A Fun Quiz

Something a little different, get your brain thinking in a different direction. It's a candy quiz, match the candy bar to the clue. Good luck!

1. A famous swashbuckling trio of old.
2. Indian burial ground.
3. Galaxy
4. Red planet
5. Home of the movie stars
6. Not laughing out loud.
7. Someone who drops things.
8. Famous Author
9. Famous former baseball player
10. Famous New York street
11. Twin letters
12. Superman's other identity.
13. A sweet sign of affection.
14. Favorite day for working people.
15. What bees make.
16. Nut happiness.
17. Pleasingly plump.
18. Two female pronouns.
19. A feline
20. Single women look out for him.
21. Round flotation device
22. Sun explosion.
23. Bite with crackling noise.
24. Dry cow.
25. Children of the Cane
26. Two minus two equals

You can post your answers to the comments or write them down, I'll give you the answers tomorrow. Good luck! Some are easier than others. :)

It's a "Wow...just,...Wow" kind of story

Good grief...how or better yet where to begin? Okay, here's the readers digest version of the background. My DH and I have been together 7 years (January) and our 7th wedding anniversary is this September. (Yep, met & married all in the same year...and nope, wasn't pregnant.)

I have never, ever met my in-laws.

I could pass them on the street today and I wouldn't have any idea who they were, and likewise for me. It's a bit odd and very complicated, but you know what? I'm okay with it. I view it as their loss. (I mean, I'm fabulous and DH is all that and the bag of chips, but I'm biased.)

Convoluted family background led his GROWN ADULT PARENTS to basically write him off. Enter me. I started building this tender rope bridge between the two and over the years, the relationship has improved and grown. It's not parent-child, but it's respected.

At least, I thought it was. When DH was sick and going through treatments, the parents made it clear to DH's siblings that they would be tested to see if they were a match to save his life. It wasn't an option. It was a family matter and you do what you have to do for family. (Remember this, it's important.)

Flash forward to Sunday, "Fathers Day". DH phones, gets his Dad on the phone and checking in on the old homestead to see how everyone is doing. His Dad had a biopsy done and had to have some of his tongue removed due to problems.

Well, it turns out that his Dad has throat cancer. I've no idea what stage, where he is with it, how he's doing, etc., because I didn't talk to the man and I haven't pressed DH for the details yet. But here's the kicker...they didn't call DH. They didn't tell their first born, oldest son who is currently surviving cancer that Pop has cancer.

Wow. Just wow.

Now I will admit that a certain part of me views this as a karmic payback for the poison and trash that was spread and inbred about DH to his family...and the fact that they believed it. It's wrong, but that's how I feel.

I talked this matter over with my head-shrinker yesterday because I couldn't wrap my brain around something so to the core, morally reprehensible as this. I always thought when the time came and one of the parents were very ill or dying, and especially were dead, that DH would be called and told. That he would be able to stand there in church and in front of everyone and pay his respects to his parents as a child should do. I really believed that.

This phone call changed everything. The realization that that call will most likely never come and that while they may seem to know that their son is a very good man (a compliment I think any parent would want made), they are going to ultimately leave this earth not knowing him and taking that bitterness with them, to be accounted for and rekoned with in the hereafter.

That DH will not be given the right and the honor of standing beside a parent's bedside as they leave this earth or to touch a casket before it is moved to the warm embrace of the earth is an unreal, unbelievable and unconscionable act.

I talked with DH about this last night, post-head shrinking. To find out what he needed and what he wanted to do. Do we continue to call and check in? send cards and letters? or do we just let this go where it is and be a rope bridge in the air? His answer grounded me and showed again, why he is such a good man.

He said we keep doing what we've been doing. We call, we send cards and we keep in touch. He accepted a long time ago that he was seeing his parents for the last time and made his peace with all of that. This is just part of the road to walk.

Wow...just, wow. I'm a very, very lucky woman to have married a man that in spite of all of this, there is not a bitter, angry bone in his body about it. It is what it is. Plain and simple. And I'm okay with that, because he is okay with that.

Random and Movies

I'm a bit behind in my blog-posting, so here is some random information and movie reviews (it's been a good month for movies, for the most part!).

* About two weeks we saw the Indiana Jones movie. Let me just say, two big thumbs up. I loved it! Harrison Ford is still sexy (and I've been watching him since I was a little girl in the Star Wars movies!) and, you won't believe this...it was my first Indiana Jones movie. Yep, I was an "Indy" virgin. After the movie (which again, loved!), we rented the first and third movies and I just devoured them. (The second one, with Kate Capshaw, sucked wet socks and I've no interest in having it in my movie collection, thankyouverymuch.)

* Last Saturday we indulged in an early morning double feature (the mall movie theater has $5 seats for a movie before 11, so two movies for $10 was worth the price). We saw "Don't Mess with Zohan" with Adam Sandler...cute in places, but d r a g g e d and really needed to be 30 minutes shorter or 45 minutes funnier. Wait for DVD or cable. Trust me. Then we went to see "Iron Man" (finally!). LOVED IT! OMG, did that movie rock. And I gotta tell you, Robert Downey Jr., quite the hottie in this movie. Yummo! Can't wait for that to come out on video, we will be owning it. And I can't wait for the second one! (PLEASE!)

