Getting to Know You

Do you have any strange phobias? Not phobias as much as PTSD. I found way too many rotten milk sippy cups over the years, and I will not touch any cup or glass that has had milk left in it for more than a few hours. The kids poured it, they can clean it.
 
Do you sleep with or without clothes on? Usually undies and socks (I have really cold feet ALL THE TIME).

If you are outside, what are you most likely doing? Yard work or swimming in the summer 

Simple but extremely complex. Favorite band? 311. My husband and I have seen them live over 20 times since 1995.

Do you believe in karma? Yes. I do believe in karma. It might be subtle karma, but eventually, people get what they deserve.

Who is your celebrity crush? I have a thing for Jeremy Piven. And Evan Handler. And, if sports people count as celebrities, I love Jacoby Ellsbury- he plays for the Red Sox.

What’s a sound you hate; sound you love? Hate: The noises that pigeons make. Seriously, our neighbors have a pigeon problem, and I've been woken up by the sound of vigorous pigeon sex more times than I'd care to remember. 
Love: Ocean waves, my youngest daughter's laugh (she still has a full on baby belly laugh, even at age 5, it's adorable).

Choose: East Coast or West Coast? Hard to say. I love both coasts (and yet, I live in the Arizona desert). I love the dramatic Pacific Northwest. I love the coastal California towns. I love New England. I love the south eastern coastal towns. But not Florida. I hate Florida.

What was the last book you read? I'm quickly working my way through Rhys Bowen's Her Royal Spyness mystery series. I finished book #3 Royal Flush last night, and I started Royal Blood last night. It's a mystery series set in England/Scotland in the 1930's. Strong female lead. Sketchy historical correctness. But a joy to read.
 

Do you like the smell of gasoline? Nope.

Do you have any nicknames? A few of my friends from high school call me KB.

What was the last movie you saw? At the movie theater, we saw This is 40. It was uncomfortably great- as in the main story was too similar to my marriage for comfort. At home- We watched something stupid....crap....(checks Netflix)...Trouble With The Curve. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't memorable.

What’s the worst injury you’ve ever had? I've lucked out. I got a concussion in a car accident. Broke a finger skiing. Broke another finger falling into a pool at a swim meet. But those are all minor.

What’s the last thing you purchased? I bought a bagel and a diet coke for breakfast. Friday is my splurge day. The one day a week I don't eat oatmeal for breakfast. 

 
Can you touch your nose with your tongue? No. However, my Mom can.

Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you? My earbuds for my computer are pink.

What’s your favorite animal? Rugby players.

What were you doing last night at 12 AM? Sleeping. The husband and I are training for a 5k. We did our run last night at 9 PM. I came home and passed out.

What’s a song that always makes you happy when you hear it? The Beatles Ob La Di Ob La Da, Cecilia by Simon and Garfunkel

What is the single best decision you have made in your life so far? Deciding to buy the extra ticket to see the Blues Travelers play on October 13, 1995. If I hadn't done that, I'd have never met my husband. I just realized that it was a Friday that 13th that has changed my life dramatically.

What’s the last song you listened to? Die Young Ke$ha (guilty pleasure, I love to turn this song way up and sing along)

What is your current desktop picture? A map of NYC and Boston.New York- Because we want you to know where you are and where you are going. Boston- Because fuck you. Little bit of hometown pride (I'm from just south of Boston)

You accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow you with the super-power of your choice! What is that power? Flying

You can re-live any point of time in your life. The time-span can only be a half-hour, though. What half-hour of your past would you like to experience again? Easter 1999. I'd like to be able to really say goodbye to my Grandfather. He died a few weeks later, unexpectedly.

You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go? Barcelona, Spain. With the husband, without the kids. It's a destination on our bucket list. 

Link in the comments if you play along!

48 Questions

Full Disclosure- I stole these questions from Building a Kingston Castle

I love me some survey questions, because they let me talk about myself, without having to come up with a writing prompt.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Nope. My parents found my name in a baby book. I would have been Keith if I was a boy.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I can't remember. I don't cry a lot.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? No. It's chicken scratchy

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Turkey

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Three daughters who simultaneously delight and horrify me on a daily basis.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Probably. I'm fun to be with most of the time, and I'm not needy.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? What is this sarcasm you speak of?

