New world order

... because I feel it's part of the process of winning folks over to make my whole move for universal domination.



Apparently Anna has thrown down the gauntlet. I've never been a punk beyotch so here goes.

How I hope to achieve universal domination

1. First of all, some of y'all may have noticed that I used the word "universal." That's right beyotches. I'm going interplanetary and all. I mean, have you listened to Al Gore? This planet is dying. Why the hell would I want to take over a dying planet? Nope. I'm going to round up my peeps here and then we're outie. If you're lucky, you get to come along for the ride.

2. Fool the felines into thinking that they actually have a say. I'd do the same for dogs but let's get real. "Dogs have owners; cats have staff." If I win over the cats, the members of their staff are mine for the picking. Just don't tell Natasha. She still thinks that she is the one in charge around here. And just ignore the fact that I keep looking over my shoulder. I can't risk her seeing this. She'll kill me in my sleep.

3. I'm only taking folks who have an IQ of 100 or less with me. As long as they have been vetted by the cats. I have this funny notion that the leader of folks should be more intelligent than their people. This number used to be higher but I have found that prolonged time on the internets seems to have dropped my IQ. Or maybe it was the years of spending six-plus hours a day with little folks. I don't know. All I know is that my IQ seems to be declining -- kind of like money for some folks. Then again, charisma can go a long way and I think I have plenty of that.

4. I'm hoping to take a good deal of the PRB (That's the People's Republic of Berkeley for those of y'all who are new to here) with me. There seems to be a lot of book-smart folks around here. I think I can use them. In exchange for the passage, I am promising them a diet of all organic food and that we will make a moderate, if any, carbon footprint. Oh yeah. And their kids can run wild in all public places.

5. I think it's time to weed the gene pool some. Seeing as I am that crazy ass Berkeley liberal, I think this may be possible. When my peeps roll out to explore new worlds, maybe I'll mention the existence of dinosaurs on other planets. Or the fact that gay marriage is OK with me. Leave the rest of the fools on the dying planet. Besides we will have all the great technology. It will be so easy once we leave to crush those who have been left behind.

6. Life with me will be a non-stop party. Don't tell the rest of them but here's the thing. If you spend all of your time partying, it's hard to notice the other stuff. Like my secret bank account on Neptune. Not that I have one.

7. Sunday night dinner at the palace. Everyone is invited. Every now and then it will be a potluck. But most of the time, it will be me trying out a new recipe or two. You must take at least a small sample (of the Kool-Aid) but I won't force you to finish it all.

8. Now here's the big seller. In my world you can be whoever you want. As long as you are not a threat to me. If you're a threat? Well, then we're sending you back to Earth. Enough said.

Yep. I can feel that universal domination is well within my grasp.

The Omnivore's 100

I saw this over at Cookiecrumb's and so I had to give a go.

How the Omnivore's 100 works:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.

2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.

3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.

4) Optional: Post a comment at Very Good Taste, linking to your results.

MY OMNIVORE'S 100 (53 out of 100):

1. Venison

2. Nettle tea

3. Huevos rancheros

4. Steak tartare

5. Crocodile (though I have had alligator)

6. Black pudding

7. Cheese fondue

8. Carp

9. Borscht (I really don't like beets.)

10. Baba ghanoush

11. Calamari

12. Pho

13. PB&J sandwich

14. Aloo gobi

15. Hot dog from a street cart (My mother swore it was part of the New York experience.)

16. Epoisses

17. Black truffle

18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes

19. Steamed pork buns

20. Pistachio ice cream (I don't like most nuts including pistachios.)

21. Heirloom tomatoes

22. Fresh wild berries

23. Foie gras

24. Rice and beans

25. Brawn or head cheese (Not after seeing my grandmother make it.)

26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper (The closest I've gotten was a olives stuffed with Scotch bonnet instead of pimientos. Mmmm. Good stuff.)

27. Dulce de leche

28. Oysters

29. Baklava

30. Bagna cauda

31. Wasabi peas

32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl

33. Salted lassi

34. Sauerkraut (Words cannot even begin to describe how much I love this stuff. Oooo. And Kim Chee as well.)

35. Root beer float

36. Cognac with a fat cigar (Nope. The last time I had a cigar -- a Cuban -- was with some sangria.)

37. Clotted Cream Tea

38. Vodka Jelly/Jell-O

39. Gumbo

40. Oxtail (I debate about whether I'll ever eat this again since I know that the person who prepared it before was not that good a cook.)

41. Curried goat

42. Whole insects

43. Phaal (I really must try this because I really love a good vindaloo.)

44. Goat's milk

45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth $120 or more

46. Fugu

47. Chicken tikka masala

48. Eel

49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut

50. Sea urchin

51. Prickly pear

52. Umeboshi

53. Abalone

54. Paneer

55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal

56. Spaetzle

57. Dirty gin martini

58. Beer above 8% ABV (Once was more than enough.)

59. Poutine

60. Carob chips

61. S’mores

62. Sweetbreads

63. Kaolin (Isn't this the active ingredient in Kaopectate?)

64. Currywurst

65. Durian

66. Frogs’ legs (I go back and forth on this one.)

67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake (Yes to all except the elephant ears.)