* Looking forward to "Get Smart" and "Love Guru" opening this weekend. We want to see them, "Wanted", "Wall-e", "Kung Fu Panda" are all on the list. "Hellboy II" preview looks phenomenal (the director of "Pan's Labryinth" did this one and WOW to the creatures they created...and yes, love the first "Hellboy". I'm a sci-fi geek at heart, but I hide it fairly well, which DH loves) and the preview of the new "Hulk" movie makes me want to see it now.

It's looking like this year there will finally be some good movies to see! About time. Now if they'd drop the prices back to reasonable, I'd be even happier. (An afternoon movie and 1 medium soda (a liter!) to share, $21. That's crazy!) Remember when an after 6 (not 5, 6!) movie was $6.25? And that was expensive?! You can't get a day ticket for that price. Even with student ID! (Yep, DH and I both have them!)

* Let's see what else? Oh, I got a wild hair and decided to color my hair. I wanted a nice rich chocolate brown (I'm a medium brown with lots of natural red highlights). Called the Clariol help desk, while in Walgreens looking at all the colors, to confirm that I'd need 2 boxes. (Um, folks, my hair is half-way down my back now! It's not been this long since I was a little girl!)

The lady said yes I would and I picked my color. Got home and did my thing (I used to color my hair myself for years...I was a lovely natural redhead, thanks to a 2 boxes of brown and red color) and because it's semi-permanent (don't want to mess with roots and all that crap right now), the color came out a black-brown color. Very dark, but shiny! I kind of like it and its a change. No one at work has noticed or said a thing. *ppbbbllllttt* :P

* The Boo Hahn got her summer haircut and has become the ultimate snuggle bunny. I need to post her picture. Her coat feels like brushed velvet, just luscious. And it's so funny watching her and Darla play now. Darla was used to getting some of her coat and using that to pull and irritate her into playing. Now? She's got a mouthful of nothing and Boo is now the instigator. Love puppies! :)

* "Susan" (who desperately needs to update her blog) and family are coming down next month for a visit and I couldn't be more excited! And it times perfectly when my boss will be out of the office, so I can take a few days off to play, swim, relax, spend time catching up and chatting and drinking...alot. :) (We perfected the art of the margarita years ago.)

* DH and I saw Eddie Izzard live on Tuesday night as part of his new "Stripped" tour. Phenomenal! His "Dress to Kill" comedy DVD is still a favorite that I watch over and over again. We had excellent seats (main floor, center, 14 rows from the stage!) and the show was fabulous. He came on the stage at 8:05 and didn't stop or leave the stage until 10:40! The man is incredible and I gotta say, I found him quite sexy! He's rather hot in person, which took me by surprise. (He's also fabulous on "The Riches" on FX.)

Okay, I think I've babbled enough. On with the day and the next update to come.

Tagged

Carmen tagged me ONLY because I opened my mouth to Tammi about being missed. (Technically, she tagged me 4 times, but whose counting?) So here goes:

The rules:
1. Post the rules of the game at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read the player’s blog.
4. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

What were you doing five years ago?
Good grief, I have a hard enough time remembering what I was doing five minutes ago, you want five years? I was either still working for one of Satan's top minions or about to be set free into the land of Oranges and Sunshine (aka Tropicana, thanks Tammi!). One or the other.

What are five things on your to-do list for today?
1. Visit my Great-Uncle to wish him a Happy 90th Birthday and check out his flamingo yard decor with my own peepers!
2. Tidy the dining room table back to clean
3. Do not rest my big butt on the couch watching TV all evening long
4. Go for a bike ride
5. Play with the puppy girls

What are five snacks you enjoy?
1. Pringles Honey Butter Stix (aka Crack)
2. Pringles Honey Butter Stix (did I mention it's like crack?)
3. Smarties (2 rolls = 1 point, bwahahahaha)
4. Chilled WW 2pt Mint Crunch Bar (like a big girl scout thin mint cookie, oh yeah!)
5. Starburst Original Jelly Beans (except the green apple, blech). Lemon first, then strawberry, orange, cherry and grape. 1/4C=3 points. lol

What are five things you would do if you were a billionaire?
1. If its a lottery winning, hire a great attorney & financial advisor. (No press conference, I will remain anonymous!)
2. Pay all of our bills and parental units bills - everyone gets a clean slate, and take everyone on a 7 day cruise, all expenses paid (family & friends included)!
3. Buy a modest home in Florida, Indiana AND Texas, so we can close to friends and family and be where we want to be.
4. Buy newer cars for DH and myself, with our current cars being fixed to tip-top shape and donated to a good charity/people.
5. Is multi-parted...setup a gift of $10K to each parent, family and friend we want to "thank" for everything they've done for us. (There is no tax to the receipient of up to a $10K gift...the giver pays the taxes, not that I've done my research.) Setup trust and interest bearing accounts to cover all needs and expenses. Go to school full-time to be what I want to be and plan a wonderful vacation (during a school break) for DH and myself. Oh and have a baby!

