Sometimes strange and silly questions run through my pencil brain. Don't try to look for connections. There are none. Just have fun answering a non-serious set of 7 royal questions. **We would really appreciate a photograph as evidence for question #6** To participate head on over to Bloggingham to sign in.
1. Who should run for United States President in 2012 - The 20,465th person in the Seattle white pages. Has to be better than any of the alternatives.
2. Have you ever gone to a party and snooped in the medicine cabinet? - Yes. My stuff was better.
3. Why are Happy Meals happy? - They are part of a conspiracy to doom children to obesity so that the galactic overlords can conquer the planet.
4. Have you ever done the Hokey Pokey? Yes, but the Hunky Dory was much more fun.
5. What song sticks in your head and drives you crazy? "Who Will Buy?" from Oliver. It starts as a morning shower song and gets stuck.
6. Do you dance like crazy around the house when no one is looking? Absolutely
7. Have you ever been involved in a food fight? Grape jam fired through straws ... purple splotches everywhere
Her majesty is getting ready to tiptoe through the tulips and therefor has declared a spring into spring. Just visit the Queen's Meme and answer the inquiries.
Today we are discussing the wonders of Spring. But it's not all about blooming flowers and Easter cards this time. Just a simple play on words with a twisted smack of alliteration and snark thrown in. You know, the usual. Now do me a favor and add your smack to the smack.
K?
1. What about spring ticks you off the most?
Pastels. I don't like pastels. I even dressed my babies in primary colors. Pastels are sad, wimpy imitations lurking on the color pallet and popping up once a year in M & M's and Peeps
2. How many blooming idiots have you met lately?
Everybody's crazy except thee and me, and sometimes I'm not sure about thee. I would rather have a blooming onion.
3. If spring springs early when you're in the middle of a spring fling, does that mean you must flung 'em out of your life early or can it wait until summer comes?
No. If they are a really, really good one, you hang on extra tight until it turns into a winter wonderland.
4. If you could toss one thing or person out the window during your annual spring cleaning, who would it be?
At the moment Paul Ryan from the penthouse floor, but the supply of prospective candidates is endless.
5. Do you have seasonal defective disorder?
Yes. Spring makes me grouchy. Everything is just too darn CUTE.
6. If you left the windows open on a cool spring night, what would the neighbors see?
Me dancing nude in the moonlight in my dreams while snuggled under the blankets
7. Name your most potent allergens during this season of (achoo!) bliss.
My nose is a barometer. I don't have allergies, but my nose hates changes in moisture. Spring is awful because it's dry, it's wet, it's dry, it's wet ......... Achoo!!!!
There is one good thing about a Spring - a great Rodgers and Hart song but they weren't happy about it either:
Of course, Ella Fitzgerald's voice makes even Spring bearable.
This week her majesty wants to know our dietary habits, so stop feeding you face or wishing you could feed your face because you are on a diet and tell all. To participate (not to mention staying out of the dank, dismal dungeon) just sign in on the Queen's Meme and answer all the following gentle inquiries of sincere interest.
1. Do you make a list when you go grocery shopping?
I keep a grocery list on my computer to be added to so that I can print it out to take with me. I then race out of the house without printing. It saves on ink.
2. Do you buy more groceries when you're hungry?
No my stomach can't afford groceries.
3. Coupons. Use 'em?
Whenever Safeway gives me a $10 off. Otherwise, I forget.
4. Have you ever complained to the manager of your grocery store?
All the time. The produce manager greets me by my first name and says, "Just tell them at the register". The trouble with cold storage over long distances is that deep bruising you can't see from the outside happens. This is why I buy almost all locally grown, but I can't live without avocados.
5. Do you like to buy groceries at huge chain stores like WalMart? Or do you shop exclusively at food stores?
They aren't practical for a small family. Since my son is a veteran and works at Fort Lewis, we wait for the case sales and restock the pantry twice a year.
6. How much time do you spend reading labels in the grocery store?
Way to much. I need to practice saying sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate, and dyglicerides.
7. Do you push your own grocery cart to the car and return it?
Actually yes unless I can hand it over to someone on their way in.
8. What is the one food item you always buy at the grocery store that you can't live without?
See above referenced avocados. There is no life without avocados.
