It's raining

[altivo]

And I'm avoiding work (well actually I did some already) so have this meme I stole from songdogmi and hellmutt.


Who sleeps in bed next to you?
Usually my dear mate of the last 27 years, who will complain to me in the morning that I snored almost as loud as the dogs. Most of the time, there's at least one cat and often a dog on the bed, too. And the plushies, if you count them as sleeping. They seem to be awake most of the time. Several ponies, several huskies and wolves, with more piled on the floor beside my half of the bed.

What kind of magazines do you read?
Actually read cover to cover? Just a few: QST (amateur radio monthly,) Perfect Horse (horse care and training,) Handwoven (hand weaving,) and SpinOff (hand spinning.) Gary reads New Scientist from cover to cover weekly, and I skim it for the interesting bits (not always what he found interesting.) We also get Birds & Blooms (pretty color photos of birds, gardens, and butterflies, but not much actual content,) Midwest Living (mostly ads, but sometimes interesting recipes or historical stuff,) and Better Homes & Gardens (even more ads, occasional recipes and a lot of photos of impractical interiors that we laugh about, but won't be renewed.) We browse several newspapers, most of them local weeklies (Woodstock, Marengo-Union-Huntley, Boone County, southern Wisconsin areas) or major Sunday editions (Chicago, Rockford, and McHenry County.)

What was the last book you read? What are you currently reading?
Last literary book I read: A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire, third in his Wicked Years series about Baum's world of Oz. Currently I'm reading The First Book of Lapism by Phil Geusz, and nearing the end though I expect Phil will have more to add to his social commentary about a group of people in the US whose philosophical/religious ideas lead them to undergo "gengineering" to be turned into anthropomorphic rabbits. I know, it sounds weird, but I'm finding it quite brilliant, and all too sadly believable in what it says about human behaviors.

What's really creepy?
Hypocrisy, especially among politicians and their avid worshippers. Telemarketers and telephone scam artists. Evangelical proselytizers who knock on doors or accost strangers in public places. Libertarians and gun wingnuts.

Who is your celebrity crush?
Oh my. I haven't had one of those for decades. Mostly I don't even know who the celebrities are these days. When I was a teenager I had the hots for Michael Landon. Does that count? Probably not, since I didn't write fan letters or collect photos of him or anything.

Quote some lyrics that you love:
I mostly listen to instrumental music, so this is not too easy. Reaching back a bit, how about this?

Its a still life water color,
Of a now late afternoon,
As the sun shines through the curtained lace
And shadows wash the room.
And we sit and drink our coffee
Couched in our indifference,
Like shells upon the shore
You can hear the ocean roar
In the dangling conversation
And the superficial sighs,
Are the borders of our lives.

And you read your Emily Dickinson,
And I my Robert Frost,
And we note our place with bookmarkers
That measure what weve lost.
Like a poem poorly written
We are verses out of rhythm,
Couplets out of rhyme,
In syncopated time
Lost in the dangling conversation
And the superficial sighs,
Are the borders of our lives.

(Paul Simon, of course, for those too young to remember.)

What are you listening to right now?
I never listen to anything while writing. Too distracting.

What are you most excited for?
I'm afraid I'm too old and jaded to be excited easily.

What websites do you always visit when you go online?
GMail, LiveJournal, FurAffinity, and the National Weather Service. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I always read the latest Faux Pas by the Carspeckens.

What was the last thing you bought?
Breakfast? We had a special breakfast for our best library assistant who is headed off to University of Wisconsin at Platteville to study horticulture. I made a trip up to Harvard for it even though I'm on vacation this week.

What was the cutest thing you've seen today?
Both cats burrowed into the waterbed together. Asher putting his head in over Archie's stall door to see what I was doing and whether I'd scritch him or give him a treat while I was cleaning barns this afternoon.

Does the weather affect your mood?
Yes, but rarely in a negative sense. I like weather of all sorts, though I may not want to go out into it. A gloomy, rainy day like today makes me enjoy being indoors, cooking, reading, writing, or crafting.

What is your zodiac sign?
Sagittarius sun, but what people often perceive in me is Virgo rising, and/or Libra moon.

Do you want to learn another language?
I can still get by slowly in very child-like French or German I think. I can read several others, so I think I've probably done enough language studies. If I had time, though, I do like languages and wouldn't turn one down.

5 things you can't live without:
Air, water, food. Quiet! Nature.

Do you have any siblings?
Two living (male, female) and two dead (male, female.)

Do you have to pee?
Sometimes.

Say something to the person who tagged you:
I wasn't tagged and I don't tag. Unless you count Asher poking his muzzle into my ribs this afternoon. *hugs a horsie* I love you Ash, play nice now.

Comments

[keeganfox.livejournal.com]

Who sleeps in bed next to you?
Just Molly the Leopard, and sometimes another plushie.

