Survey Says …

Here's a long one, ideal for distracting me from bill paying.

THE RULES

Copy the whole list into your blog.
Bold the things that are true about you.
Add something that is true about you.
Optional: Add a comment after answer in italics

1.I miss somebody right now. My best friend
2.I don’t watch much TV these days.
3.I love olives
4.I own lots of books.
5.I wear glasses or contact lenses. Sometimes both
6.I love to play video games.
7.I’ve tried marijuana.
8.I’ve watched porn movies. I prefer to think of it as "erotica"
9.I have been in a threesome.
10.I have been the psycho-ex in a past relationship.
11.I believe honesty is usually the best policy.
12.I curse sometimes. Actually, I curse almost constantly
13.I have changed a lot mentally over the last year.
14.I have a hobby. I do believe you're looking at it
15.I carry my knife/razor everywhere with me.
16.I’m TOTALLY smart.
17.I’ve never broken someone’s bones.
18.I have a secret that I am ashamed to reveal.
19.I hate the rain.
20.I’m paranoid at times.
21.I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar-free.
22.I need money right now. I always need money.
23.I love sushi. 
24.I talk really, really fast.
25.I have fresh breath in the morning.
26.I have long hair.
27.I have lost money in Las Vegas.
28.I have at least one brother and/or one sister.
29.I was born in a country outside of the U.S.
30.I shave my legs (females) or face (males) on a regular basis. 
31.I have a twin (or a triplet, or somesuch).
32.I have worn fake hair/fingernails/eyelashes in the past. But only if Halloween counts
33.I couldn’t survive without Caller I.D.
34.I like the way that I look.
35.I have lied to a good friend in the last 6 months.
36.I know how to cornrow.
37.I am usually pessimistic.
38.I have a lot of mood swings.
39.I think prostitution should be legalized.
40.I think Britney Spears is pretty. Pretty and pretty sad 
41.Slept with a Suitemate. 
42.I have a hidden talent.  I can wiggle my ears
43.I’m always hyper no matter how much sugar I have.
44.I have a lot of friends.
45.I am currently single.
46.I have pecked someone of the same sex. 
47.I enjoy talking on the phone.
48.I practically live in sweatpants or PJ pants.
49.I love to shop.
50.I would rather shop than eat.
51.I would classify myself as ghetto.
52.I’m bourgie and have worn a sweater tied around my shoulders.
53.I’m obsessed with my Xanga or Livejournal.
54.I don’t hate anyone.
55.I’m a pretty good dancer.
56.I don’t think Mike Tyson raped Desiree Washington.
57.I’m completely embarrassed to be seen with my mother.
58.I have a cell phone.
59.I believe in God.
60.I watch MTV on a daily basis.
61.I have passed out drunk in the past 6 months.
62.I love drama.
63.I have never been in a real relationship before.
64.I’ve rejected someone before.
65.I currently have a crush/like someone.
66.I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life.
67.I want to have children in the future.
68.I have changed a diaper before.
69.I’ve called the cops on a friend before.
70.I bite my nails.
71.I am a member of the Tom Green fan club.
72.I’m not allergic to anything.
73.I have a lot to learn.
74.I have been with someone at least 10 years older or younger.
75.I plan on seeing Ice Cube’s newest “Friday” movie.
76.I am shy around the opposite sex. 
77.I’m online 24/7, even as an away message.
78.I have at least 5 away messages saved.
79.I have tried alcohol or drugs before.
80.I have made a move on a friend’s significant other or crush in the past.
81.I own the “South Park” movie.
82.I have avoided assignments at work school to be on Xanga or Livejournal.
83.When I was a kid I played “the birds and the bees” with a neighbor or chum.
84.I enjoy some country music.
85.I would die for my best friends.
86.I think that Pizza Hut has the best pizza. ewww
87.I watch soap operas whenever I can.
88.I’m obsessive, anal retentive, and often a perfectionist.
89.I have used my sexuality to advance my career.
90.I love Michael Jackson, scandals and all.
91.I know all the words to Slick Rick’s “Children’s Story.”
92.Halloween is awesome because you get free candy.
93.I watch Spongebob Squarepants and I like it.
94.I have dated a close friend’s ex.
95.I like surveys/memes.
96.I am happy at this moment.
97.I’m obsessed with guys.
98.I am bisexual.
99.Democrat.
100.Conservative Republican.
101.I am punk rockish.
102.I am preppy.
103.I go for older guys/girls, not younger.
104.I study for tests most of the time.
105.I tie my shoelaces differently from anyone I’ve ever met.
106.I can work on a car.
107.I love my job.
108.I am comfortable with who I am right now. At this particular moment
109.I have more than just my ears pierced.
110.I walk barefoot wherever I can.
111.I have jumped off a bridge.
112.I love sea turtles.
113.I spend ridiculous amounts of money on makeup.
114.I believe in prophetic dreams.
115.I plan on achieving a major goal/dream.
116.I am proficient on a musical instrument.
117.I worked at McDonald’s restaurant.
118.I hate office jobs.
119.I love sci-fi movies.
120.I’ve never been in love.
121.I think water rules.
122.I am going to college out of state.
123.I am adopted.
124.I like sausage.
125.I am a pyro.
126.I love the Red Sox.
127.I have thrown up from crying too much.
128.I have been intentionally hurt by people that I loved. And I've intentionally hurt people that I loved.
129.I love kisses.
130.I fall for the worst people and have been hurt every time.
131.I adore bright colors.
132.I love Dear Abby.
133.I can’t live without black eyeliner.
134.I think school is awesome.
135.I think pigtails serve a purpose.
136.I don’t know why the hell I just did this stupid thing.
137.I usually like covers better than originals. 
138.I don’t like multi-textured ice cream
139.I think John Cusack is adorable.
140.I f**king hate chain theme restaurants like Applebees and TGIFridays.
141.I watch Food Network way too much.
142.I love coaching youth sports.
143.I can pick up things with my toes. Can't everyone? I guess I just discovered another hidden talent!
144.I can’t whistle.
145.I can move my tongue [sic] in waves, much like a snakes’ slither.
146.I have ridden/owned a horse.
147.I still have every journal I’ve ever written in.
148.I can’t stick to a diet.
149.I talk in my sleep.
150.I’ve often thought that I was born in the wrong century. Wrong decade, yes, but not wrong century
151.I do not like brooding men. 
152. I have constant humming in my ears.