This week her majesty wants a peek in our closets, so throw open your doors and tell all. To participate (not to mention staying out of the dank, dismal dungeon) just sign in on the Queen's Meme and answer all the following too nosy for words gentle inquiries of sincere interest.
1. What is your favorite lipstick color and why? -
I've Got One Here Somewhere at the bottom of my purse. It's called "Milla's Plum". Who is Milla and why is she selling plums?
2. How long does it take you to get ready to go to work in the morning?
When I used to go to work, anything over 15 minutes was too darn long. All clothes were bought with that goal in mind. I now have it down to five minutes except for a really big night out.
3. Do you have your nails professionally done? Mani? Pedi?
Yes. You have to have a few "spoil me" items in your life.
4. Tell us about your latest spa experience - real or imagined.
Pretty utilitarian other than the facial and shiatsu massage. See note above about "spoil me".
5. Is there something you'd like to change about your appearance? Would you ever have cosmetic surgery?
I really want to have the "weekend lift" to tighten up the chin line. Other than that, "It Takes Courage to Be Happy". I earned these laugh lines and I'm keeping them!
6. How do you take care of your skin?
Keep it clean. Occasional facials. Exfoliating pads at bath time.
7. Tell us your secrets for vibrant, shiny, healthy-looking hair.
Mayonnaise
8. What is your favorite fragrance?
Absolute favorite at about $150.00 an ounce (Guess who has to settle for the 1/4 oz or Cologne) - Jean Deprez' Bal A Versailles. Runner up: Paloma Picasso.
9. Everyone has a certain color they love to wear. What is yours?
Rich Burgundy. My closet is loaded with rouge et noir. Every time I try to switch to my favorite colors of blue and green, the trip to the store proves once more that they just aren't my colors.
10. Do you have ink?
If you mean tattoos, no, though I keep considering my signature owl. Guess I would have to put him on my shoulder. If you mean a real writing pen and ink then yes.
11. How would you describe your personal style?
Leftover Hippie: Caftans, peasant skirts, fleece sweatpants/tops, and nudity.
First her majesty was looking more than a little green with the flu and now she is going green on her blog. I can see a theme developing here. Can little green men be far behind? It is almost St. Paddy's day you know and there might be a leprechaun or ten around Bloggingham. Join in on the weekly meme, by clicking the link below.
We will attempt to "go green" here on the Queen's Meme blog today. Even I'm green. Even Mr. Linky is green! (don't tell him) I am woefully ashamed of my non-green status in this country and wish to do better. Recyling is not my forte unless we're talking fingernails. Let's find out how green we really are. I went to this website and was SHOCKED to learn that not only am I un-American and globally unwise in this regard, but I deserve to be smacked with a non-toxic noodle as well. I hate pain. I'd rather reform. Shall we?
Yes. Washington makes it easy by supplying brown (garden waste), blue (paper & plastic recyclables), and green (general garbage) and a bin for glass.
2. Have you ever hung clothes on a line instead of using the clothes dryer?
Yes as a child before everyone had dryers and recently while in Britain where almost everyone has a line outdoors. It was different.
3. Do you walk or bike to work to save energy?
No. Don't work so I settle for peddling by _ _ _ around the neighborhood.
4. Do you use a water filter for your tap water or do you buy bottled water?
We never buy the little bottles. We do use the large bottles as the company takes them back for recycling.
5. How many trees do you kill each year buying new books?
There is a forest begging for mercy so I try to plant a couple of new trees somewhere every year. Actually since trees for paper is a renewable resource, the only real problem is a mono-culture acreage replacing mixed trees in a real forest.
6. Have you ever considered recycling your cellphone?
Contribute them to the nearest program for battered women. They will see that all personal info is removed and reprogram them for emergency use.
7. All you need are a few simple non-toxic ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap to clean your home. Are you willing to throw away the bottled chemicals?
I've already done it for almost everything.
**Remember! March 26, 2011 is Earth Hour!** I'll be asleep.
Welcome to the Queen's Meme #65. We're all about ones today in the year of the ones. Do the math.
1. What were you doing at1:11am on1/11/11? - Locked in the arms of Morpheus snoozing away. 2. Did you watch the New Year's Eve hoopla on television at midnight or did you makeyour ownhoopla? I watched Australia and had one glass of champagne. Waited for New York to finish the bottle. Hopped into bed at 9:00 PM having seen some great fireworks. 3. I know this is a tired meme question and really should be retired, but can you tell us just ONEof your New Year's resolutions? - Stay away from wheat. 4. What was theonegreatest lesson you learned in 2010. - Aw gee! Was I supposed to learn something? I didn't know there was going to be a test and the cats tore up my homework.
