6:21 AM: Quote Meme

From Grandy:

"The point of this quick meme is to share a favorite quote and dedicate it to three other bloggers."

Again, I won't be tagging people but feel free to do this meme if you'd like and I'll add your name here.

Meanwhile... one quote... Gosh there are so many. I have a file of quotes on my computer. Let's go with this one:

"Going to church doesn't make you a christian any more than standing in a
garage makes you a car."

5:38 AM: Another MP Meme

Another overdue Meme from MP.

5 Random or Weird Things About Me:
(Didn't I do this already? Can you do the same one more than once?)

1. I used to say hangaburg (I was 3)


2. I am often invisible to sensors that automatically open doors. Most times I have to back up and try a re-entry, and/or wave my hand in front of it. (No I'm not too short!)


3. Ah there's another random fact. I'm 5'4."


4. I love Macs.


5. I also love Big Macs.
   

5 Places I want to see again or see:

1. My bed
   
   
2. My pillow
   
   
3. My blanket
   
   
4. My mattress
   
   
5. The inside of my eyelids.

-What?

3:26 AM: Book Meme

MP tagged me for a Book Meme back in February. I tried doing it many times, but it proved to be problematic.

The rules are:

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages)
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people

Well we know #5 is out because I don't do that. The problem, for me started with #1. The book of at least 123 pages. It turns out, that I have no books near my desk that have 123 pages. I thought I did, but I was mistaken. The books closest to my desk are children's books or software manuals. I do have other books but they're not nearby, and God forbid I GET UP FROM MY CHAIR to do a meme!

A few times I thought I might be able to do it. I noticed a book sitting nearby, on a table, on my bed. Do you know what I found each time I opened one of those books to page 123? A blank page. The page was blank! Or it had less than five sentences. -This happened several times. Different days, different books, different times.

I do not believe this meme was meant to be. Not for me anyway. If the time comes when I notice a book of more than 123 pages in the vicinity of my desk, (with text of more than 5 sentences on page 123) I may revisit this, but for now, it doesn't look like it's gonna happen!

Rock Star/Album Cover Meme

With the benefit for my friend coming up this Saturday, I've had "Rock" on my mind. Making travel plans and helping to promote the concert has been taking up a good percentage of my time, so when I saw this meme on both MP's blog: My Second Journal and Karyn's blog: Vexed in the City, it looked like fun.

Here's how it works. Click on each link below:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
   The title of the article on that page is the name of your band.
2. http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
   The last four words of the very last quote on this page is the title of your album. (You might have to click the "new random quotes" button at the bottom, or the link in the sidebar.)
3. http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
   The third picture on this page is your album cover. Please remember to give credit to the photographers for their photos.*

*Unfortunately, I originally got carried away while doing this and forgot to note the names of the photographers so I had to re-do all my albums. (Yes albums plural. I've had a very diverse and successful career! ;) )

Photo from Razorbern


Photo from Alessia Campostrini


Photo from Pensiero


Photo from HeatherMG

Meme #7: Breast Cakes

Two weeks ago, I was tagged with my first meme: "Share 7 random and/or weird things about yourself." This is a further explanation of #7 on my list.

I once made a cake in the shape of two large breasts. (Also my friend's suggestion.)

I had a boss once who was very excited about her new boob job. She LOVED her new breasts. She was so proud of them that she wanted to show them off to everybody and routinely flashed people in the office. Every employee, every client, anybody who walked in the door. "Wanna see my new boobs!" -and up went the shirt!

For her birthday, I decided to make her a cake in the shape of two large breasts. I hoped this would not get me fired. I thought she would probably love the cake but this was my boss, and there was a slight chance that she might be offended by it. Still, I really thought this was unlikely from the woman who was flashing everybody.

I used metal mixing bowls for the cake molds and experimented with food coloring to get just the right flesh tone for the icing. Then came the nipples. These were the biggest challenge. If the nipples didn't look right, nobody would know what the cake was, and I was very clear in my mind that if I did this, I wanted it to be done right. I didn't want anyone thinking "Is that..? Nah.... couldn't be..." or "What are those? Hubcaps?"

