House Meme AKA I can't resist a meme

I’m continuing the tradition and stealing this meme from various bloggers I read.

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When you walk in your front door, which room do you enter?
The living room.

Do you have a dishwasher?
That would be me. Sometimes my husband. Otherwise, no.

Is your living room carpeted or does it have hardwood floors?
Hardwood floors. Easy to sweep down.

Do you keep your kitchen knives on the counter or in a drawer?
They’re all in a drawer.

House, apartment, duplex or trailer?
House.

How many bedrooms is it?
Three.

Gas stove or electric?
Gas.

Do you have a yard?
Yes. More than we can take care of.

What size TV is in the living room?
Don't have one.

Are your plates in the same cupboard as your cups?
No.

Is there a coffee maker sitting on your kitchen counter?
No.

What room is your computer in?
All of them are in the office.

Are there pictures hanging in your living room?
Yes, a bunch. Seven pics of family groupings, both formal and casual. A wedding photograph. Two art prints. A pencil and ink landscape. An abstract photographic print. A relief print I made years ago. Oh, plus a small mirror and another small collage-print by an artist friend. Oh, and a landscape pastel too! I know a number of artists and have a bought good stuff over the years. That's just the living room. Oh, and a very small drawing by a semi-famous great uncle.

Are there any themes found in your home?
Cozy eclectic with touches of antique farm chic. Nature-related stuff, especially landscapes of various sorts. Excellent contemporary pottery and art. The office is done in contemporary paper-clutter.

What kind of laundry detergent do you use?
I think it's Seventh Generation or some non-scented stuff. Our washer is super efficient so we use miniscule amounts of detergent. One jug lasts us the better part of a year.

Do you use dryer sheets?
No, never.

Curtains in your home?
Nope. Except one thrown over the front door windows. It suffices.

What color is your fridge?
White.

Is your house clean?
Har har. No. Well, some of it is.

What room is the most neglected?
I'd have to go with the entire yard! The basement runs second.

Are the dishes in your sink/dishwasher clean or dirty?
Dirty at the moment.

How long have you lived in your home?
About 8 years.

Where did you live before?
Rented in both a house and an apartment.

Do you have one of those fluffy toilet lid covers on your toilet?
Ack, no.

Do you have a scale anywhere in your house?
In the bathroom.

How many mirrors are in your house?
Six. One full-length one on the basement door (good for feng shui purposes), one on the bathroom cabinet, one kitschy one in the bedroom, and a little bitty one with a carved clay frame by a potter friend (art around a mirror). Also a hand held mirror that's double-sided in the bathroom cabinet, and a very large mirror panel in the basement from when I did self-portraits an age ago. Seven if you include the little safety mirror reflector we take backpacking in case we have to signal the rescue planes.

Look up. What do you see?
A very white ceiling. With one corner peeling from moisture.

Do you have a garage?
No, just a big ol' gravel driveway.

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That'll do for now.

7 Random Things Meme

I was tagged by Tracy at A Map of my Life So Far

So here are the rules.
1. Write your meme, then link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
So people can know whether to thank you or curse you.
2. Share 7 random and/or weird things about yourself.
You know the weird random stuff, that you think could make for a interesting blog post, but you were shy to tell about.
3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
and do this step wisely,You know who is game to play and who isn't.

* * * *
So here it is:
7 random and/or weird things about myself


1. I don't own a TV. It's just not part of our lives and we like it that way. We do enjoy watching certain things while traveling.

2. I learned to like coffee by eating coffee-flavored chocolate in Germany.

3. I was a baton twirler in my youth. Don't laugh, now! My troupe went to South Bend every Summer for the big national tournaments. 'Twas a lot of work and a lot of fun. Especially since we had routines to things like "Love Machine" and "American Woman" and even "Pinball Wizard." Ah, the '70s.

4. My second toes are double jointed. I inherited this from my mother.

5. Having a china cabinet feels like the height of domestic bliss and coziness to me. It's like it *makes* the household.

