Sunday Stealing: Misc. Questions

Time for a little Sunday Stealing (hosted by Bev Sykes)  -- questions lifted from all over the blogosphere. This week's list was stolen from Phoenix, the Blogging Mama (private blog).


1. How has your life most benefited from the Internet? Whether it’s meeting people, cutting business overhead, finding rare collectibles, or simply sharing funny cat pictures, share how the web has made life easier.

Wow. Books have been written on this subject. The Internet has made life easier in so many ways, it would be hard to list them here. However, I do not share cat pictures. Well, not anymore.

2. The getaway car is waiting outside – where is it taking you?

Well, obviously away from the scene of the crime. But seriously, I would love to take a trip anywhere. I just hate the planning and packing.

3. Do you reply to comments on your blog? All of them? Or just the really interesting ones?  Do you go back to check if the authors or the blogs you comment on reply to your comments?

I read all comments, and I do try to visit the commenters' blogs (if they have them). And I know it's an awful thing to admit, but no, I don't very often reply to blog comments unless there's some reason to (to answer a question, for instance). And I very rarely go back to check for replies to comments I've made. I'm a bad, bad blogger.

4. On average, how long does it take you to make an important decision?

On average, forever. I'm lucky to have married a guy who makes really good decisions quickly and easily.

5. Do you gather a lot of information prior to making the decision, or do you go with your gut in the heat of the moment?

Depends on the decision I'm having to make. Usually, I do both. Not a very efficient system.

6. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned recently?

Tripping over lamp cords can do a lot of damage to an elderly body.

7. What’s your hidden talent? Are you double-jointed? Can you sneeze the alphabet? Share your unique skill.

I don't have any hidden talents. Well, not any I'd be willing to share with the general public, anyway.

8. Rate the level of intensity you have about wanting to know God – no desire, low priority, curious, great desire, high priority, desperate to learn more. Explain your answer.

I am not religious. I am, however, interested in religions and their attraction.

9. What’s one of your nicknames?  How did you get that nickname?

My family called me Joanie — I'm not really sure how that came about.

10. What do you have to have with you when you travel? Why?

The hubby — he keeps me sane and remembers all the details I'm likely to forget. Dramamine if I'm flying — I tend to get airsick if the flight gets rough. And always, something to read.

11. What do you think about reading books on an electronic reading device? Do you have an electronic reading device? Do you love it? Why? If you don’t love it, why not?

I do have several electronic reading devices and I really love 'em. I was skeptical at first, but I've become a huge fan. I still love reading print books too, but I read much faster on my iPad or Kindle. 

12. Do you prefer writing on paper or a keyboard? Why?

Well, I think I actually prefer writing on paper with a nice pen. Unfortunately, my hands and fingers have become so arthritic, I can't write more than a few sentences without getting really cramped up and sore. So I've been forced into using the computer for just about all my writing.

13. If the shoes make the man (or woman), what do your shoes say about you right now? (Assuming you’re wearing shoes. Although if you’re not, that certainly says something, too.)

They say I like soft, comfy slippers in the morning.

14. Describe your favorite pair of shoes.

A few years ago, I bought a pair of Ralph Lauren ballet flats from Zappos — soft black leather with a little fabric bow on the toes. They were so comfortable, I bought several more pairs. I've really loved them. Wore them just about everyday. The last pair is wearing out now, and I haven't been able to find anything to replace them. Bummer. 

15. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one ability or quality, what would it be?

I've answered this question in a lot of memes, and never been really satisfied with my answers. There are so many possibilities. Right now, I think my answer would be just to be a better, nicer, and more caring person. More other-oriented, not so bitchy. For instance, why am I sitting here playing with my computer when I should be out there volunteering in the community? Hmmm?

BONUS:  When they "cool sculpt" your body, where does the fat go?

What fat?

😸

Saturday 9: The Nanny

The Saturday 9  meme is hosted by Sam Winters. Nine questions posted every Saturday — sometimes random, sometimes with a theme. This week, the theme is...

"The Nanny" (1993)

Listen to it HERE.

1. This week's song is the theme from a sitcom that originally aired from 1993 to 1999. Were you a fan?

No. I think I saw a few of the shows, but mostly just by accident.

2. The song tells us that Fran once worked in a bridal shop. Have you ever worked in a retail setting?

Yes, I have. But many, many years ago, right after high school and during my first year of college. I had an aunt who was a head buyer in one of the local department stores and she got me several part-time jobs in the store. I enjoyed working in retail and thought about making a career there. Eventually changed my mind, but I think I might have been very happy as a "saleslady." 

3. The kids in the Sheffield household appreciate their nanny's "joie de vivre," which is defined as "exuberant enjoyment of life." Are you feeling joie de vivre this morning?

Right now, I'm just happy for another day of la vie. The joie will show up sometime after I've had my coffee.

4. "The Nanny" is the colorful one, the one who wears red when everyone else wears tan. What color do you think you look best in?

Hmmm. I think I've answered this before. Maybe some other meme. Anyway, I actually look best in pastels, pales and neutrals. But I like bright colors too, and do wear them once in a while, even though they're not my best choice. Also wear a lot of black and navy blue, which are not supposed to be "my" colors. Pink is a good color for me, but I'm just not a pinkish person.

5. The TV show, The Nanny, was the brainchild of actress Fran Drescher. She got the idea while visiting an old friend in London. Her friend's pre-teen daughter enjoyed having Fran as a confidante and shopping buddy. Do you enjoy shopping as a leisure activity? Or would you prefer to just dash into a store, grab what you need, and get out and go home?

It's funny — shopping is something I used to enjoy a lot. In fact, it was one of my favorite activities. But these days I don't do that much physical shopping (well, except for grocery-buying trips) in real stores. I do most of my shopping online. I enjoy some of it, but some of it is just a chore. I definitely wouldn't call it a leisure activity. 

