4th of the 4th

Steph over at The Incurable Insomniac tagged me for this fun little meme. Go to your 4th photo file and choose the 4th picture, post it and explain what it is. Well, I don't really have photo files, so I went to the 4th page of my mySpace page and found the 4th photo there.

This is a picture of one of my dearest friends Cteev. I believe this is his senior High School pic. Circa 1986. Cteev was one of the original "Bohemites" back in good old Ventura County California. I met Cteev in the summer of 87, "pimping" alcohol outside of a liquor store in Ventura (for those of you unfamilar with the term "pimping"..in this context, it means trying to get someone to buy alcohol for you because you are under 21) Anyway, a couple of weeks later, another friend of mine took me to the house his boyfriend was living in at the time. He was living with a family of 6, plus a few other "street urchins" Lo and behold, there was Cteev, living in the house as well. We became the tightest of friends from there on out. Even going so far as to become engaged. After we broke up, we stayed close, actually I do believe we became even closer. He was one of the loves of my life. Cteev contracted HIV in the late 90's and on October 23rd 2001, a blood clot found its way to his heart, and he lost his battle.

OMG..... it seriously just occured to me.

He died 7 years ago today.

Wow.

Selfless Meme

1. Post a note about a blogger you would like to see something wonderful happen for. Maybe one whose posts have touched your heart in one way or another. Include details as to why you admire them and what you wish for them. Be as supporting and affirming as you can.

I cannot think of anyone more deserving than The Incurable Insomniac. Not only is this person my favorite blogger, but also happens to be my bestest friend in the world. Steph has worked so hard for so many years. Not just in the conventional sense of the "working world", but more importantly, he has worked his ass off creating music and the written word to better all of us as the human race. Those intangible creations that make us all better people, if we would just pay attention. What I wish for Steph more than anything, is that he gain the respect and accolades he so rightfully deserves. Not just financially ( though I know he knows that would be nice) :-) But the recognition for all that he has done. Steph has given me the gift of laughter, knowledge, wisdom and the most precious of all gifts, his friendship. I am a better person for just knowing him.

2. Post your favorite memory around selflessness, giving, or doing for others. Something that has actually changed you.

When I first moved to Colorado, my then husband and I moved into a mobile home that had been "founded" to the land, 13 miles above the town of Golden. It was December, we had no heat and very little of anything else. Close to Christmas, we found a basket of food sitting next to our mailbox. In it was a ham, tea, coffee, some jams, crackers and cookies and a myriad of other yums. There was a card attached that read "Ho ho ho, you'll never know". To this day I still don't know who left it for us. I was so touched by the gesture. I try to remember this when I come across someone who is in a low place in their life. When I have been able to, I have done the same for others.

3. As a postscript, name one thing you will actually do for someone in your life before December 31 that is born out of joy.

The only thing I can do, is make sure that the people around me know that I love them and care for them. Something I try to do on a regular basis anyway.

Friday Five

OK, so now that the holidays are over and done with, I can get my life back to normal. Or as normal as my life has ever been. To start with, here is my newest Friday Five.

5 of my favorite books.

1. Catcher in the Rye - Salinger

2. The Good Earth - Buck

3. The Davinci Code - Brown

4. David Copperfield (or pretty much anything by Dickens)

5. Night Music - Waller

I love to read, I need to make more time for it. What are some of your favorite reads?

Friday Five

Given the time of year, this weeks Five is the Top Five Funniest Christmas Songs.

1. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
2. Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas song
3. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
4. You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch
5. Bob and Doug's 12 Days of Christmas (and a Beer in a Tree)

Please add your own faves!

The Friday Five

At the suggestion of The Incurable Insomniac, I have decided to make the Top Five things that: Make me be weird.

1. Finding a stem in a can of green beans.

2. Getting a 12 pack of pop, and finding that odd, unopened, yet mysteriously empty can.

3. Spam jelly.

4. Pooping in public restrooms.

5. People with lazy eye. I mean seriously! Which one should I look at?

Friday Fives

I've decided, since I am so bad about keeping up on my blog, I am going to start a weekly project. I am going to start the weekly Friday Five. Nothing too deep, just five things I have been thinking about, or maybe a top five, maybe the five reasons why I... Here is the first of my Friday Fives.

Five silly things that happened this week:

1) My husband attempting to explain to me the subtle nuances of the difference between the top crust and the bottom crust of a chicken pot pie.

2) My baby cat managed to get himself closed up in the bathroom all day yesterday (not really silly or funny, as I almost cried when he came out) But, he spent about 10 minutes in the box taking care of 9 hours worth of kitty business. ( good boy!)

3) A single sentence of a conversation I overheard: "I looked in my rear view, and there was a naked guy running across the street."

4) I got a rubber chicken key chain.

5) I inadvertently bought children's toilet paper. I didn't even know there was such a thing. It has pictures on it, designed to illustrate how much is appropriate to use.

I will take suggestions for Friday Fives. If there is anything you want to know and have always been afraid to ask. This is the time. :-)

Caption This

Man: "You've already handed me my own balls, what more do you want?"
Wife: "Don't be silly dear. Those aren't YOUR balls..."

OK, so I stole this pic from RW over at Chasing Vincenzo. Too many jokes running through my head. Please, add your own caption.

A musical meme

Answer the following questions using only the song titles from a chosen musician or band.