68. Haggis

69. Fried plantain

70. Chitterlings or andouillette (Once was enough on the chitterlings as well. Oh the smell.)

71. Gazpacho

72. Caviar and blini

73. Louche absinthe

74. Gjetost or brunost

75. Roadkill (Only if I didn't know that it was roadkill.)

76. Baijiu

77. Hostess Fruit Pie

78. Snail

79. Lapsang Souchong (I drink this near daily.)

80. Bellini

81. Tom Yum

82. Eggs Benedict

83. Pocky

84. 3 Michelin Star Tasting Menu

85. Kobe beef

86. Hare

87. Goulash

88. Flowers

89. Horse

90. Criollo chocolate

91. Spam

92. Soft shell crab

93. Rose harissa

94. Catfish

95. Mole poblano

96. Bagel and lox

97. Lobster Thermidor

98. Polenta

99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee

100. Snake (If only that one roommate I had had years ago had made a batch of his rattlesnake chili...)

It looks like I've got some eating to do...

Second time around

I take inspiration from Nat. It kind of bothered me that some of the titles from that previous post were never guessed so know I'm reposting with some hints a la Nat. I hate leaving things undone.

3. "Insanity runs in my family... It practically gallops."
Hint: 1944. Comedy based upon a Broadway play. Sexy leading man.
Arsenic and Old Lace guessed by David.

5. "I would like a nice, powerful, mind-altering substance. Preferably one that will make my unborn children grow gills."
Hint: 1995. Comedy starring one of the queens of indie film.

6. "How do you tell a child that she was born to be hurt?"
Hint: 1959. Definitely drama. I still have to grab a box of tissue to view this one.
Imitation of Life guessed by Buzzgirl

11. "The whole point of having an answering service is to call them once in a while and see if you've got any messages."
Hint: 1971. Thriller with one of the most badass actors ever.

12. "In my hunt for food I had become the hunted. This time I survived, but I was no longer alone in my universe. I had an enemy, the most terrifying ever beheld by human eyes."
Hint: 1957. Sci-fi. Well, actually Cold War hysteria disguised as sci-fi.

15. "The entire British empire was built on cups of tea, and if you think I'm going to war without one, mate, you're mistaken."
Hint: 1998. Comedy/Thriller containing quite a bit of male hotness. Well, at least in my opinion. And some subtitles.

So come on now. Let's wrap this up once and for all.

Blame Hilly

After reading Hilly's post tonight, I knew I had to steal it.

Here's how it works:

* Pick 15 of your favorite movies
* Go to IMDB and find a quote from each movie (or quote them from memory because you are that bad ass)
* Post them on your blog for everyone to guess
* Fill in the film title once it’s been guessed

These are your rules:
* No Googling or using IMDB search functions (Don’t cheat!)
* Leave your answer(s) in the comments

On with the list...

1. "Every now and then say, 'What the fuck.' 'What the fuck' gives you freedom. Freedom brings opportunity. Opportunity makes your future."
(Risky Business guessed by Buzzgirl)

2. "Do you spend time with your family? Good. Because a man that doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man."
(The Godfather guessed by Jill)

3. "Insanity runs in my family... It practically gallops."

4. "Nobody leaves this place without singing the blues."
(Adventures in Babysitting guessed by Jill)

5. "I would like a nice, powerful, mind-altering substance. Preferably one that will make my unborn children grow gills."

6. "How do you tell a child that she was born to be hurt?"

7. "She knew everyone that mattered. Everyone loved her."
(Rebecca guessed by Marissa)

8. "Unless, of course, Claudia Schiffer calls, in which case I want you out of the house straight away, you wee motherless mongrel."
(Love Actually guessed by Buzzgirl)

9. "You could always tell what kind of a person a man thinks you are by the earrings he gives you. I must say, the mind reels."
(Breakfast at Tiffany's guessed by Hilly)

10. "It is so nice when you can sit with someone and not have to talk."
(When Harry Met Sally guessed by Sizzle)

11. "The whole point of having an answering service is to call them once in a while and see if you've got any messages."

12. "In my hunt for food I had become the hunted. This time I survived, but I was no longer alone in my universe. I had an enemy, the most terrifying ever beheld by human eyes."

13. "This is a really volcanic ensemble you're wearing. It's really marvelous!"
(Pretty in Pink guessed by Buzzgirl)

14. "I found myself driving past convenience stores... that weren't on the way home."
(Raising Arizona guessed by Hilly)

15. "The entire British empire was built on cups of tea, and if you think I'm going to war without one, mate, you're mistaken."

And please excuse me if I'm slow to post correct answers. I'll be busy spending my tax return this weekend.

A little weekend fun

Yep, another music meme. You're supposed to use your iPod but I don't own an iPod. I know. Sad, huh? Then again I do own this cellphone that also operates as a Walkman. But I wanted more selection (The phone only holds about 50 songs or so.) so I used the Party Shuffle in iTunes instead. Hopefully by now, Jill has added some music to her iTunes. ;-)

Rules: Put your music player on shuffle, press forward for each question and use the song title as the answer.