In short, I totally obsessed over the nipples. Mixing the right shade of mauve/maroon/pink, getting the right shape... Unfortunately, the more I played with the nipples the softer they got so I had to keep putting my nipples in the freezer to harden. (No, there is no way to make that sound better! It didn't even sound right back then!) At one point I was so focused on getting the nipples right that I almost put them on a plate and walked next door to a neighbor to ask "Excuse me, do these look like nipples to you?" (Picture that scene for a moment, will you? -I'm so glad I came to my senses before I got out the door!)

The end result? Perfect. My boss squealed! She loved it! She went absolutely and totally berserk over the cake. Loved it, loved me, loved everything, told everybody! In fact, I think we may have even shot a photo of it for the magazine. I wonder what ever happened to that issue...

Meme #1: I Won't Continue Chain Letters

Earlier this week I was tagged with my first meme: "Share 7 random and/or weird things about yourself." This is a further explanation of #1 on my list.

I won't continue any kind of chain letter or "chain email." (Except for one time that involved socks...)

Most chain letters have a section at the end that promises health, happiness and prosperity to those who continue the chain, and plague, famine, and pestilence to those who don't. Real or imagined, I won't send anything to people I care about that threatens them with death and destruction! (Though I find it interesting how many people have NO problem sending the threat of those things to me!) I especially won't re-send chain letters because so many people take them seriously. Oh you think that's silly? How often have you, or someone you know, continued chain letters because you didn't want to "tempt fate" or because you figured it couldn't hurt to take a chance at getting the good luck? ;)

As for chains that don't threaten gloom and doom, I still won't re-send them. Jokes, funny photos, "links I must see," petitions... I hate that stuff! I will only read emails whose content is written by, and is about, the friend or associate who sent them. If someone emails me anything else, I will politely ask them not to, and if they persist, I'll block their email address -even if they're a good friend. (If those same types of things are on someone's blog, that's a whole different story! I choose to read those!)

Memes are a bit different. I might tag specific people for some memes in the future, but for the most part, I'd rather have people volunteer to be "tagged." Memes should be fun, but some people stress out over them, and I don't know everyone well enough to know who'd like to be tagged and would think it was fun, and who might be feeling "meme-d out" at the moment! ;) I guess that, in general, I'm not comfortable volunteering other people for things without checking with them first.

About The Socks

There was one time that I broke my self imposed chain letter rule.

I was once sent a chain letter, through snail mail, that told me that IF I sent a pair of socks to the person at the top of my list, and IF I continued the chain by re-sending the letter to 5 people, I would receive over 10,000 pairs of socks in the mail from all over the world within the next 30 days.

The thought of this made me laugh SO hard that I decided to give it a try. I figured if I even got ONE pair of socks in the mail it would keep me laughing for the rest of the week -possibly even for the rest of my life! So I continued the chain and I sent the person at the top of the list a pair of funky tie dyed socks that I bought for them at a street fair.

Unfortunately, I never saw one darned pair of socks (No pun intended ;) ) But the thought that I could have opened my mail one day to find a pair of socks, still makes me giggle to this day (not to mention the thought of receiving "over 10,000 pairs of socks from all over the world!")

Meme #4: I Slept In My Car With A Squirrel

Earlier this week I was tagged with my first meme: "Share 7 random and/or weird things about yourself." This is a further explanation of #4 on my list.

My friend's suggestion: "You slept in your car with a squirrel."

Several years ago, as I was walking to my car, I passed a squirrel who was lunging at people. I originally thought he knew the woman he was lunging at because she seemed fairly calm and was laughing about it (nervous laughter). But it turned out that, luckily, although she'd never seen this squirrel, she wasn't afraid of him and that's why she hadn't hit him over the head with a shovel!

A small crowd gathered and I realized that this was going to be one dead squirrel if it kept "attacking" people desperately trying to get someone's attention. He wasn't trying to hurt or bite her, but the way he was relentlessly lunging and clinging to people, somebody was going to panic and kill it. He looked young. Maybe about half the size of a full grown squirrel. I hate taking animals out of their regular environment and away from their families, but even if this one's mother was still around, she clearly hadn't been able to care for him effectively. Squirrels behave this way when they're starving.