6. The friend Fran was visiting in London was Twiggy, who was the world's most famous model in the 1960s. Name another famous model.

Jean Shrimpton. Also a famous model from the '60s. Current crop? I have no idea.

7. The Nanny: The Complete Series is available on DVD on Amazon. It consists of 19 discs and takes 55 hours to watch, start to finish. What TV show have you recently binge watched?

I'm not really a fan of "binge watching." My attention span just isn't long enough for marathon TV watching anymore. But recently the hubby and I discovered Person of Interest, which we had never watched when it was actually being shown. We streamed the first couple of seasons over several evenings, and then just sort of ... lost interest. 

8. The Nanny theme was sung by Liz Callaway. Her father, the late John Callaway, was a long-time Chicago newscaster. Have you, or has a loved one, ever been on TV?

Well, I had an uncle who was a news anchorman on local TV back in the 1950s and '60s. I used to love watching him deliver the news every evening. I think I've been on TV twice — once in high school, I was in a group who staged a short scene from a play for some sort of local-interest show, and once in college I did something on one of the  educational channels, but I honestly cannot remember what it was. 

9. Random question — Which of these adjectives comes closest to describing you: sexy, sophisticated or down-to-earth?

Well, definitely not sexy — that train left the station thirty years ago and ain't never comin' back. I think I'm pretty down-to-earth, but I can be a little sophisticated when I need to be. So, maybe a down-to-earth sophisticate — how's that?

Happy Saturday, everyone!
Have a great weekend.

For more Saturday 9 Q&A, just click on this button:

Saturday 9: Along Comes a Friend

The Saturday 9  meme is hosted by Sam Winters. Nine questions posted every Saturday — sometimes random, sometimes with a theme. This week, the theme is...

"Along Comes A Friend"
Theme from KATE & ALLIE (1984)

Listen to it HERE.

1. This week's song is the theme from Kate and Allie, a sitcom that ran from 1984 to 1989. Were you a fan?

I was. Watched it every week. I've always been a fan of Jane Curtin, and I like Susan St. James, too.

2. The show was about two divorced women who live and raise their children together. Were you ever a single parent? Were you raised by a single parent?

I was never any kind of parent (no kids -- just pets). I guess my mother was technically a single parent after my father died when I was ten. But we moved in with my grandparents, so she didn't have to go it alone. Of course, I was a perfect angel, so I didn't need a lot of tending. 

3. Allie is proud that she can make a perfect cup of coffee: "Just the essence of the bean. No acidity." Kate is proud that she can belch the alphabet. What are you proud of?

Well, I've never been in jail. That's a feather in my cap, right?

4. Kate and Allie share half of a duplex in Greenwich Village. Many episodes had them doing laundry in the basement. Where are your washer and dryer?

In this house, we have a dedicated laundry room which is absolutely wonderful. Before this place, we lived in an apartment with the washer/dryer in the kitchen and that was absolutely awful. But it was certainly much better than having them in the basement (been there, too). 

5. Kate was played by Susan St. James. She was familiar to viewers as the "wife" in McMillan and Wife. Without looking it up, do you know who played McMillan?

Rock Hudson. Another one of my favorite shows back then.

6. Allie was played by Jane Curtin. She was one of three women in the original Saturday Night Live cast. Without looking it up, can you name the other two?

Gilda Radner and Laraine Newman. Another favorite show. But I sort of lost interest in it after that original cast started leaving. 

7. On the set, Jane Curtin ran a poker game for the cast and crew. Do you think winning at poker takes more luck or skill?

Probably a mix of both, but I think skill is definitely involved. I've never been able to play poker -- can't remember all the different categories ( or hands?). I used to play a mean game of gin rummy, but I haven't played in years. 

8. The Kate & Allie theme was cowritten and sung by John Lefler. Years later, Mr. Lefler wrote the theme for the Pokemon show. Is anyone in your life into Pokemon?

No. Well, not that I know of, anyway. I never really understood exactly what Pokemon was. Still don't.

9. Random question: What's the last thing you whispered?

I honestly can't remember. I mumble a lot, but I don't do much whispering.

Happy Saturday, everyone!
Have a great weekend.

For more Saturday 9 Q&A, just click on this button:

National Coloring Book Day

Today, August 2nd, is National Coloring Book Day! Or so the Dover Publications people tell me. I know it's really just an advertising gimmick, but I love coloring books, so I'm definitely in favor of a national holiday to celebrate them.

I've always loved to color, and kept a stash of coloring books long before the hobby became a national craze. Over the years I've collected quite a pile of them, so I thought I'd show off a few.

I think probably the oldest book in my collection is this Children's Hour Painting Book for Little Folks, published by M.A. Donohue & Co.

It's from 1913 and was a Christmas gift to "Wm-Cecil Walker" from his Aunt Nellie.

I believe it's actually meant for watercolor painting, but would also be perfect for crayons. It has some very sweet nursery rhyme type illustrations.

And many of the pictures include duplicate colored images, to serve as examples.

Most of these pages are untouched, so I guess this wasn't very popular with Wm-Cecil. But as you can see, he (or someone) did attempt a few of these.

One of my favorites in the collection is this Super Market Coloring Contest book from the early 1950s. Don't you love the way the original owner "decorated" the cover image?

The pictures in these books usually were tie-ins with products the stores sold, and this one is no exception.

Inside they always had the rules and some sort of entry form to fill out:

This entry was started by Mario Lewis, but apparently Mario didn't end up entering the contest after all. I used to love these things, but like Mario I never entered any of the contests. And that was a shame because look at all the cool prizes I could have won!