5. Can you recallanews story from 2010 that affected you greatly and/or personally? - Well the one that bothered me most was the health care debate and non stop Republican lies about what it contained with the result that we got a hodge podge, compromised mess that still caters to the for profit insurance industry instead of provide real health care for the American people. 6. If you could have justonething in 2011, what would it be? - Miss America answer: World Peace everywhere. For me: I really want to go to New York to see Broadway plays and musicals. Or Australia or around the world cruise ... Well we are back to peace everywhere. 7. Pick and age: 20 or 11. Whichonewas best for you and why? - Actually they were both pretty good. At 11 my mother had remarried, I liked my stepfather, school was fun and I really loved the Fresno of that era. The 20 was great since it was the year my daughter was born and we bought a home. Lucky for me you didn't pick 12 and 21.
Not quite sure what has gotten into her majesty. She just may have been spending a little too much time by the holiday punch bowl. Anyway, instead of the usual "staid?" Queen's Meme has been replaced by The Mimi Boop Meme. So hop on over to Bloggingham to sign in but beware of high flying high heels ... there's a whole lot of boopy doopy going on.
1. I am good when I hunt for things.
Need something found, Call me! Some people Google, I am the Yo Yo Ma of the search engine.
2. I am naughty when
I procrastinate. Anything worth doing can wait until I get around to it.
3. The world would be a better place if people would
Deck the Halls with home made decorations instead of commercially bought stuff. Don't just sit there, whittle another wood ornament for the tree!
4. Have you ever snuck into the living room in the middle of the night, unwrapped your gifts and wrapped them back just to see what was under the Christmas tree for you? Come on.....you can tell me.
No, but a lot can be determined by shaking vigorously.
Sidenote: I've always wanted to know what really goes on in the Gingerbread House after dark. I've never seen any cookies come out of that place. Have you?
Life expectancy of anything inside a Gingerbread House is sadly very limited.
5. Have you ever been stuck in a chimney?
No. I did get stuck in a crawl through space in Pepper Sauce cave once. Dark except for a flashlight is a wee bit discomforting when you are wedged between two rocks.
6. Who would you like to stuff in a stocking and why?
I've pretty well said, "Get Stuffed" to all who deserve it.
7. Could you name the 12 Disciples Days of Christmas, the 3 Musketeers Wise Men and all of Santa's medications Reindeer if your life depended on it? OK wiseguy. Prove it.
I always get Gaspar, Balthazar, and Melchior mixed up with Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Then D'Artagnan shows up brandishing his sword and the next thing you know Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, and Blitzen end up as reindeer steaks.
8. On the 13th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me
I know there is a true love lurking around here somewhere ... What are you giving me buddy? The queen wants to know!"
9. Imagine that Santa Claus really does exist for a moment. (I can say that this week. Baby Boy is not listening right now ) Anyway, if the Big Guy could grant you any wish, what would your most hedonistic and self-centered wish be? (You can say it. I won't tell. I'm Mimi Boop today.)
It's a mere $2.5 million dollars and can be seen by clicking here.
10. When you make your list, do you check it twice and find out who's been naughty or nice or do you just get everybody a box of chocolate covered cherries and call it a day?
As it happens my son in law is addicted to chocolate covered cherries, so I have to put them in all the boxes with the presents.
If you're reading this meme, consider yourself tagged. That is my Christmas present to you!! And don't try to hide from the queen. She has a list and knows who has been naughty or nice.
The Queen's Meme is all about Christmas and her majesty, Queen Mimi, has employed a grand inquisitor to ferret out our deepest attitudes towards the holiday. To join in on the fun, simply click on the link and sign in.
Let's talk Christmas. I'm in a naughty and nice mood. Some are one-word answers, others need a little explanation. Feel free to elaborate when the blog spirit moves ya. And above all else...Have fun!
1. Amazon.com or the Mall - Amazon only. I don't like malls without crowds. This time of year, file under fate worse than death.
