Yes or No:
You keep a diary: Yes.
You like to cook: No.
You fold your underwear: No.
You talk in your sleep: Who knows?
You set your watch a few minutes ahead: No.
You believe in love: Yes.

Last…
Movie you saw: On DVD, Chaos, a Japanese film.
TV show you’ve watched: I rarely watch one from beginning to end. I surf a lot.
Song that was stuck in your head: Angel – Sarah whats her name.
Person you’ve called: My son.
Person that’s called you: My granddaughter.
Person you were thinking of: My daughter.

Do…
You drink: I’m one of those people who can’t stop at one, so I don’t since 12/5/84.
You do drugs: Same story.
You smoke: Quit in 1987.
You like cleaning: No.
You write in cursive or print: A mixture of both…but usually by keyboard.
You carry a donor card: On my driver’s license.
You wish you could live somewhere else: Nope. I’d stay right here forever if I can.

Of people from high school that I stayed in contact with: None.
Of times my name has appeared in the newspaper: Not since my youth.
Of boys I have kissed: Way too many.
Of people I’ve slept with: You’d be shocked.
Of times I have had my heart broken: Enough to have changed my course.
Of hearts I have broken: Sadly, I’m not innocent.
Of times I have been in love: Probably 6-8.
Of things in my past that I regret: Other than learning from it, I don’t dwell in the past.

If…
Someone were spying on you, what embarrassing fact would they discover? I talk to animals.
One song could be regarded as your personal anthem, what would it be? Imagine – John Lennon.

What…
Do you hope to learn tomorrow? To be at peace with myself.
Is one risk are you not willing to take? Walking in the woods alone.
Is your most alluring quality? Being able to listen attentively.
Is one thing have you never done before? Ice skated.
Stereotype do you refuse to agree with? I try to refuse ALL stereotypes.
Makes you laugh uncontrollably? I love the 80′s and I love the 70′s on TV.
Dirty word always makes you laugh? Depends on the context.
Jeopardy category would you be good at? I’ve never watched it.
Deep Thought: People think it would be fun to be a bird because you could fly. But they forget the negative side, which is the preening.
Today I am grateful for: Sewers

Who to vote for?  Find out here.

Friday Five

You have just won one million dollars:

1. Who do you call first?

My son and daughter.
2. What is the first thing you buy for yourself?

A photography darkroom.  Or a new computer with all the accessories.
3. What is the first thing you buy for someone else?

Any form of education my children or grandchildren want.
4. Do you give any away? If yes, to whom?

All family members in the form of investments.  A particular single-parent family I’m aware of that is struggling and has 3 very bright children.
5. Do you invest any? If so, how?

Dang betcha.  In reasonably conservative solid funds.

Winter
It rains, it rains.

The window is baroque with water.

Imagine all the little birds huddled in windowsills

fluffing their feathers and watching for the light to change.

Deep Thought: I bet a funny thing about driving a car off a cliff is, while you’re in midair, you still hit those brakes! Hey, better try the emergency brake!

Today I am grateful for: Computer geeks

Now you know my ABC’s
A-AGE: 64
B-Boyfriend/Girlfriend: None at present but working on it at a snail’s pace
C- Chores you hate:
Driving to work and back, cleaning the garage, mopping floors, changing the couch cover
D- Dad’s Name:
Malcolm
E- Essential everyday item:
Fine point pen
F- Favorite actor/actress:
Johnny Depp, Kevin Costner, Denzel Washington, Susan Sarandon, Ashley Judd, Meryl Streep
G- Gold or Silver:
Silver
H- Hometown:
Albany, Oregon
I- instruments you play: Piano (once upon a time)
J- Job:
Web specialist in ENT department at big university hospital
K- Kids:
Two – Jane 38, Josh 35
L- Living arrangement: Tiny 2 bedroom house with charming yard – by myself
M- Mom’s name:
Inez
N- Number of siblings you have:
zip darnit
O- Overnight hospital stays: When I was born. Tonsils out. Meningitis in grade school. Psych ward NYC Xmas 1963 for depression. 2 hernia surgeries. 2 childbirths.
P- Phobia: Used to be long ago enclosed rooms with overhead neon type lights in meetings where I can’t leave if I want to.
Q- Quote you like:
“There are no big deals.”
R- Ride:
1989 white Toyota Tercel
S- Shows you like:
Talks shows – especially Ellen Degeneres, Oprah, Sharon Osbourne. The Daily Show. I love the 80′s and I love the 70′s.
T- Time you wake up: 4:00 AM
U- Unique habit:
Rolling my forefinger around my thumb when I’m stressed.
V- vegetable you refuse to eat:
Creamed onions.
W- worst habit: Being judgemental
X- Xrays you’ve had:
Zillions – teeth, mammograms, chest, feet back, you name it.
Y- Yummy foods you make:
I don’t have a specialty.
Z- Zodiac Sign: Leo!