I told the crowd that if someone could find me a box or a sturdy bag I'd take him to a wildlife rehabilitator, but it had to be something that could be secured properly because I couldn't risk him getting loose in the car while I was driving. Finally it occurred to me to empty the contents of my knapsack into an empty plastic bag that someone had, and put the squirrel in my knapsack -which could be closed securely. We lured him in with food, closed the bag, and I started calling the wildlife rehabbers I knew.

I found a local rehabber that wasn't too far, but she couldn't take him until the following day. I was away from home, staying with a relative that week, and they made it very clear that there was no way in *&^%$#@! I was bringing a squirrel into their house. I told them it would be in a temporary cage and/or carrier and would be 100% secure. They still refused.

I drove to a friend's house who I knew had some spare cages and other supplies I could use for the night. They wouldn't let me bring the squirrel in either, but in their case it was because they'd had a squirrel infestation in their attic that they'd finally managed to control, and they were afraid to let the "scent of squirrel" anywhere near the insides of their house! But they did suggested that if I wasn't going to separate myself from the squirrel for the night (and they knew I wouldn't!), I could at least park in their driveway so I could use their bathroom if needed.

So that's what I did. I set the squirrel up in a cage with food and water, secured the cage with external clips, covered it with a towel, and slept in the car with the squirrel until I could take it to the rehabber the next day. Throughout the night I could hear him eating (best sound in the world) and could see him breathing through the rise and fall of my knapsack in the cage.

When the rehabber got "Jonesy" (her name for him, since he'd been found near Jones Beach) she said I'd been 100% right about him being young and starving, and she agreed that he would have died or been killed by someone if I'd left him there. I always have this moment with new rehabbers (new to me, not new to their jobs) where they question whether or not I know when to take and when to leave an animal, and whether or not they can trust my assessment of what's going on. The faster I can get past that stage with them the better.

"Jonesy" improved and was socialized into another group of squirrels she had (This rehabber specialized in squirrels). I met with her a month later and he was still doing well. As far as I know, his group was re-released into the wild several months later.

Meme #2: This Is Not The Sharpshooter You're Looking For. Move Along...

Earlier this week I was tagged with my first meme: "Share 7 random and/or weird things about yourself." This is a further explanation of #2 on my list.

2. I stopped taking riflery at camp when I was 12 because I was afraid I'd get drafted.

I used to be very good at riflery. Then one day, I realized that the certificates of completion I'd received were from the National Riflery Association. -And I panicked. I immediately thought "Oh my God... The N.R.A. knows I'm a "Pro-Marksman." The U.S. government has documented PROOF that I can shoot a rifle! If they draft me someday, how am I going to explain to them that 'yes, I'm very good with a gun but I'll only shoot targets and I refuse to shoot something that's living!' ?"

I imagined all kinds of conversations where I'd try to explain the whole "I won't shoot living things" concept to various government officials and/or generals, or where I'd try to convince them to use my sharpshooting skills for technical things like shooting a weapon out of someone's hand, or shooting a bolt that was holding a crucial piece of rope at the top of a tall building way across a dangerous field... (Yeah... I didn't watch too much television! ;) ). But no matter how times I played out these scenarios my head, they always ended the exact same way -With the government officials or generals staring down at me in my olive drabs, handing me a rifle, and saying "we don't care."

So I did the only logical thing a 12-year old at sleepaway camp could do. I stopped taking riflery in the hopes that the N.R.A. and the U.S. Government would forget all about me, and never force me to go into battle and kill people. I never got drafted so it must have worked ;)

Meme #3 & #5: Memorization, And Captain "Dad" Picard

Earlier this week I was tagged with my first meme: "Share 7 random and/or weird things about yourself." This is a further explanation of #3 and #5 on my list.

3. If I listen to a song 3 times, I know about 95% of it perfectly. Lyrics and music.

-That's pretty much all there is to say about this! Lol!