2. Bows or ribbons - Both
3. Expensive or sale tags - Don't care as long as I can afford it for someone.
4. Long list or short - Very very short
5. Wrapped packages or gift bags - Both whichever works best
6. Eggnog or vodka - Eggnog with Brandy.
7. Have you finished your shopping? - No. For the most part I do that after Christmas and the gifts are given on Hogmanay.
8. A Christmas Carol or The Bible Story - A Christmas Carol
9. Are you Scrooge or Santa's Helper? - Scrooge - Actually I'm Fanny, Scrooge's sister. One of my few stage roles.
10. Did you ever catch Santa Claus in the act? - No but I got a peek of Rudolph's rear end.
11. Tell me about your Christmas tree...gotta pic? - No tree. We only do that during years when grandson will be here instead of with his mother.
12. Christmas carols or Rock Station - Mixed up on the IPOD
13. Do you believe in Elves? - Of course
14. I am looking for Santa. Describe him for me. - The guy Eartha Kitt was singing about.
15. Do you leave cookies out or bourbon? - Bourbon Cookies
16. White lights or multi-colored - Multi
17. Wreaths on the doors, windows, outside? - Door
18. Who are the 3 wisest wise men in your life? - It used to be Bob, Tom, and Chris, but now I'm down to just Chris.
19. Is Christmas religious or commercial for you? - Neither
20. Ever kiss under the mistletoe? - Well I started with kissing
21. Stars or angels on top of the tree - Angel
22. Who deserves to get a lump of coal for Christmas and why? - Republicans who voted for tax breaks for millionaires while cutting off the unemployed.
23. Who is #7 in the 12 Days of Christmas song?
24. Snail mail cards or e-cards - Both
25. What do you want for Christmas? - Peace on Earth Goodwill Toward Men or round trip first class to New York and orchestra seat tickets to Memphis
The Doyen of Bloggingham rolls out another questionnaire. To join in on the fun, sign in at The Queen's Meme.
In Canada, it is celebrated on the second Monday in October. In the United States, the fourth Thursday in November. Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest, loved ones near and far, the blessing of simply breathing everyday. Let's pause for a moment and think about what we're thankful for. My goal this year is to focus on the small things that I should be grateful for - even without a holiday looming. Having said that, this is serious and silly simultaneously! Enjoy. Have seconds!
1. If you knew this would be the last Thanksgiving holiday with your family, what would you do differently? The food would be the same only the location would change. We love Bass Lake in November and December when it is rain and snow and the Chalet's overlooking the lake have nice warm pot belly stoves and complete kitchens. It's a great place to snuggle with loved ones or to go alone with a big stack of books.
2. What is your favorite Thanksgiving dinner dish?
You have to practice with this one to find your preference for hot vs sweet vs alcohol
Brandied Sweet Potatoes
2 1/2 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup cane or maple syrup 1/4 cup water or orange juice 3 tbs.'s brandy 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. pepper flakes Place peeled and sliced sweet potatoes in large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes, or until tender, but firm. Drain and set aside. Melt the butter in a large skillet on low heat. Stir in the brown sugar, brandy, maple syrup, water, and salt and cook for 1 minute, stirring often. Add the sweet potatoes and stir gently to coat. Place in a buttered casserole dish, sprinkle with cinnamon and bake @ 350 degrees for 20 minutes, basting with sauce, half way through. !
3. Why did John Smith fall in love with Pocahontas? Was it her beauty or her bravery?
Well she was a nice enough looking woman, though probably strange to him culturally and certainly very brave to cross 3000 miles to visit a totally foreign culture not to mention dying there and never seeing home again, but he was probably more attracted by wealth and land (Cynics R Us). Let's let him say for himself: "motivated not by the unbridled desire of carnal affection, but for the good of this plantation, for the honor of our country, for the Glory of God, for my own salvation... namely Pocahontas, to whom my hearty and best thoughts are, and have been a long time so entangled, and enthralled in so intricate a labyrinth that I was even a-wearied to unwind myself thereou."
4. Fill in the blank: Over the river and through the woods to Queen Mimi's blog we go. Just keeping my "get out of dungeon free" card in good order.
5. What is a cornucopia? A. A foot ailment B. Freud's hidden coping strategy C. a Enuch with a very large vocabulary D. third cousin of Onomatopoeia
Absolutely D. But it's an even closer relative to theEnjambment since it straddles the table and recites poetry.