153. I so prefer Coke to Pepsi.

If you do this, please let me know. That way I can check out your answers 

(and see what you added for #154.)

Like all the really good quizzes & memes …

… I stole this from Kwizgiver. It's known as "Privilege."

1. Father went to college No.

2. Father finished college No

3. Mother went to college No.

4. Mother finished college No.

5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor No

6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers Same

7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home Definitely. My dad had many, many faults as a parent, but he was a big reader and encouraged reading.

8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home See above.

9. Were read children's books by a parent Yes. I remember my mom's voice as she read (among others) Charlotte's Web and The Black Stallion to us at bedtime.

10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18 Art lessons, ballet lessons, swimming lessons and riding lessons. I remain a decent swimmer but was only good at horseback riding. I'm no artist, nor a dancer, but I have always had a way with critters.

11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18 See above

12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively White middle class suburbanites? Yeah.

13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18 No

14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs I didn't attend college. No, that's not true. I went to a semester or two of community college, and I paid for it myself.

15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs See above.

16. Went to a private high school Nope. Same public school my Mom and uncle attended.

17. Went to summer camp Girl Scout daycamp every summer for years. Hated it every summer for years.

18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18 Nope.

19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels Yes. Even when visiting family, we always stayed in hotels and motels. And I still prefer that to crashing to with relatives.

20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18 No. Lots of hand-me-downs. My older sister was only a year ahead of me in school, so whenever she got new clothes I could pretty much count on it being in my closet soon enough.

21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them No.

22. There was original art in your house when you were a child No. Not a priority for either of my folks.

23. You and your family lived in a single family house Yes

24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home Hard to answer this one because it was paid off, then they took out a second mortgage less than a year before I left

25. You had your own room as a child  Yes. Thank God! It was my sanctuary

26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18 No. But my sister and I had our phone with its own number in the basement.