What does next year have in store for me?
Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty

What’s my love life like?
Showdown by Britney Spears

What do I say when life gets hard?
Safe by Bonnie Bailey

What do I think of upon waking up?
The Nearness of You by Norah Jones

What song will I dance to at my wedding?
Let's Get Married by Jagged Edge

What do I want as a career?
Cat's in the Cradle by Harry Chapin

My favorite saying?
If Ever You're in My Arms Again by Peabo Bryson

Favorite place?
Come Out and Play by Offspring

What do I think of my parents?
Reprise by Erykah Badu

What’s my porn star name?
Holiday by Madonna

Where would I go on a first date?
Do Wa Ditty by Zapp

Drug of choice?
It Takes Two by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock

Describe myself.
The Closer I Get to You by Roberta Flack

What is the thing I like doing most?
Brain Stew by Green Day

What is my state of mind like at the moment?
One Minute Man by Missy Elliott

How will I die?
Wordy Rappinghood by Tom Tom Club

OK. So that was kind of weird.

Seven random things

So it seems that I was tagged some time ago. Well, it wasn't that long ago but it feels like eons ago. This one is kind of hard for me because I've been all about sharing and being honest here. Read on because I haven't tagged anyone else but if you feel the urge to steal, then steal away.

1. I only had three dates in high school. Really. And for all three, I asked the guy out. High school sucked majorly.

2. I kind of lied on that first one. I was asked out in high school. When I was 14. By guys who were 18 or older. And it was kind of creepy. One of them ended up stalking me until one of my friends cursed him out. Really he did. I would catch the bus to somewhere and he'd suddenly appear.

3. Keeping with the theme, I have spent most of my life thinking that I was ugly. I had a long chat in the last week with my aunt (by marriage) in Savannah on this topic. Funny how other people can get into your head. Now I have a neighbor who says that she aspires to have the same kind of style that I have. Probably because I have a little more confidence these days than I did back in the day. Because I learned that if you're happy with who you are, then others will see your beauty. And this is the kind of beauty that survives even the ravages of aging. Of course, in my mind I will always have "An L.A. face with an Oakland booty."

4. The men on my dad's side of the family are huge Warner Brothers fans, besides being Clint Eastwood fans. We have long conversations about which of the Looney Tunes characters is the coolest.

5. As a kid, I was a militant non-smoker. I bordered on being the type of person who would either destroy or hide cigarettes. Imagine my parents' shock (They were both smokers.) when I revealed that I had become a smoker in college. I told them it was because I had missed them and their second-hand.

6. And speaking of family ... If you had asked me 20 years ago where I would be today, it probably wouldn't be here. I was supposed to be married with at least two kids. But I've learned that life sometimes takes unexpected twists. And even though I have not ended up with where I thought I would be, I have learned to be happy with how things are. Especially after teaching. Because I'm not sure if I'm prepared to have kids around all the time. The cats, mostly Boris, drive me nuts at times.

7. There is a little part of me that will always feel insecure. Even if I am the life of the party, I will have doubts. But I probably won't show these doubts because over the years, I have become a pretty good actress. Sometimes I even fool myself.

So that's the best I can do. Because like I said previously, I've pretty much laid every thing out. And that other stuff? Well, life has taught me that there are some parts of one's self that should be kept to one's self. Self preservation and all.

And now I need to come up with some music for y'all. Hmmmm. Well, let's just keep with that 80s thing. One of my faves from back in the days when my life revolved around the party schedule.

Getting light again

After all that serious stuff, I thought it was time for something lighter. I found this meme over at Kapgar's.

The iTunes Meme!

How many total songs?
3,244 songs equating to 10 days, 4 hours, and 48 minutes of music.

Sort by song title - first and last...
"'03 Bonnie and Clyde" by Jay-Z with Beyonce and "Zoila" by Carlos Vive.

Sort by time - shortest and longest...
"Go On Miss Janet" by Janet Jackson at five seconds and "Summer Madness" by Kool and the Gang at 26 minutes, 26 seconds.

Sort by Album - first and last...
10 Things I Hate About You soundtrack and Zenyatta Mondatta by The Police.

Sort by Artist - first and last...
10 cc and Zuco 103.

Top five played songs...
1. "Georgy Porgy (Acoustic)" by Toto
2. "Deja Vu" by Beyonce (featuring Jay-Z)
3. "Tell Me" by Diddy (featuring Christina Aguilera)
4. "Show Me What You Got" by Jay-Z
5. "Mas Que Nada" by Sergio Mendes (featuring The Black Eyed Peas)

Find the following words. How many songs show up?
Sex: 25, Death: 0, Love: 289, You: 414, Home: 20, Boy: 70, Girl: 82.

First five songs that come up on Party Shuffle...
1. "My Girl" by The Temptations
2. "Fuck tha Police" by NWA
3. "I Feel Love" by Donna Summer
4. "We Want Some Pussy" by 2 Live Crew
5. "El Torso (Can 7 Fruitcake Mix)" by Torse

OK. That last one was a little too weird.