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Fun fact- I only have one. The other one never grew in or something.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Froot Loops- straight out of the box. Even better, put them in a sandwich size ziplock bag and it's like 2nd grade all over again.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nope.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes, I think so.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Strawberry, most of the time. But I can't keep Ben & Jerry's Late Night Snack in the house, or I'll eat a pint in a single sitting. Oh, and there's this little ice cream store near me called Scooptacular that does a killer Oatmeal Cookie ice cream

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their face? I guess? I'm good with remembering if I've ever met someone before, even if I don't know their names. It does make for some strange conversations however, because I'll start talking to people in the grocery store, because I think I know them, while I've only ever seen them in passing (at places like the grocery store).

15. RED OR PINK? Ah, pink? I guess?

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I have a problem dealing with emotions. I get very uncomfortable when someone is emotional.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Hmm. I was lucky enough to have all four of my grandparents until I was 20, and only last year lost the last of them. Other than that, I haven't had any real losses.

18. WHAT IS THE TECHNIQUE THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE MOST? I'm not crafty, so I don't know. I kind of suck at wrapping presents.

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? These white, red and black plaid slip-ons

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese (my breakfast 90% of the time)

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Not sure. Something over the cubical wall from my co-worker's radio

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Cornflower blue (oh! fun fact! My sister won one of those "Name the New Crayola Color" contests back in the 1990s Brink's Pink was her color, and it was available for a few years).

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Chanel No. 5, apple pie baking, vanilla

24. HOW IMPORTANT ARE YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS TO YOU? I am quietly political. However, I avoid political conversations since I tend to be the most liberal person in the room.

25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE? Beach for sure. There's nothing better than listening to the waves

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Baseball. Because I am secretly a 65 year old man.

27. HAIR COLOR? A dirty blond color that is getting darker as the years go on

28. EYE COLOR? Blue

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Not yet. I suspect I'll have to in the future.

30. FAVORITE FOOD? Lobster.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? I hate scary movies. But I do love crappy sci-fi. Monsters and disasters are some of my favorite things. I like a HEA.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? The Watch. Not what I expected. Not very good. I expected a suburban comedy. I got fucking aliens.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? light blue t-shirt under a lighter blue v-neck sweater (I work with mostly men who refuse to let me turn on the heat in the office, so layers are essential).

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? If I didn't live in fucking hellish Arizona, I'd like the summer. But, I guess I like winter?

35. FAVORITE DESSERT? Bread pudding (again, I'm a 65 year old man in disguise)

36. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO? Ugh, neither? My husband is trying to make me a runner

37. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION? Computer

38. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Dead Girls Detective Agency by Suzy Cox. It's YA. Interesting premise. I kind of like it. (Friend me on Goodreads! keen23)

39. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? A calendar and my company logo

40. FAVORITE SOUND? I like white noise. I can't sleep without it.

41. FAVORITE GENRE OF MUSIC? 1990's college rock. That ska-punk era. Horns, bouncy songs. old No Doubt, Reel Big Fish, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, etc.

42. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Quebec, Montreal (from Arizona), Cancun, Mexico (from Massachusetts)

43. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I read really quickly?

44. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Boston

45. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW? Hell. AKA Laveen, AZ

46. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE? Brown. Just like every thing else in Arizona.

47. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR? Silver. Actually, now that I think about it, both of my cars are silver- my commuter car and my MomVan

 48. DO YOU LIKE ANSWERING 48 QUESTIONS? Yes, for sure

Sunday Stealing (Done on Monday, Because That's How I Roll)

From here : Sunday Stealing

1) What side of the heart do you draw first?
Left. Not sure why.

2) Can you dive without plugging your nose?
Yes. I was on the swim team in High School, if you can believe it, and I was actually quite good.

3) What color is your razor?
Black. It's some type of disposable, and I really need to replace it, since I took off most of my shin this weekend.

4) What is your blood-type?
B-positive. Meaning I'm at less of a risk for sickle cell anemia, and that it's a somewhat rare blood type for white people like me.

5) Who would you want to be tied to for 24 hours?
Oprah. Because, well, she's Oprah.

6) What is a rumor someone has spread about you?
Well, I graduated High School in 1996, so I really can't remember crap that happened way back when.

7) How do you feel about carrots?
Love them in many forms

8) How many chairs at the dining room table?
10. We have a huge ass table.

9) Which is the best Spice Girl?
Scary Spice

10) Do you know what time it is?
9:25 AM Arizona Time

11) Do you know all the words to the Fresh Prince Theme Song?
Probably. "the license plate said fresh and there were dice on the mirror"

12) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator?
Hit the emergency button and then hope that there was a signal on my cell phone.