6. I have a fondness for quirky humor, so it's probably not a surprise that I am a big fan of certain quirky online comic strips. It's the art, it's the characters, it's the dialogue, it's the snark, it's the sly and subversive humor.

My current must-reads are:

PVP by Scott "damn it, Brent!" Kurtz

scary-go-round by John "looks, brains and everything" Allison, and

diesel sweeties by R. "why do I even bother asking you rhetorical questions" Stevens
Now with a print series as well: diesel sweeties - print edition


7. I don't do deadlines well. Partly it's that I can be really absent minded. But mostly, it's that I am too easily distracted to figure out things like web stuff without screaming in frustration, literally. I call my husband tech & emotional support because he can do things for me when I have run out of patience, thank god. It thrills me no end when I can actually get something to work. Like for instance, look! There are linkies in this post! And a block quote thingie! (wheee!) It only took me about 6, I mean 7, edits, but hey, it's an improvement. Okay, make that 8. OMG look at those linkies! Is that cool or what? Um, what was the question again?

* * * *
I will have to add other links to tagged blogs later 'cause I am a little behind with so many other things, this will just have to go on the pile.

* * * *

A New Meme

And now for a new meme. I got this list of questions from one of the blogs I read.
Side fact: I loved these things when I was in junior high. I would actually write up little "mini quizzes" and exchange them with my friends Nadine and Signie. Such fun. This meme questionnaire has that same flavour.



1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?

"This fleece top might work for backpacking after all."

2. How much cash do you have on you?

$83 in bills, $1.56 in change.

3. What's a word that rhymes with DOOR?

Floor

4. Favorite planet?

Earth

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?

Who? I don't keep track of these things!

6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?

Eddie Izzard saying: "Hey, your phone is ringing. ... Your phone is ringing. ... Your PHONE is RINGing. ... Answer the bloody phone!" At least that's what it would be if I had ring tones...

7. What shirt are you wearing?

The aforementioned fleece top. Forest green V-neck Old Navy brand via a clothing exchange.

8. Do you “label yourself?

I tend to label myself by the things that I do as shorthand for people who don't know me that well. I am a dancer; I am a teacher; I am designer; I am a writer. Yes, I am a former member of that singing group!

9. Name the brand of your shoes you're currently wearing?

No-brand fluffy leather slippers from China!

10. Bright or Dark Room?

Bright at Night, Darkish during the Day.

11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?

I can't remember who that was! But since I read a variety of interesting blogs, she must be pretty cool.

12. What does your watch look like?

Black sports watch.

13. What were you doing at midnight last night?

Researching backpacking underwear and insulating layers for myself and my sister.

14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?

Probably something from my friend Emily saying: Hope you're having a good time up there! Can't wait to see the new dances! Love U! Miss U!

15. Where is your nearest 7-11?

There are no 7-11s in my area. There is a drugstore that functions much the same around the corner from my house.

16. What's a word that you say a lot?

"Actually." But "actually" I don't say it as much as I used to. lol "Actually," I am overly fond of most qualifiers. hehe

17. Who told you he/she loved you last?

My husband. And/or my sister.

18. Last furry thing you touched?

One of my cats is in my lap RIGHT NOW. Mr. Furry Boy.

19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?

What drugs? No, I don't *think* so!

20. How many rolls of film do you need developed?

Sadly, I have at least 1 roll of B&W and a possible color roll that still need to be developed, even 20 months after I got my digital camera that freed me from all that mess. I also have a few *unexposed* rolls lurking around.

21. Favorite age you have been so far?

Don't have one. But my early-mid 30s were fun. "Actually" I like my current age (which I won't specify *cough*cough*).

22. Your worst enemy?

Probably myself, but one former friend has tried for that honor on occasion.

23. What is your current desktop picture?

A mountaintop view in Virginia from a backpacking trip.

24. What was the last thing you said to someone?

"Bye, have a good day at work. Love you."

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?