What kind of magazines do you read?
Soaring, Mental Floss, anything that has an interesting article. Usually not too many.

What was the last book you read? What are you currently reading?
Last read "Phoenix Squadron" by Roland White.
Currently reading "Bad Science" by Ben Goldacre

What's really creepy?
Clowns. People who dress their pets up. The guy in the ice cream truck.

Who is your celebrity crush?
Never had one. True life story.

Quote some lyrics that you love:
"Find it in you, raise your eyes
Look beyond the place you stand
Towards the furthest reaches
And to the smallest of things
The sound you are hearing
Is the symphony of what we are
Revelation will not come
With heart and mind closed and divided

No need of sun to light the way
Across the ages, we have reigned as we endured
Through the storm fronts we will ever surely pass
To stand as never ending light

Throw away the mantle
Awake from your uncertain hesitation
No way to describe or equate the feeling
No end to what is at your command
A million thoughts run through you
Concentric circles, ever greater
But you have always known
That this is not all there is
To your questions there'll be answers

No need of sun to light the way
Across the ages, we have reigned as we endured
Through the storm fronts we will ever surely pass
To stand as never ending light

Let there be, let there always be
Never ending light (X4)" - VNV Nation "Perpetual"

What are you listening to right now?
VNV Nation "Perpetual"

What are you most excited for?
A good day of flying. Other than that, I'm pretty unexcitable. Yeah, I'm that lame.

What websites do you always visit when you go online?
Livejournal, several news sites, LOLcats, and Snopes.com

What was the last thing you bought?
Dinner, for $3.65 at the chow hall.

What was the cutest thing you've seen today?
LOLcats!

Does the weather affect your mood?
Not really the weather, the light, or lack of does a lot more than just being rainy or cold.

What is your zodiac sign?
Capricorn, or Monkey. Take your pick.

Do you want to learn another language?
I suck at languages. I think it's the different syntax that I can't get a grasp on.

5 things you can't live without:
Air, water, food, my hands, and my hearing.

Do you have any siblings?
Brother.

Do you have to pee?
Sometimes. What a strange question.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

That last question is indeed an odd one. I'm guessing it's supposed to be a reference to the length of the questionnaire.

I'm glad to be reminded that you have Molly, because you often do sound very alone and solitary.

It's interesting that you choose hands and hearing. As a flier, I would think your vision would be most important.

[flamekist.livejournal.com]

Who sleeps in bed next to you?
My wonderful loving husband for the past 14 years. Occasionally there's a chihuahua that joins us, but then he starts getting angry that there's two humans in his bed.

What kind of magazines do you read?
Since I do most of the cooking, almost any magazine that has interesting recipes in it is fair game.

What was the last book you read? What are you currently reading?
The last book I read was the Georgia State University Catalog. What? It's 570 pages long, all of which have to be positively sifted through because they apparently really get off on hiding things you need to know on randomly-placed pages! Currently reading Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett. Not his best work.

What's really creepy?
People who blindly follow others (religions, politicians, trends, etc.) without finding the facts out for themselves.

Who is your celebrity crush?
Way back in grade school, I had a crush on Dan Haggerty. To some small degree I still do today.
When I was a teen, it was Gil Gerard.
Today it's Josh Holloway.


Quote some lyrics that you love:
Comfortably Numb by Scissor Sisters

Hello (hello)
Hello (hello)
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can here me
Is there anybody home?

Come on now
I hear you're feeling down
Well I can ease your pain
And get you on your feet again
Relax...
I need some information.. first (first)
Relax..
Just don't face the facts
Can you show me where it hurts

There is no pain you were receding
A distant ship floats on the horizon
You're only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can't hear watcha saying
When I was a child I caught a fever
My hands swelled like two balloons
Now i've got that feeling once again
I can't explain
You would not understand
This isn't how I am
I have become comfortably numb

Ok (ok)
It's just a little pin-prick
There'll be no more Hiiiiiiiiiii
But you may feel a little sick
Can you stand up now
I do believe It's working

Gotta keep it going through the show
C'mon it's time to go

There is no pain you were receding
A distant ship floats on the horizon
You're only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can't hear watcha saying
When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye
I turned to look but it was gone
To get up on my feet but ohh the child has grown
The dream is gone
I..i..i've been Com-com-fortably Numb
I..i..i've been Com-com-fortably Numb

What are you listening to right now?
The thunderstorm raging outside.

What are you most excited for?
Orgasams, either solo or with my man. After that it's food. Love cooking!

What websites do you always visit when you go online?
SomethingPositive.net
FriendlyHostility.com
GirlGeniusOnline.com
Gunnerkrigg.com
5ideways.com
LeastICouldDo.com
LFGComic.com
DanielleCorsetto.com
EQComics.com
OtherPeoplesBusiness.net
Yes, I love my webcomics.