Bonus item I think y'all need a good laugh. So go check out this site. They have posters, t-shirts ... A coworker told me about the site yesterday. We're thinking of getting the "Tradition" poster for the office. I'm still in tears thinking about all the fine stuff they sell.

California love

So I got the idea from Hilly to come up with this list. I figured it would be would be helpful, given the dark mood I've been in lately, to come up with some stuff that I actually like. So here goes ...

Why the Empress Is Happy to Live in California

1. Carne asada burritos from Roberto's in San Diego. One of the things I have missed since graduating from undergrad. I find myself periodically dreaming about them. I've had some good burritos elsewhere but none have made me want to drive two hours for one.

I once drove to San Diego from L.A. with the express purpose of getting a couple of burritos. Well, and also stopping at my fave bar. But that's all the trip consisted of -- burritos and cocktails. And this was on a Friday evening after working all week. Insane, huh?

2. Tilden Park in the Berkeley hills. I still get a kick out of going by the Little Farm up there. Just as much as I did when I was a kid. And the Jewel Lake trail? The Botanical Garden? Totally calming.

3. That certain block of Lombard Street in San Francisco. You know the one. The one dubbed as the "crookedest street in the world." Now I know that this is a usual tourist destination but the key here is to go later in the evening. Say around 10 p.m. or so. Late enough that the pesky tourists are not around. You can take the street a little faster then. Kind of an adult version of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

4. The California State Fair. Sure you've got the livestock exhibits and crafts and rides. But there's also harness racing. Oh, and let's not forget the wine competition. Oh, and food. There's a vendor who's been there a few years at least who makes scrumptious fried catfish. If you catch him at the right time, there's peach cobbler too. And finally, the concerts. Of course, I usually luck up and get the VIP tickets. This means reserved seating with a catered meal. And lots of free beer and wine. Plus it is so much fun to sing along with a bunch of strangers to the likes of The B-52s and The Doobie Brothers.

5. Not having to pack away seasonal wardrobes like I did when I lived in Virginia. I love living in a place in which the climate is fairly stable. I like to say that in NorCal we have two seasons -- wet and dry. I love sweaters and I love that I can wear my wool sweaters the majority of the year.

6. And speaking of Virginia, I love that the houses out here are painted a variety of colors. In Virginia, everything was either white or beige or brick. Boring. I love the technicolor display of houses. It seems so alive and vibrant.

7. The laidback feeling at times. Even though Berkeley liberals can be irritating at times, I still love them. They're part of the reason why I chose to live here. Probably because there is such a variety in personal expression. It's all cool. If I had stayed in Virginia, I probably never would have pierced my nose. Last summer when I was looking for a job (That seems to be a recurring thing.), my relatives in the South asked, "Do you think it's wise to pierce your nose while looking for a job?" Heck yeah. It's becoming pretty common around here. Just like how folks compare what kind of ink they have. Reminder to self -- must see about getting some ink in the near future.

8. Proximity to both the beach and the snow. Not that I go to either very often but I like the idea of being able to.

9. My commute when I worked in South San Francisco. I learned how to avoid the hell that is known as 80. If I took that route home, it would take me at least 90 minutes to get home. My alternate route took one hour. Skyline Boulevard to Great Highway to Lincoln. Cut through Golden Gate Park to Park Presidio to the Golden Gate Bridge. Then a quick jaunt through Marin County to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Once while driving home, I was speaking to one of my uncles who now lives in Alabama. He said, "You have to have one of the most beautiful commutes." During daylight savings time when the sun is just starting to set and there are pelicans flying over the ocean? Breathtaking. It's one of those things that I take for granted of which I have to remind myself periodically.

10. And finally, one of my other favorite drives. Taking Coleman Valley Road from Occidental out to the coast. I love the juxtaposition of one minute being in rolling green farmland and the next being at the rocky coast.

So if you feel like joining in, try to come up with ten non-traditional as to why you love the state in which you live.

I've never been a wimp

Before I get onto the main attraction, I'd like to share this item.



Looks cute, doesn't it? I had to take the picture in the car because I knew that I was going to tear into immediately. It was around 3 p.m. yesterday and I hadn't had anything to eat since the bread pudding in the morning. I quickly learned why the item was on sale for $0.10. They were the most horrendous tasting jellybeans that I have ever had. So bad that I threw them out upon reaching home. I should have gone for the Cadbury creme filled bunnies instead.

And now, onto the main event. I decided to take the plunge over at Hilly's yesterday. It's a new kind of meme. If you want to join in, just follow the directions at the end.

1. If you could pick the next place you would live out of thin air, where would it be?
Easy. London. I didn't even need braincells for that one.

