Sunday Stealing

Misc. Questions

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. It has certainly made work go more smoothly. I am a writer. Being able to electronically send my manuscript to an art director is so much faster, and so much accurate, than old-school typesetting was.

2. The getaway car is waiting outside – where is it taking you? To the border! The northern one. I don't speak Spanish, so I'm off to Canada. Can we stop at Niagara Falls?

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 don't often reply to comments, but I try to visit everyone who visits me.

4. On average, how long does it take you to make an important decision? I can be pretty decisive on the big things.

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 what we're talking about.

6. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned recently? That not everyone needs to hear every single thought I have. (That's what this blog is for!)

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

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 don't get this question. I feel like I know God. I don't feel there are degrees -- at least not for me,

9. What’s one of your nicknames?  How did you get that nickname? "Gal." I gave it to myself.

10. What do you have to have with you when you travel? Why? I must have all kinds of things. I pack like Thelma.

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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 like books. With binding and pages.

12. Do you prefer writing on paper or a keyboard? Why? Keyboard. When I write in long hand, my mind works faster than my hand.

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.) I'm barefoot. Judge me as you will.

14. Describe your favorite pair of shoes. Traditional Birkenstock Arizonas. Reinforced heel well, two straps. Comfortable and durable.

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

BONUS:  When they "cool sculpt" your body, where does the fat go? Apparently it dissolves into your system and you eventually piss it away. Of course, I may not know what I'm talking about.

No, they most certainly do not

Rest in peace, John McCain.

I worked on John Kerry's 2004 campaign. In those days, campaign contributions were all checks, very little was done online. The required reporting was arduous. Forget cutting corners; in some ways John Kerry is a true Boy Scout.

We were warned against complaining about the campaign finance reporting: "Remember, it's called MCCAIN-Feingold." Volunteers 980 miles outside of Boston knew not to say anything negative about John McCain while in a room with John Kerry's name on the door.

Don't believe it for a second when today's dirty political doings are explained away with "everyone does it." No, they don't. These two Vietnam-era public servants didn't.

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 25

Today’s happiness: Nancy's husband, Paul. I had lunch on Saturday with my friend, Nancy. She has moved into my old hometown, where I still go to get my hair cut. Now that my nephew is away at college, I no longer see him after getting my locks shorn. And since I'm there, why not see Nancy?

Well, I'm glad I did. Short story: we met at a new (to us) burger place and I had some fantastic grub as we caught up. Who knew you could get a peanut butter and jelly hamburger? Long story follows ...

Nancy is unemployed. Her father died a year ago and they just observed the anniversary, her daughter is going back to college this week and her son is in rehab ... for heroin. She knew he'd been fighting a losing battle with alcohol since his teens (he's now 22). It was his way of self-medicating as he dealt with his parent's divorce, ADD, and now the slow pace of his music career (he'd been working as a bus boy). The heroin was a shock. She's bereft. She is overwhelmed.

That's why I am so happy she has Paul. After lunch, she took me to her home and I met him again for the first time in years. The three of us sat around and talked for two hours. He is, like me, a pop culture nerd and we compared notes on old TV shows. And the Cubs. Nancy seemed to enjoy watching us interact, and at one point she curled up next to him, looked up at him and said, "I love you."

I'm so happy she has him. With everything going on in her life, I'm glad she has someone can, literally, lean on.

via GIPHY

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.