Hmmm... I'd really rather fly, but I'm afraid that people being what they are that someone would want to shoot me down for having too much fun. So I'll take the million.

26. Do you like someone?

I like lots of people. What do you mean? :)

27. The last song you listened to?

Tune: celtic dance tune by Dot-Dot-Dash.

Song: probably some Yah-Love reggae song on the local jazz station.

28. What time of day were you born?

Approx. 8:57 in the evening, Central.

29. What's your favorite number?

It's a secret. :) Okay, I'll tell you. 17. Or 42.

30. Where did you live in 1987?

In my college town. In a apartment rental with several friends.

31. Are you jealous of anyone?

No doubt. I am usually jealous of people who get things done in their life and accomplish great things without an apparent excess of drama. Wait-- that's "admire." :)

32. Is anyone jealous of you?

No doubt. Some people seem jealous of me for accomplishing things and being really excellent at certain things without apparent effort. I find that rather ironic (see above question).

33. Where were you when 9/11 happened?

At home talking to my Mom, taking her picture for a professional journal profile.

34. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?

Curse and complain.

35. Do you consider yourself kind?

Yes. I don't like to see anyone suffer. So I usually go out of my way to be gracious if others are feeling awkward or lost or unconnected.

36. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?

I've had enough multiple needle stabbings (through IF injectables) that I don't feel the need to undergo more of that. Maybe I should tattoo the slogan "been there, done that, no baby" on the belly fat around my navel. *snarkity snark*

37. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be?

Oooo! Choices! How about Spanish, Italian, German, Persian, AND Mandarin? All of them have aspects of beauty and practicality to recommend them. If I learned to play an instrument fluently, I'd REALLY like that.

38. Would you move for the person you loved?

I have in the past, but I didn't with my husband. But I would now.

39. Are you touchy feely?

Eh? No! I am a hugger, but I hate it when people have to touch me while they talk to me.

40. What's your life motto?

As with everything, I have more than one answer:

"Radiate the Dance."

"Been there, done that, loved it!" (Esther Carp)

"Do your scales and persevere."

41. Name three things that you have on you at all times?

Keys, wallet, sunhat.

42. What's your favorite town/city?

Let's say Rome.

43. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?

Some groceries at Wh@le F@@ds.

44. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?

I sent a cool, chatty postcard to my artist friend in Boston in June.

45. Can you change the oil on a car?

I could if I had to, but I sure don't.

46. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?

My first college boyfriend married one of my other college friends years ago and occasionally we exchange email to say hi or to exchange exceptionally bad puns. (I write more with my friend.)

47. How far back do you know about your ancestry?

1500s in German Alsace.

48. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy?

The last time I specifically remember was a friend's wedding a year ago. Wore my 30's vintage gown and looked great!

49. Does anything hurt on your body right now?

My thighs are aching front and back from the backpacking training squats.

50. Have you been burned by love?

Good God, yes.

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Naming Concepts

Lisa V’s Question: How did you decide on your blog's name...?

Whither Thou Creative Spirit?

When I first set up this blog, I didn’t want to pigeon hole myself into any one topic, although rants on certain topics do come up with regularity. Also, I couldn’t decide at the time WHAT I wanted the blog to focus on. I figured I would create its identity as I went. Or it would. I would start somewhere and let it happen. Well, how very appropriate: a free-form creative endeavor… Which leads me to my next point…

One thing that is constant is the concept of the creative energy running through everything, so close it’s within us. It connects everything. We can empower ourselves to tap into that energy and create something new every moment. Less this sound overly New-Age-y, let me say this is not so much a religious idea as a concept of fundamental principle of existence, intrinsic to the nature of everything. Some people might call that god. I do not choose to name it with a name with so much existential baggage. It’s independent of any denominational characterization.

So therefore: Creative Spirit. And Thou. And Whither because I remind myself it’s right here, and the phrasing feels appropriately reverential and poetic with a touch of whimsy. And Just Because.