2. Friday the 13th....friend, foe or just a bunch of hooey?
Bunch of hooey.

3. Who is your favorite literary character and why?
This is a tough one. I could go with the obvious of Dagny Taggert but I think I should delve deeper. I glanced over all of my books but no other character came to mind. So Dagny Taggert of Atlas Shrugged it is. I read the book when I was around 19 and it has stuck with me. Dagny is extremely independent and goes her own path. She could really care less what others think of her. And those people who don't really like her? Leeches who would suck the life out of her if given the chance. She doesn't really fit in but in the end she finds a bunch of like-minded folks who truly appreciate her. Isn't that what we all hope for?

4. What are three traits that the next man to steal your heart must possess?
Sanity, adoration of me that borders on worship, and the ability to truly listen.

5. Finally an easy one...what is your current cocktail of choice?
The sun is out so it's mojitos these days.

Here are the instructions to continue:

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me." (I was going to change this to, "I accept that one day you will probably crush me under your heel but in the meantime please interview me," but then I remembered that a good dictator -- ummm ruler -- should come off as kind and pleasant at times. So a simple, "Interview me," will do.)
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

I couldn't resist

Once I conquered my bedroom, I realized that the rest of my apartment looked shabby in comparison. I've gotten as far as the living room. There is still some clutter on the bookcases but that will be a piece of cake now that I've taken care of everything else. On today's list is a complete scrubbing of the bathroom and kitchen.



This did not stop me from entering the kitchen last night though. I finally had my artichokes with hummus. This was followed by potato leek soup. I think today I'll try it with some crumbled bacon on top. Because bacon makes everything better. Oh, and I made bread pudding as well. They didn't have croissants in the store so I picked out the bread that I thought was of the closest consistency and then let it get stale. This vision started when I noticed the strawberries in the store. Well, actually I went looking for raspberries but ended up settling on the strawberries. If there had been raspberries, I would have baked them into the bread pudding instead of serving them on the side. This morning I also got around to making the creme anglaise. Because that's how I envisioned the whole thing -- bread pudding topped with creme anglaise and fresh sliced strawberries. (And yes, this is what I ate for breakfast. Along with a mug of chai.) If I keep up like this, then this summer this may very well end up being a food blog.

But since it isn't, let me move onto other things. I first saw this at Kapgar's. Then Hilly posted it. So of course, I finally had to give in.

THE MOVIE MEME

1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times.
Where to start?

2. Name a movie that you've seen multiple times in the theater.
Purple Rain.

3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie.
Ed Harris. Ever since The Abyss, I've had a thing for him.

4. Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie.
Jim Carrey. Because of this, I was torn over The Truman Show. As you can see from my above answer, it should have been a definite must-see. So I debated it some before I actually went to see it.

5. Name a movie that you can and do quote from.
Eurotrip.

6. Name a movie musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs.
Duh. Grease. Still own the soundtrack. And my fave bar in North Beach? They have it on the jukebox. One of the bartenders used to play it at closing time.

7. Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with.
I leave the singing to my mother. If it has a song that she knows, she is guaranteed to sing along. Heck. This is the woman who sings along to the Muzak when shopping. Really embarrassing. Especially when I'm trying to act like I don't know her and she yells across the store, "Where are you going? Yes, you in the blue sweater. What's the matter? Don't want to admit to people that I'm your mother." So no singing.

8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see.
Rebecca.

9. Name a movie that you own.
I wouldn't even know where to begin. The latest purchase was Cinderfella.

10. Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops.
Mark Wahlberg.

11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? If so, what?
Of course. The last time I can remember was a double feature with the 'rents when I was a kid -- Cooley High and Mandingo. I was supposed to be asleep by the time they showed the second one but I wasn't. Still disturbed by that one to this day.

12. Ever made out in a movie?
Isn't that a rite of passage?

13. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven’t yet gotten around to it.
Devil in a Blue Dress. Cinema Paradiso.

14. Ever walked out of a movie?
No, but there's that one rental I've never made it through. Every time I have rented Shakespeare in Love, I end up falling asleep at the exact same point.

15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theater.
Terms of Endearment.

16. What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?
Clerks 2. Sad, huh?

17. What’s your favorite/preferred genre of movie?
Suspense, classics.

18. What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

19. What movie do you wish you had never seen?
I'm sure there is one but I have obviously blocked it completely. So let's leave it there in the recesses of my mind where it belongs.

20. What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed?
Another hard one. I tend to enjoy what others find weird. Thus the reason why my mother and I rarely go to the movies together. But I'll take a stab at this one -- Village of the Giants.

21. What is the scariest movie you've seen?
I think I am going to have to agree with Hilly on this one -- Poltergeist. Saw in high school. We all left the theater freaked out.

22. What is the funniest movie you've seen?
Raising Arizona. The Last Supper also makes me squeal with joy, but in a different kind of way.

Look, ma. I can read.

I found this over at Cyndi's. It seemed to be a fitting way to start my work week.

Here's what you do:

Look at the list of books below.
* (Bold) the ones you’ve read
* Italicize the ones you want to read
* Leave unchanged the ones that you aren’t interested in.
* If you are reading this, tag, you’re it!