What was the last thing you bought?
A box of smoked jalapeno sourdough crackers. Yummy!

What was the cutest thing you've seen today?
My Chihuahua and Australian Shepherd curled up together sleeping on the rug in the living room.

Does the weather affect your mood?
Not in the least. I love all aspects of the weather.

What is your zodiac sign?
Taurus

Do you want to learn another language?
I used to know French when I was little. I can still slowly do some Sign Language provided the person I'm talking to is extremely patient with me.

5 things you can't live without
Solitude, cooking, several acres of woods, my man, skinny dipping.
Yeah I know, I *can* live without them, but why would I want to?

Do you have any siblings?
Two younger sisters.

Do you have to pee?
Occasionally. Unless I take too much of my asthma medication, then it's every five minutes. I really can't explain it.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I might have the explanation for the asthma medication, but you might rather not know.

We need a photo of the chihuahua and shepherd curled up together. Talk about Mutt and Jeff... Now I suppose you'll tell me that's their names. ;p

[flamekist.livejournal.com]

Their names are Neo (Chihuahua) and Sydney (Shepherd). They're both incredibly camera-shy, and seeing them curled up together almost never happens which only enhanced their cuteness.

So what's the explanation? I'm hardly squeemish and am rarely grossed out.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

This is sheer speculation, since I don't know what you actually take and I'm no pharmacologist anyway. But many decongestants and sinus dilators cause congestion elsewhere, apparently including the prostate gland. So on one paw, you have something that is trying to pump excess fluid out of your system, thus enhancing kidney action, but you also have something that enlarges the prostate a bit, putting pressure on the bladder. That's been my take on it, and my own experience seems to fit.

Ever notice that an orgasm feels different too when you've been taking those medications? ;p

[keeganfox.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm a pretty solitary fox. Not really by choice, but that's how it always works out. Molly is always there, and a good listener, although sometimes I feel odd talking to her.
I picked hands because that's what I do. I like to build things and do things with my paws. I'm very tactile like that. Hearing because I think it'd be worse to be deaf. Sure you could see, but I'd rather hear. To me there's so much more detail in listening than in watching. To hear good music is so much more fulfilling than watching a movie, hearing opens the theatre of the mind to me. And my vision is crap anyways.

[flamekist.livejournal.com]

(Potential TMI here, so read on at your own risk.)

The medication I take that causes the problem is Primatine tablets. I take it because it's by far the most effective on my immediate asthma attacks. I just don't like to take it because it also makes me feel like I'm on speed and makes orgasms pretty much impossible. So yeah, you can say they feel different, LOL! For me, orgasms are hard enough (no pun intended), so my breathing better be pretty bad if I'm going to be taking Primatine.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I'd find it very, very hard to choose between those three: paws, eyes, ears. I agree with you about hearing and making things, certainly. But how could you use your paws without your eyes to guide them? It's a very tight connection.

Good for Molly. No need to feel funny about talking to her when you need, I'm sure she is glad to be your confidant.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Heh, not TMI but more than you needed to tell me. I'm honored at being confided in so frankly. Yeah, that would be an obstacle to perceiving what I mean here. But in any case, I think it does work that way. The medication is in part a diuretic, but also causes some swelling that puts additional pressure on your bladder, so naturally you want to make frequent visits to the loo.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

An interesting insight into the mind and actions of the hoss :) Hehe Michael Landon...I have no idea who that is :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Google him for photos and biog. He was a screen actor who first became notable back in the 1960s when he played Little Joe Cartwright on the Bonanza series. He acted in, and later wrote and directed, mostly westerns, but he's been dead for almost 20 years. He died fairly young of cancer or something.

I remember him from Bonanza. I had pretty much quit watching television before any of his later work.

[flamekist.livejournal.com]

I had figured that it as at least a partial diuretic, but it didn't occur to me that it might be causing some swelling too. I'll have to talk to my doctor about that to get more details.

And speaking of details, I know you and Gary are those gentle souls that people so rarely come across in life so I was worried that I might upset you with sex talk. I'm an exhibitionist both visually and verbally, and held back quite a bit of detail! It's good to know that I didn't cross a line with you.

[flamekist.livejournal.com]

I remember him from Little House on the Prairie when I was little, and in Highway to Heaven during my teen years. He was a very handsome curly-haired man!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Nah. Gratuitous sex and violence do turn me off or repel me, but this wasn't anything of the sort. I'm offended by reality, but rather by attitudes.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's the one. Little House on the Prairie is where most people remember him, but I quit watching television by the time I finished high school, so it's all pretty much blank after that. Star Trek and PBS stuff is about all I know after 1968 or thereabouts.

[keeganfox.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Honestly, that means a lot to me.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

If we're nuts, we're both in it together. My plush ponies and my real ones know a lot of my secrets too. *hugs*