is telling you how he/she feels?

I have trouble (as apparently many of you do) with eye contact. Sometimes when I'm talking, I have to look away to collect my thoughts, and then I can look back at you. So to the question: I think it's more difficult to look into someone's eyes when I am telling him/her how I feel.

Hope you enjoyed the Plinko this week. Be sure to visit Mocha With Linda today for the kick off of a brand new meme!

Plink and Link!

So, are you ready to play Plinko?

Definition of plink: "Plinking refers to informal target shooting done at non-traditional targets such as tin cans, glass bottles, and balloons filled with water." Plinko is also a carnival game we play at Oneighty, but pot-luck shots fits this meme better, I think.

So here are your random plinko questions lined up in a row just like tin cans:

1. How old is the oldest pair of shoes in your closet?

2. Did you buy Girl Scout cookies this year? If so, what variety?

3. Do you know how to ballroom dance? If not, would you like to?

4. Were you a responsible child/teenager?

5. How many of this year's Oscar-nominated movies did you see?

6. If you're going to have a medical procedure done, such as having blood drawn, is it easier for you to watch someone else having the procedure done or have it done yourself?

7. What is your favorite day of the week and why?

8. Do you miss anyone right now?

9. Do hospitals make you queasy?

10. At which store would you like to max-out your credit card. Not that you ever would, you responsible person, you.

11. Are you true to the brand names of products/items?

12. Which is more difficult: looking into someone’s eyes when you are telling someone how you feel, or looking into someone’s eyes when he/she is telling you how he/she feels?

OK ... ready, aim, PLINK and LINK!

Plinko--The Random Dozen

Oh, blog life, you are so funny. Just the other week I was flapping my lips about "What am I going to do now that the RD participant number has reached 80? OHMYGOSH! I can't handle it!" Next week: Down by 20. Cracks me up.

So, are you ready to play Plinko?

Definition of plink: "Plinking refers to informal target shooting done at non-traditional targets such as tin cans, glass bottles, and balloons filled with water." Plinko is also a carnival game we play at Oneighty, but pot-luck shots fits this meme better, I think.

So here are your random plinko questions lined up in a row just like tin cans:

1. How old is the oldest pair of shoes in your closet?

2. Did you buy Girl Scout cookies this year? If so, what variety?

3. Do you know how to ballroom dance? If not, would you like to?

4. Were you a responsible child/teenager?

5. How many of this year's Oscar-nominated movies did you see?

6. If you're going to have a medical procedure done, such as having blood drawn, is it easier for you to watch someone else having the procedure done or have it done yourself?

7. What is your favorite day of the week and why?

8. Do you miss anyone right now?

9. Do hospitals make you queasy?

10. At which store would you like to max-out your credit card. Not that you ever would, you responsible person, you.

11. Are you true to the brand names of products/items?

12. Which is more difficult: looking into someone’s eyes when you are telling someone how you feel, or looking into someone’s eyes when he/she is telling you how he/she feels?

OK ... ready, aim, PLINK!

Come back tomorrow to link up and share your answers!

HEY!! Don't Miss this Opportunity!!




My Co-Lid at Mocha with Linda is beginning a brand new meme this week called, "Flashback Friday." See this post to catch how it all got started get the flavor of the meme. Each Thursday, Linda will post a prompt and then you return on Friday to link up. The focus is going to be on nostalgia and reminiscing, and I think this will be GREAT fun!

I'm in, Lin. Da!

He Arrived March 8, 1989

He is 21 years old today. The world sees him as just another guy. Just another man on the planet. But he is so much more to me.

His name is Jordan Michael.
He is my only middle child.
He is my only son.
He is my pride and joy.
He is everything I hoped having a son would be, and is NOT everything I feared a son would be.
He is smart (very smart), sensitive, compassionate, loves justice and equality.
He loves to laugh.
He used to love the Ninja Turtles, his blanky, his pacifier (boopy) and milk.
Today he loves sports, being around his girlfriend and his life in general.

He is 21 years old. Twenty-one. Twenty-one years ago today, the longest pregnancy in the history of mankind came to and end, and I had a son.

He is my great, great joy.

Love you, Jord. Happy birthday!










Coconut Cake

Ingredients:
1 box yellow cake mix (not the kind with pudding in the mix)
14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 sm. can cream of coconut (about 1 c.)
1 envelope dry Dream Whip
1 container Cool Whp
Coconut flakes for topping

Directions:
Bake cake as directed; cool 15 mins.
With the end of a wooden spoon, poke holes in cake 1" apart, half-way down, all over cake.
Mix together cream of coconut and sweetened milk. Pour over cake, making sure to pour into holes.
Refrigerate 24 hrs. If you can't do 24 hrs., remember the longer it sits, the better it gets.
Ice with mixed Dream Whip and Cool Whip. Sprinkle with coconut.

The Case Against Parents on Facebook

I am collecting my favorite Facebook updates to share with you from time to time. Status updates are simply mini blog posts, but most users don't realize that.

Here is one that cracked me up because it perfectly portrays why kids don't want to converse on FB with their parents. The second example is my own.

From "A Mom":
Hi honey, it's Mom, am I writing on your wall or have I messed the facebook thing l You can't reach me on my phone because apparently since Michael's phone broke, Olivia needs mine until Friday and when I ask why I can't have mine and she do without, she replies that I am much too dependent on it! Does that seem right ?...

From College Daughter:

Oh my gosh. Exhibit A on why adults should not be allowed on facebook.

***

Me, on my son's FB page:

I love you and am proud of you! Is that too personal for FB?!

Jordan:

Only because we have other ways of communicating besides facebook!

Me:

Yes, but that's not broadcasting my feelings, which is the point!

So there you have the case against parents commenting to their kids on FB. Little does my son realize that I plan to wish him a BIG Facebook happy birthday on Monday, his 21st birthday. I'll shout my birthday love to the world!!! (Groan.)

Hodge Podge, Because I Can Be Random at Other Times, Too

Facebook status update today:

Time warp today: clogs, jeans, crocheted top, feathery hair, and on the way to work, Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" on the radio. Felt like I should've been heading to E. 26th Street in a Camaro with a bunch of frayed folders and a note from Kris Gill spilled out on the seat.




Here is a bag I bought recently for $13 marked down from $60 ~ Penney's.



Here is my lunch today:

Grapefruit, protein bar, Caffeine-free Diet Coke with lime to squeeze.



That is all for today. Unless I think of something else useless to post.