1. Musician I chose:
   Queen
   
   
2. Are you male or female?
   Foxy Lady (I know it was a Hendrix tune, but they did a remake and I am counting it)
   
   
3. Describe yourself:
   Fat Bottom Girls
   
   
4. How do some people feel about you?
   Friends Will be Friends
   
   
5. How do you feel about yourself?
   I'm Going Slightly Mad
   
   
6. Describe your ex:
   See What a Fool I've Been
   
   
7. Describe your current significant other:
   You're My Best Friend
   
   
8. Describe a best friend:
   Bohemian Rhapsody
   
   
9. Describe some one who is no longer your friend:
   Where Are You Now
   
   
10. Describe where you want to be:
    Freedom Train
    
    
11. Describe how you live:
    Lazing On a Sunday Afternoon
    
    
12. Describe how you love:
    Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow
    
    
13. What would you ask for if you had just one wish?
    The Millionaire Waltz
    
    
14. Share a few words of wisdom:
    Stop All the Fighting
    
    
15. Now say goodbye:
    Don't Look Back

Tagged by Steph

I have been tagged by The incurable Insomniac.

1. What were you doing 10 Years Ago?
   I was living in Colorado with my now ex-husband and being generally miserable.
   
   
2. 5 Years Ago?
   Living in Kansas with my now husband Beau and working for ACME Brick as an office manager.
   
   
3. 1 Year Ago?
   I was in the very very beginning stages of negotiations of the sale of my home.
   
   
4. Five snacks you enjoy:
   Now that I know I am diabetic, the list has changed, so it now is as follows:
   Pig Bubbles (aka fried pork rinds)
   Sugar Free wafer cookies (peanut butter is way yum!)
   Cottage Cheese
   Vienna Sausages
   Tuna salad with soy crisps
   
   
5. Five songs you know by heart but wish you didn't:
   YMCA - Village People
   Because of You - Kelly Clarkson
   Theme from the Brady Bunch
   My HS alma mater
   The Boston market "Eat Steak" song
   
   
6. Five things I would do with a LOT of money:
   Pay off all debt (house, bills etc..)
   Take care of all my friends and family
   Buy a new reliable vehicle, or 2
   Seeing as I now have quit my job, I would travel the world
   Settle somewhere in Europe
   
   
7. Five things you would never wear:
   An OSU t-shirt
   Diamonds
   A cowboy hat
   Fake hair
   Any religious symbol
   
   
8. Five things you should never have worn:
   Leg warmers
   Stretch pants
   Leather overall shorts with fishnet stockings
   A gold wedding band
   Catholic school uniform
   
   
9. Five things you enjoy doing:
   Hanging with my peeps
   Playing video games
   Entertaining
   Napping on Sunday afternoon
   Cooking
   
   
10. Five bad habits:
    Smoking
    Interjecting unsolicited opinions
    Leaving my shoes where ever I have taken them off
    Not replacing the TP
    Not replacing trash liners
    
    
11. Five people who must fill this out:
    I think Steph tagged 'em all!

If you believe...they put a man in the beans

This is kinda cool. See if you can find the man in the pile of coffee beans.Yes, he is in there.

Scientists say if you can find the man in 3 seconds or less then your right brain is developed better than most people. 3 seconds to one minute, then your right brain has developed normally. More than 3 minutes, then your brain is functioning slowly and you need more protein.
I found him in less than a minute. Once you find him, you will wonder why it took so long. LOL.

My Word Cloud

My Word Cloud

Tag, I'm It

OK, I have been tagged by The Incurable Insomniac. I will tag at the end of the meme.

1. Black and White or Color; how do you prefer your movies?
   If it was filmed in B&W, then I want to see it in B&W. Likewise with color. I do not condone colorization.
   
   
2. What is the one single subject that bores you to near-death?
   SPORTS!!! It's a game. Get over it. 'Nuff said.
   
   
3. MP3s, CDs, Tapes or Records: what is your favorite medium for prerecorded music?
   I enjoy the portability and convenience of CDs and MP3s, but gimmee good ol' vinyl any day!
   
   
4. You are handed one first class trip plane ticket to anywhere in the world and ten million dollars cash. All of this is yours provided that you leave and not tell anyone where you are going ... Ever. This includes family, friends, everyone. Would you take the money and ticket and run?
   Wow, good one. Well, with no other way around the other stuff. I would say NO. If I really thought I could get away with it, I would take the money and figure out a way to get my friends and family with me. If this was impossible, then I would rather have my loved ones.
   
   
5. Seriously, what do you consider the world's most pressing issue now?
   Education. I agree with Lynn and Steph.
   
   
6. How would you rectify the world's most pressing issue?
   I'm not sure. Better pay for teachers would be a good start though.
   
   
7. You are given the chance to go back and change one thing in your life; what would that be?
   I would have visited with Cteev when I had the chance in California.
   
   
8. You are given the chance to go back and change one event in world history, what would that be?
   Lennon would have ducked.
   
   
9. A night at the opera, or a night at the Grand Ole' Opry—Which do you choose?
   Easy. Opera.
   
   
10. What is the one great unsolved crime of all time you'd like to solve?
    Who took my good scissors??
    
    
11. One famous author can come to dinner with you. Who would that be, and what would you serve for the meal?
    JD Salinger, and I would serve porterhouse with a baked potato and a great dinner salad.
    
    
12. You discover that John Lennon was right, that there is no hell below us, and above us there is only sky—what's the first immoral thing you might do to celebrate this fact?
    Already believing that there is no hell, and no heaven, I guess I wouldn't do anything differently.

I am tagging Lashell