1. The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austin)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Rowling) (known as Sorcerer's Stone in the US)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. Bible Not all of it, of course, but some sizeable chunks.
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery) One of my students has read this in Spanish and assures me that it is quite wonderful. Everytime he sees it listed in the Scholastic flyer, he tells me how I should read it. Maybe this summer.
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down(Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)

I'm not really that strange

So I've been tagged by Rach so here goes.

Rules:Each player of this game starts with the 6 weird things/habits about you. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird habits/things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

1. Some of you have read this one before but it's still there. The silverware must be stacked in the drawer just so. I will even rearrange the silverware at someone else's house given the opportunity.

2. I am usually cold. This means that it can be 90 degrees outside and I will wear a sweater. Of course, this sometimes causes problems as I usually like to wear shorts at home. Luckily my legs seem to be immune to the cold. This also causes huge conflicts with the kids. They are always begging me to turn on the AC. I'm sorry but I don't own enough layers to accommodate that request.

3. If the bed is pushed up against a wall, then I have to sleep on the outer edge. Otherwise the right side is mine. And no, this is not open to discussion.

4. I tend to date guys younger than I because guys my age or older just seem so ummm old. And there can only be one person who is deeply set in his/her ways in a relationship. Guess which one that is?

5. I like my rum and coke with lots of limes. And by lots, I mean at least three. A guy in a bar pointed out to me that I could achieve that limey flavor by mashing the single lime at the bottom of my glass with the straw. Nope. Too much work. My favorite bartender recognizes this and always makes sure I have plenty in my drink. That's why he's my fave. Well that and he's easy on the eyes. This is also why I will be meeting Grasshopper there later this evening.

6. Crap. I have to come up with another one? OK. I am quite skilled at saying the alphabet backwards. My friends and I often practiced this in college. You never know when some cop will ask you to do this. Because I guess they could if you are walking while intoxicated but it seems that it would be pretty obvious without having you go through this. So now I sometimes do it just to pass time.

Now I guess it's my turn to tag some folks.

Tami, Silly, Jen, Madame D, Kapgar, and Daniel.

Oh yeah. And Happy VD!

Thanks Daniel

So apparently while I was out of town, I was tagged by Daniel. Here goes...

4 Jobs I’ve had
. Accounts receivable for a machine shop
. Bartender at an amusement park
. Project coordinator
.

4 movies I could watch over and over
. Rebecca
. Just about anything with Clint Eastwood
. The Godfather
. Roman Holiday

4 places I’ve lived in
. San Diego
. Williamsburg
. San Francisco
. Virginia Beach

4 places I’ve vacationed
. Barbados
. London
. Mazatlan
. Driving across the U.S.

4 websites I visit daily
. Kapgar
. CAP
. Cookiecrumb
. BWB

4 of my favourite dishes
. Almost anything with cheese
. Almost anything with crab
. Potato leek soup (with cheddar cheese in it of course)
. Curry chicken salad from Andronico's

4 places I would rather be
. London
. Barbados
. Curled up on the couch with a comforter and a pot of tea
. Anywhere warmer than here

4 people I am tagging
. Jill
. Fluffycat
. Silly
. Rachel

I'll be spending the rest of the weekend continuing to celebrate Queenie's birthday. Have fun y'all.

Oh, and for further entertainent, I have been hooked on this video since it first aired on SNL before Christmas. Immediately after the show I went online to look for it because I knew it was there. I just have one question. Why is the box shaking when they mention Kwanzaa? And I found the clip to be cool enough to pass onto my dad -- who I speak to daily. He is also the man who told the following joke in my presence -- "Why did Jill get off the elephant first? Answer: To help Jack off." I was 16 at the time. When I started laughing five minutes later, my dad took offense. Yep. Gotta love the Southerners.

5 things few people know about me

So I was tagged by BWB. This one is a little tricky. I mean what can I tell you folks that I haven't already shared?

1. My great grandfather had six fingers. This was not of much concern until one of my cousins had a son who also had this lovely trait. It had not shown up in the family since my grandmother's generation. We all thought that we were safely past that. I guess not. Even if it were not for my little cousin, I would be reminded of this trait every time I watch Gattaca.

2. I am a butter addict. As a child, I would often go to the fridge just so I could slice of a chunk of butter. No, I did not eat it with anything. My Southern relatives only buy butter for baking purposes. They use margerine everyday. Ick!

3. When I was young, I frequently suffered from nose bleeds. My father had the same affliction. Doctors had told my grandmother that they were like asthma in some children. I only had them when I was really upset. Like that time in third grade when I threw a ruler at another girl's head. Of course, she told the teacher. The teacher took me into the hallway to have a little chat. Before she could say anything, my nose started gushing and she sent me to the office. I never did get that lecture. Sometimes I wish that I had not outgrown the nosebleeds. They certainly came in handy.

4. I cannot stand absolute quiet. That's why the TV runs all night long. I have tried using the sleep timer. The problem is that as soon as the TV clicks off, I am wide awake.

5. I hate the sound of my alarm clock. Actually, any alarm clock. If I set the alarm, I tend to wake up five minutes before the alarm is due to go off just so I can shut it off. If I have the misfortune of having to room with someone who hits the snooze a great deal -- like my college roommate -- I want to rip the clock to shreds. When I stay with her now, I can hear her alarm in the guest room down the hall. That's how sensitive I am.