13) What’s your favorite kind of gum?
Wintergreen

14) All’s fair in love and war?
It is what it is.

15) Do you have a crush on anyone?
Many. See #5

16) Do you know how to use some words correctly, but not know the meaning?
Huh?

17) Do you like to sleep?
Sometimes. But I get insomnia in the winter.

18) Do you know which US states don’t use Daylight Savings time?
Yes, because I live in one.

19) Do you know the words to the song Total Eclipse of the Heart?
Probably not.

20) Do you want a bright yellow ‘06 mustang?
No. I don't think Mustangs have been good looking since the 60's. And, while it might be easier to find a yellow car in a parking lot, I don't really want to own one.

Things I Want to Do in 2013

These are not resolutions. I don't like resolutions. Let's consider these goals.

1. Eat better. Track calories - Sparkpeople has a fantastic, easy to use app for all smartphones. I already have it on my phone. I just need to USE IT DAILY.

2. Stop spending money on stupid things. The kids have enough crap, they don't need a $10 toy just because we went to Target because we were bored. They also have enough clothes to clothe a small European nation, and don't need any more shirts no matter how much they complain. I also do not need any more black t-shirts, even if I do wear them every single day.

3. Dress like a grown-up. Even though "stupid spending" has just been banned (see above), I need to actually have a grown-up wardrobe. A pair of dark wash jeans and a black t-shirt are not "business casual." Even with a black sweater over the mess, it's still not "business casual." Invest in shoes that I'll actually wear that aren't sneakers or flip-flops. The faux Tom's from Target can be cute, but are they grown-up?

4. Menu planning. This helps out 1 and 2 above. In that it makes me eat better, makes me pack lunches ahead of time, and saves money in the long run, since I won't be going to Fresh & Easy on my way home and grabbing pre-packaged dinner options.

5. Learn a new cooking skill. I'm a decent cook. This year, I want to learn how to pickle vegetables. I fricking love pickled carrots, pickled cauliflower, pickled beets, etc. If I could figure out how to do this, think of the healthy snacking options I'd have on hand!

6. Get more active. Walk/run at least three times a week. Consider joining a gym, even though have a phobia of the machines, want to do water aerobics. Maybe the Y has them? Look into it.

My Word for 2013

So there's this thing where you pick a single word to use as your mantra for the year. My word has to be Balance. Balance between work and home is the main focus. I need to spend more time at home, and less time at work. I need to devote more of my energy to home and not to work. I've been slacking, and feeling guilty.

Now, I was going to be an asshole and say that my word for the year was perestroika. But actually, the literal meaning of perestroika is "restructuring" and that's actually a pretty cool concept. Perestroika isn't a bad mantra for 2013, if you think about it.

Another asshole word I considered was defenestration. Consider it, if you will, making your mantra of 2013 a word that means "the act of throwing something out a window."

Another word I considered was quincunx- five objects arranged in a square formation with one at each corner and one in the middle.

Do you have a mantra word?

Things I've Learned About Men

I'm not a self proclaimed expert by any means, but these are some of the things I've learned about men, from living with my man since 1999.

1. Don't get mad at him when he buys you a toaster oven for Christmas. He bought it because you've been bitching about the broken one for the past two months, and he believed the toaster oven was a thoughtful gift.

2. If you want something specific, tell him where to get it and the size and color you want. Even better, find it online, set up a shopping cart and tell him to push the "Purchase Now" button.

3. He will have a favorite shirt. It might date back to high school. Do not mock this shirt. It will make him feel bad.

4. The cat will always be YOUR cat. Even if he calls the cat his "Furry Buddy" and carries him around on his shoulder.

5. He will probably have ridiculous superstitions and rituals regarding watching "his" sports team.

6. He won't notice that the bathroom mirror is covered with spots and streaks, but his truck will be spotless.

7. Speaking of the truck, the children won't be allowed to eat or drink anything inside it, but will be fed Doritos and orange Fanta in the minivan, because it doesn't matter if the van gets stains.

8. He will throw the child in the air and catch her. This will terrify you. Just look away. 99% of the time, he'll catch her.

9. Fruit is not a normal part of his diet.

Monday News

Still working on that whole "Story Of Us" post...it will come!

But, some levity -

I went to the dermatologist on Monday and was informed that I have a mole on my ass. And, not only that, I probably should get it removed. Considering I don't exactly walk around outside bare-assed, it's strange that I have one in that location. Frank's response "Oh, yeah, that's been there for awhile."