27. Participated in an SAT/ACT prep course No. My poor mother had to battle to get me to take the tests at all.

28. Had your own TV in your room in high school Yes

29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college Oh, come on! 

30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16 Nope. All of our family vacations started with long, painful, boring car rides.

31. Went on a cruise with your family No. And that's OK. I wonder if I wouldn't be bored on a cruise.

32. Went on more than one cruise with your family See above

33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up No. That's what Girl Scouts and school field trips were for. 

34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family Yes. Completely. My father liked us to believe we were wealthy. I guess we kinda were, but only because he cheated on his income taxes and borrowed, borrowed, borrowed. It all caught up with him shortly after I graduated from high school. Unbeknownst to him, I helped my mom out by paying the electric bill in addition to rent as soon as I got a job. It made me FUCKING CRAZY to hold my tongue when he scolded and lectured me about my responsibilities as long as I was living under "his" roof. I knew about the second mortgage and I was keeping the lights on. I'm still very quick to assume hypocrisy in authority.

THAT'S who Obama reminds me of!

Some bloggers write that Obama reminds them of Bobby Kennedy. Nope. Not me. Bobby Kennedy was prickly with passion and righteous indignation. I hear him in John Edwards.

Or maybe Obama is like JFK. He does have youth, charisma and a gorgeous family. But no, that's not quite right either. JFK was wittier and more facile in interviews and debates than Obama.

Obama promises us hope for the future. A new way of looking at things. The ability to turn the page on the Baby Boom Generation. Shhh … Wait! What's that I hear?

"Don't stop thinking about tomorrow … Yesterday's gone. Yesterday's gone."

In 1992, Bill Clinton promised us hope for the future. A new way of looking at things. The ability to turn the page on the WWII generation. 

Ironic, isn't it?

Poor Joe and the unfortunate Kibble Situation

My big ol' tomcat has a brain the size of a plum pit and a heart the size of all outdoors. He's always affectionate and trusting, but easily confused, which is why I'm upset that the Kibble Situation has had such an impact on him. He can't possibly understand it and it makes him so sad.

Here's the deal: Joey has always had a tendency toward urinary tract infection. That's why he ended up at the shelter in the first place -- his original family could afford neither the special food nor the medical care he required. He joined my household 10 years ago and, thanks to good advice and special attention from my vet, has had NO repeat infections.

The key is a premium dry cat food that is acceptable to all my cats but especially good for Joe's special needs. Because of storms and erratic weather out west, the vet hasn't received any new shipments since early December. We have been getting by with dry food purchased at Petco. All three cats seem to like the taste of this well enough, but only poor Joe has suffered any adverse effects.

It's not his urinary tract, thank God! It's his coat. He's got matts! No matter how gentle I am when I comb them, it still hurts. I tried to clip the matts away but that upset him, too, and I can't bear upsetting Joe. He doesn't understand. It confuses him. He looks so blue. He still loves me, of course, but that makes it worse. I'm his favorite human on earth. Why, oh why, am I doing this to him?

It's the unfortunate Kibble Situation, Joe! It's global warming and unpredictable weather. It's impassable roads and delayed railroad shipments. As soon as the Kibble Situation is resolved, I'll stop doing this to you. I promise. And your handsome gray coat will be shiny and matt-free once more. Honest!

At least Ella is OK

My heart goes out to the family of Meredith Emerson, the 24-year-old hiker who disappeared on the Appalachian Trail on Blood Mountain in Union County, GA. But ever since I first  heard this news story, I have been worried silly about her dog, Ella. Reports said that her abandoned car and beloved dog were found, but until today, I didn't know Ella's condition. 

Ella wandered into a grocery store and was positively identified by the microchip in her neck. She's fine. Thank God.

First of all, I always hate it when bad things happen to critters. Secondly, this girl clearly loves her pup. I was afraid that if the dog was found murdered, it would have meant that some awful person tortured Meredith's beloved Ella in front of her. As an animal lover, I can't even imagine the sheer terror that would have inspired in this girl.

But Ella is OK. Meredith knows the trail well and is an experienced outdoorswoman. Plus, her family takes solace in the fact that her middle name is "Hope." I'm holding out hope that Meredith's story ends up as safely as Ella's.