5. My father looks like Patrick Stewart. (Another of my friend's suggestions.)

Yes, my father looks like Captain Picard. Patrick's wiki photo could actually be a photo of my dad. My friends mention it, he's been mistaken for him, and when I watch re-runs of The Next Generation, even I sometimes see "my father" in the captain's chair. He and Patrick are now aging differently so they no longer look identical, but they could still pass for brothers. At least until they open their mouths. My father does a terrible British accent!

Meme #6: The First Time I Saved Someone's Life

Earlier this week I was tagged with my first meme: "Share 7 random and/or weird things about yourself." This is a further explanation of #6 on my list.

I was 11 years old the first time I saved someone's life. (That I know of.)

Ironically we were taking a certification test for "Basic Lifesaving" at the time.

I had already "rescued" my friend during my part of the test and next, she was supposed to "rescue" me. I said "Ok, better come save me. I'm drowning!" Then I made a face, crossed my eyes, plunged down under the water, and waited for her to do a surface dive and come get me.

And I waited.... and waited... holding my breath.... wondering what was taking her so long.... and then I saw her.... sinking down past me! I grabbed her and pulled her up to the surface. It seems that when I'd made the face and crossed my eyes, she'd started laughing and choking on water, and then had started to drown! I tread water with her and tried to get an adult's attention, but of course they thought we were still pretending to drown so they ignored us!

I held her above the surface for about five minutes until she stopped coughing and was breathing ok again. She told me she didn't want to go to shore and that she wanted to continue with the test. When she was able to tread water on her own and was breathing normally I asked if she was sure she wanted to continue and she said she was. So I said "Ok" and made some kind of wise crack about remembering WHOSE turn it was to drown! Then I dove back under the water and waited again.

And I waited.... and waited... and eventually I saw her sink past me again, semi-conscious towards the bottom of the lake. (Apparently this was MY fault too for making her laugh again re: my comment about remembering whose turn it was to drown!) This time I pulled her all the way into shore. She recovered, and is now married and a writer for the New York Times.

(I also had to paddle her to shore once during a canoe race after a neighboring rowboat whacked her in the head with an oar.)

My First Meme: 7 Random And/Or Weird Things About Me

I got tagged by Grandy for my very first meme: "7 random and/or weird things about me." I asked a friend to help me out with this, because most of the things that occurred to me were things I'd already told you all, or things I didn't want to tell you! Lol!

Since it's difficult for me to list 7 random or weird things without explaining the stories behind them, I'm going to do my meme a bit differently. I'll list my answers here, then expand on them over the next few days (Yes, it's another multiple part post! ;) )

I'm also not going to tag people for this because I am the dead end of all chain type letters (Actually that's a good random thing about me. That'll be number one!) However, if you are one of the last blogs on Earth who has not had this meme yet, and you'd like to do it, consider yourself tagged. If you decide to do the meme, link back here and let me know in the comments, and I'll list you as one of my "tagged" people at the end of this post (Which will probably drive some extra traffic to your site. -Didn't think about that did ya? ;) )

The Rules

• Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
• Share 7 random and/or weird things about yourself.
  
• Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
• Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

My list of 7 random and/or weird things about me
(To be explained in greater detail over the next few days)

1. I won't continue any kind of chain letter or "chain email." (Except for one time that involved socks...)
   
2. I stopped taking riflery at camp when I was 12 because I was afraid I'd get drafted.
3. If I listen to a song 3 times, I know about 95% of it perfectly. Lyrics and music.
4. My friend's suggestion: "You slept in your car with a squirrel."
5. My father looks like Patrick Stewart. (Another of my friend's suggestions.)
   
6. I was 11 years old the first time I saved someone's life. (That I know of.)
   
7. I once made a cake in the shape of two large breasts. (Also my friend's suggestion.)

My List Of 7 Voluntarily Tagged People
(Your link could be here! Let me know if you take up the challenge!)

1. Rebecca at Sunspotting
   
2. MP at mysecondjournal
   
3. Kendra at A Thousand Words
   
4. 4 more volunteer spots!
   
5. You know you want to volunteer!
   
6. [Your Name Here]
   
7. [Or Here. Heck you can even pick which spot you want! :) ]