I'm not really up for tagging anyone. If you really want to, go for it.

Hitting the road

There will be no quiz on Saturday. That's because I'll be in lovely Pacific Grove at a conference this weekend. Leaving out after school today.

Yesterday was a pretty good day at school. The opera performance? Fantastic! Now the kids want to do a play. We'll see.

For your entertainment pleasure, I swiped this meme from Heidi.

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? "My eyes look like I haven't gotten enough sleep."
2. How much cash do you have on you? $10? $15? I usually don't carry much cash.
3. What's a word that rhymes with "DOOR?" soar
4. Favorite planet? Not really sure.
5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone? Probably my dad.
6. What is your favorite ring tone? Kashmir
7. What shirt are you wearing? Blue.
8. Do you "label" yourself? Nope.
9. Name the brand of the shoes you're currently wearing? None. I have time before I walk out the door before I actually need to put those on.
10. Bright or dark room? It depends.
11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you? You've gotta like that Heidi.
12. What does your watch look like? I can't remember. It's been sitting in the jewelry box for years.
13. What were you doing at midnight last night? Sleeping.
14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say? A message from Cingular telling me that the rate for calls to mobile phones in Mexico will be going up from $0.09 a minute to $0.26 a minute!
15. Where is your nearest 7-11? I haven't seen one of those in a long time. I think there's one on University though.
16. What's a word that you say a lot? Anyway...
17. Who told you he/she loved you last? My aunt
18. Last furry thing you touched? Natasha
19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days? None.
20. How many rolls of film do you need developed? One.
21. Favorite age you have been so far? 25 or 30. Both were great years.
22. Your worst enemy? Me.
23. What is your current desktop picture? Pinky and the Brain.
24. What was the last thing you said to someone? "Change that to 10 orders of shui mai."
25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be? The money. Duh.
26. Do you like someone? Nope.
27. The last song you listened to?
28. What time of day were you born? 5:01 am
29. What's your favorite number? 3
30. Where did you live in 1987? San Diego
31. Are you jealous of anyone? Not currently.
32. Is anyone jealous of you? Of course they are. I mean I am the Empress.
33. Where were you when 9/11 happened? About to get into a rental car to head to National Airport in DC for my flight home.
34. What do you do when vending machines steal your money? Hit it and curse.
35. Do you consider yourself kind? Some days.
36. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be? Wrist or ankle.
37. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be? Portuguese.
38. Would you move for the person you loved? Perhaps.
39. Are you touchy feely? Some days.
40. What's your life motto? Not really sure. It used to be, "You're not really living unless you're living on the edge."
41. Name three things that you have on you at all times? Cell phone,
42. What's your favorite town/city? London or San Francisco.
43. What was the last thing you paid for with cash? Lunch on Thursday. Japanese. Mmmm.
44. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it? Too long ago to remember.
45. Can you change the oil on a car? I haven't actually tried it but my uncle insisted that I watch and learn.
46. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her? That was eons ago. I ran into him a couple of years after we broke up. He just gotten back from six months at sea. I was deliberately cold because he had this way of sucking me back in and I wanted off the roller coaster.
47. How far back do you know about your ancestry? Great great grandparents??
48. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy? I think it may have been my birthday this year. I believe I wore the silk chiffon dress, but I could be mistaken. I know I was carrying the Kate Spade bag.
49. Does anything hurt on your body right now? Nope.
50. Have you been burned by love? Am I breathing?

I'll post the quiz when I return on Sunday.

Yet another meme

I found this at Neil's. He really hasn't done much. Poor soul. We should all help him out on his road to destruction. At least, that's what I think. And yes, I know that I have completed something similar to this previously but Neil can't seem to remember.

Fill in what you’ve “done”:

(x) Smoked a joint
( ) Done cocaine
(X) Been in love
( ) Had a threesome
(X) Been dumped
(X) Shoplifted
(X) Had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back
(X) Been arrested
(X) Made out with a stranger
(X) Gone on a blind date
(X) Had a crush on a teacher
(X) Been to Europe
(X) Been to Canada
(X) Been to Mexico
( ) Seen someone die
( ) Thrown up in a bar
(X) Met a celebrity
(X) Met someone from the internet in person
( ) Been moshing at a concert
(X) Gone backstage at a concert
(X) Lain outside in the grass and watched cloud shapes go by
(X) Made a snow angel
(X) Flown a kite
(X) Cheated while playing a game
(X) Been lonely
(X) Fallen asleep at work
( ) Fallen asleep at school
( ) Used a fake ID
( ) Been kicked out of a bar
(X) Felt an earthquake
(X) Touched a snake
(X) Slept beneath the stars
(X) Been robbed
(X) Won a contest
(X) Run a red light
( ) Been suspended from school
(X) Had braces
(X) Felt like an outcast
(X) Eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night
(X) Had deja vu
( ) Totaled a car
( ) Stolen a car
(x) Hated the way you look
(X) Witnessed a crime
(X) Been to a strip club
(X) Been to the opposite side of the world
(X) Swum in the ocean
(X) Felt like dying
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Sung karaoke
(X) Paid for a meal with only coins
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t
(X) Made prank phone calls
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Had a bonfire on the beach
(X) Crashed a party
( ) Seen a tornado
(X) Had a wish come true
( ) Gone bungee jumping
(X) Screamed in public
(X) Told a complete stranger you loved them
(X) Had a one night stand
(X) Kissed a mirror
(X) Had a dream that you married someone
( ) Gotten your fingers stuck together with super glue
( ) Been a cheerleader
(X) Sat on a roof top
(X) Talked on the phone for more than 6 hours straight
(X) Stayed up all night
(X) Not taken a shower for three days
(X) Made contact with a ghost while playing a Ouija board
(X) Had more than 30 pairs of shoes at a time
( ) Gone streaking
( ) Been skinny dipping
(X) Been pushed into a pool/lake with all your clothes on
(X) Had sex in a public or semi-public place
(X) Been kissed by a complete stranger
(X) Broken a bone
(X) Caught a butterfly
(X) Mooned/flashed someone
(X) Had someone moon/flash you
(X) Cheated on a test
(X) Forgotten someone’s name
(X) Slept naked

Death and food

So it seems that I was tagged by Cookie Crumb last week but just got around to reading the post. Here goes.

5 Things to Eat Before You Die

1. Fish tacos from a roadside truck in Baja California.
I've tried them in restaurants up here but they're never quite the same. Once place served chunks of fish in their tacos. Ewwww. It should be a complete fillet. And then there's the need for shredded cabbage and whatever that white sauce is. Oh, and avocado too. Not guacamole but slices of avocado.

2. Pulled barbeque sandwich from Pierce's in Williamsburg.
The place is off of I-64 and reached popularity due to the recommendations of truckers. They cook the meat in a cathedral oven out back. Most barbeque places go heavy on the vinegar for their chopped barbeque. The other big difference is that you get the occasional crispy piece in the mix. Whenever I'm back visiting my grandmother, I drive the 30 minutes just to have a sandwich. Yes, I want cole slaw on it. And where's the bottle of Texas Pete?

3. Blue crabs boiled up with Chesapeake Bay seasoning.
No need for anything fancy here. Just a lot of newspapers (to dump the crabs onto) and lots of napkins. The thought of this reminds me of summertime in Maryland and Virginia. Marcia can tell you the best places in Baltimore to dine upon this great stuff. This is another item I often had at my grandmother's house.

4. Ice cream from Bombay Ice Creamery or gelato from Naia.
I love all the unusual flavors. And apparently Naia is having a flavor contest.

5. Japanese Fruit Cake.
My other grandmother used to make this for the holidays for one of my uncles. After her death, I asked family members if they remembered it. They did not. The next day as they were going through her papers, they found the recipe for it that she had clipped from a newspaper eons ago. I like to think that she guided them to that clipping. A year later the uncle for whom she used to make it also died. I have since found a number of variations on the internet. This one is probably the closest to what my grandmother made. I also now occasionally make it for my family during the holidays.

Now I guess I have to tag some folks. I think I'll go with Gloria, Daniel, Tami and Knitting Pagan. Somehow I think that all of you probably have some pretty strong opinions about food.

Checking it twice

I saw this over at Kevin's so I just had to copy it.

The Checklist
Just bold the things you have accomplished in your life.

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with wild dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said "I love you" and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs - Doesn't everyone do that?
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River - or was it the Colorado River?
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Eaten fugu (pufferfish)
89. Had a one-night stand
90. Gone to Thailand
91. Bought a house
92. Been in a combat zone
93. Buried one/both of your parents
94. Been on a cruise ship
95. Spoken more than one language fluently
96. Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show
97. Raised children
98. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat - *sigh* That's what I get for not eating those Jack in the Box burgers in the 80s
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach -- This past summer in fact. The bug mobile came to school and I got to hold a Madagascar hissing cockroach as well as a few other insects.
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair - How many times have I told y'all that Miss Clairol is my patron saint?
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone's life

Obviously I still have a lot of living to do. (Awww. Crap. Now I'm going to have Bye Bye Birdie stuck in my head all day.) What have you done?

I love my neighborhood

A couple of weeks ago I realized that I had not stopped by Flare's in quite some time. As it turns out, she had posted this cool meme idea that I just knew I was going to have to borrow.

The rules are as follows:

(1) You must name where you live.

(2) You must include at least one and no more than six photos. The photos must show things within a 20 minute walk of your home. Also the photos must have been taken specifically for the meme.

(3) You must tag at least one person.

I live in the lovely neighborhood of North Berkeley.


Two places that I think help to define my neighborhood -- The University and Chez Panisse.


This place brings back childhood memories.


The original Body Shop. They sold their name to the other company back in the 80s I believe.





One of the other things I like about walking through my neighborhood is checking out everyone's yards. Lawns are rare.

I think I will have to tag Jolene and Daniel on this one because I know how much the two of them love going out and taking photos.