I am not prone to weeping, as our sex
Commonly are; the want of which vain dew
Perchance shall dry your pities; but I have
That honourable grief lodged here which burns
Worse than tears drown.
6. Find a word that rhymes with Thanksgiving
Banks Living unlike the zombie ones that have completely failed.
7. Do you have any holiday traditions you'd like to share with us?
After dinner movie fest to get ready for Christmas: Well we used to do the after dinner It's a Wonderful Life and the musical Scrooge. Now it is the semi comatose viewing involving the throwing of a pigskin and battering of bodies.
1.When I'm 60 I hope to know more about time travel and less about politics except for past events. 2.At my 60th birthday party, I can only invite 3 people.
They are Son, Daughter, and first Granddaughter. They are my best friends and I really enjoy their company. Now if you want the fantasy party guests: Shakespeare, Louisa May Alcott and someone really yummy for desert. 3."To me old age is always fifteen years older than I am"said Bernard Baruch. What do you consider old age? The 12th of Never 4.Tom Stoppard was overheard saying,"Age is a high price to pay for maturity." What does "maturity" mean to you at any age? Learning to play responsibly. 5. Joan Riverssaid"Looking fifty is great… if you're sixty.". Do you worry about age lines and wrinkles? -
Not really, but I'm finally getting the two vertical ones by the mouth that make you look as if you are frowning - Those are going to get the "be gone" treatment. How do you plan to preserve your wonderful selves? Exercise and peaceful thoughts. 6. Comment on this quote by Euripides "If we could be twice young and twice old we could correct all our mistakes."
Every time I start to go down the road of "If I knew then what I know now", I realize all the things I would have missed. Make amends for the past if you must, but don't live there. Keep going forward wherever that road takes you. 7.Pablo Picasso said,"One starts to get young at the age of sixty and then it's too late." What do you do now to stay young and enjoy your life? I picked the year when everything was wonderful and decided to hang on to that feeling. As a result I no longer have birthdays. I have anniversaries of my 36th birthday. I plan to die of advanced old age when I am only 36.
Norman Vincent Peale said, "Change your thoughts and you change your world." It was interesting to see how many meanings I could find for the word "change".....some are serious, some are silly. Have fun!
1. Name one thing you'd like to change about yourself. - Born during the Battle of the Bulge. I've been fighting it ever since. I would really like to look at a piece of bread without gaining five pounds.
2. If you could wave a magic wand and be done with all the small petty nuisances in your life, what you would have "be gone" first? Bending over to do the laundry. I want a platform so the front loaders are up higher.
3. Do you collect and save your spare change in a jar? - Porcelain Blue and White Chinese Tea jar.
4. Change your world. What is our biggest concern as a global humanity? - Population. Sustainability means enough food and water for all in a world that can support the humans in residence without destroying other species. There are more than six billion on the way to nine billion on a planet that can only give three billion a lifestyle similar to the US.
5. What would you have changed about your last relationship or the one you're in now? - More time
6. If you could reverse the course of history in a time machine, what would you do and how do you think the world would be different today? - Prevent the RFK and MLK assassinations. I call 1968 the year the United States died. Those deaths opened the doors for extremism on all sides and the country has never recovered.
7. Who would you like to change into a toad? - Newt is already a Newt. Dick Armey if he weren't already a reptile. That leave John Boehner, but who ever heard of an orange toad.
8. What is the first thing you change into when you get home from work? It's not what I change into. It's what comes off. The shoes don't last past the front door. The bra and panties make it to the bedroom. Then once barefoot and nude like a civilized person, I change into a caftan for the sake of propriety.
9. If you could change places with anyone in the world for one day, who would that be? Queen Elizabeth II - I think it would be truly fascinating even with her wacky family. Besides a queen's question deserves a queen for an answer.
10. Have you ever heard the expression "turn over a new leaf?" What is under your old one? - Some cobwebs. Cleared out the baggage a long time ago. 11. Name one thing that can cause you to immediately change your mood? - My cat climbing up on my shoulder and purring into my ear.
12. What have you recently (or ever) had a change of heart about? And why? - There have been times when I talked myself out of doing something because of cowardice ... the dive off the deep end. Definitely now in favor of diving. Life's too short to not take chances.
13. When is the last time you changed the oil in your car? - May now I have to do the whole transmission check next month.