The S Factor

Read at your own risk.

Serenity

Isn’t this something we all need in between our daily bouts of passion? (click on picture)

 Deep Thought: If you’re a circus clown, and you have a dog that you use in your act, I don’t think it’s a good idea to also dress the dog up like a clown, because people see that and they think, “Forgive me, but that’s just too much.”

Today I am grateful for: Bottled water

Seasonal Affective Disorder

OK, I’ve had enough. It’s only the middle of winter with at least another month or more to go before spring and I’m ready to hibernate till the sun comes back. I shouldn’t complain because the East Coast is having it so much worse, but I swear to god I have to really concentrate not to let this dreariness affect how I think about everything. Here’s a few tips I found:

All-Natural Treatment
Treatment of severe cases of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) often includes psychotherapy and antidepressant drugs. Below are a few natural remedies to help ease the effects of the mood disorder, according to Body & Soul magazine.
- If you can’t afford a light box ($200-$500), a cheaper alternative may be to purchase full-spectrum lights (which cost about $10). Exposure to these lights 30 minutes a day may help improve mood.
- When getting outside during daylight hours proves too difficult due to inclement weather, a vitamin D supplement can help make up for what you don’t get naturally from the sun.
- Try 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day. Research shows proper conditioning is a natural antidepressant (i.e., jogging releases dopamine in the brain – something which SAD patients often lack.
- If you’re able to, watch a comedy or catch some live music – never underestimate the power of laughter and some upbeat tunes.
Deep Thought: Like jewels in a crown, the precious stones glittered in the queen’s round metal hat.
Today I am grateful for: A job where I don’t have to look at the gray sky all day

Cold Mountain
The story of a soldier in the Civil War who deserts and his journey home to the woman he loves. There are the expected battle scenes at the beginning of the film, but mostly it is the journey and the love story. To me, however, the real message of the film is not the gorgeous stars, the beautiful scenery, the fine acting, but the despair of someone who has seen too much of war. When will humanity ever learn this lesson? On that note, here is a small news article:

WMD pressure builds up for Blair. Opposition MPs have called for a public inquiry. The prime minister is facing growing pressure to say the basis for going to war in Iraq was flawed. The Tories and Liberal Democrats want a public inquiry into the case for war. Mr Blair insists weapons of mass destruction will be found although the official leading the US search resigned saying they did not exist. Former foreign secretary Mr Cook told the BBC Mr Blair had been driven to war by “missionary zeal” and the desire to show loyalty to US President George W Bush. After resigning, US search official David Kay said he did not believe there had been large-scale production of chemical or biological weapons in Iraq since 1991. On Saturday US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Iraq may not have possessed any stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction before the Iraq War.

Each day the news announces that more Americans have died in Iraq, and where are the American flags now that were waving on every house a year ago? We don’t hear about the families any more of these soldiers. We don’t see them come home in body bags. No one seems to care. What is happening to us?

Deep Thought: I wish scientists would come up with a way to make dogs a lot bigger, but with a smaller head. That way, they’d still be good as watchdogs, but they wouldn’t eat so much.
Today I am grateful for: My neighbors who still have a battered No War in Iraq sign in their front window

Happy Sunday
For those of you who haven’t traveled to the sidebar, click on the cat. It would cheer up the Rock of Gibralter.

Not much time to post now. My grandchildren are in the house, having stayed overnight – a pleasure I don’t get as much lately as I used to. Later I’m going to see Cold Mountain with a friend, and then I’ll get to watch the Golden Globes tonight having seen all 5 best films. Yummy.
Deep Thought: Love is not something that you can put chains on and throw into a lake. That’s called Houdini. Love is liking someone a lot.
Today I am grateful for: Cotton underwear