What are five of your bad habits?
I don't have bad habits. ;)

What are five places where you have lived?
1. Sarasota, Florida
2. Carmel, Indiana
3. Noblesville, Indiana
4. Indianapolis, Indiana
5. Austin, Texas
6. Poughkeepsie, New York

What are five jobs you’ve had?
1. Sales Assistant at Emmis Communications (Woohoo!)
2. Office Assistant for an electronic parts company (interesting)
3. College/Library Sales Support for MacMillan Computer Publishing (yeah)
4. Executive Assistant at multiple companies
5. Office Manager for a small b&b resort (blech)

Okay, there's some tidbits into my world. I don't know who to tag...I'll have to ponder it. ;)

Funny Story

Pam has a post up about Bree getting one of Arthur's pills, a bit too quickly. In the comments, QW provides great info about how to make your pet vomit (if needed) and a number for a vet hotline. Good stuff!

But reading it reminded me of a funny story. You see, I had been out to California in early 1990 for a couple of weeks. Stayed with family, worked while I was there and had a great time. My Cousin, whom I stayed with, had an insane amount of cats. 7 in the house and 10 outside. But the house was tidy, the cats were clean and honestly, you'd never really know they were there. Four of the cats took a shine to me and were always with me, by me or on my bed when I was at work.

So when I got back, I decided to adopt a couple of kittens. I was going to moving into my own place soon, and wanted some company to take along. I met a nice woman who was placing some kittens for adoption, passed her check and that was how I got Jasmine and Samantha. I brought them home when they were just about 8 weeks old and on their first trip to the vets office, Jasmine weighed 11 ounces and Sam weighed in at 7 ounces. They could each sit in the palm of your hadn with room to spare and were the cutest things ever.

Mom and I had a great time with the kittens. They were smart and playful, learned to use the litterbox the first day and never had a problem with them. Until I noticed from the litter box that someone had a consistent upset stomach. The problem was figuring out who.

I spoke with the vet and it was decided that the canned kitten food I was feeding them both, was too rich for someone and we needed to settle that kitten tummy quickly. But who? and how? Well, the answer was to get a bottle of pepto-bismal and just give them a teaspoon of it. But to both, since we couldn't tell who was sick.

I will never forget the HUGE eyes of my little Samantha (who turns 18 this month) as she looked up at me in horror. Confined and wrapped up in a towel (so she couldn't scratch her way away), I would try to get a few drops of the pink stuff down her throat before she'd have enough and scamper and spit back at me.

That coal black face, with big blue eyes and pink foam all around her mouth cracked me up and made me feel terrible at the same time. You've lived a sheltered life until you've come face to angry face with a kitten spitting pink foam at you! lol (Just the memory of it has me laughing again.)

Oh my poor little kitten girls. The injustice they had to suffer for 2 days. Once all tummies were settled, we kept life simple with just dry kibble. But to this day, Samantha hates to be confined by a towel or blanket and you can't get her on her back without restraint. She's still a fighter. And a pretty fighter at that.

Happy Birthday Sammie girl...I love ya!

Ignorance is bliss

You've heard that phrase before...right?

Well, before I got the odometer for my bike...well, ignorance was bliss. I was content to think I'd done a couple of miles on any given ride. I was just going for the fun, the change of scenery and the chance to spend some time with DH and the puppy girls.

Now the odometer is like an ever present challenge. Case in point - Saturday. Saturday morning we got up early and got ready to ride the new Legacy Trail in Sarasota to the end in Venice. Start to finish, it's 10.63 miles - a decent ride one way and something we're capable of doing. The getting back part would be the "challenge" of the ride.

I got a little cooler lunch bag and put some frosted sugar cookies (for the sugar) and some tortillas spread with hummus (protein for energy and some carbs for fuel). DH had his camel bag filled with ice and water and we were off.

We left the car at 9:30 and got on the trail and started riding. I maintained an average of 9-10.5 mph, not bad overall and just kept a good pace going. We stopped a couple of times for water and to stretch and kept riding. It was a perfect day for the ride. Mild breeze (better when peddaling), sunny, clear skies and lots of people out and about.

We get to the end of the trail...but it wasn't supposed to end there. On the internet, they show the trail continuing across the water and into Venice. But it stops at a waterway because the neighbors don't want a bike path bridge or something like that...I couldn't have cared less, because at that moment (when DH was chatting with some other riders), *WHAM* it hit me. I had to sit down before I fell down.

I saw little sparkles in front of my eyes, sweat was pouring off of me like water and I just couldn't move. A little taste of heat exertion I believe. We moved to a shady spot, I had some ice cubes and a sugar cookie and rested for a few minutes and we were good to go to a better spot to sit. Had my hummus tortillas and we refilled our now empty water bladder and I indulged in a soda for quick sugar. The ride back was a bit more slowed but we made it and from start to finish, we did 20 miles in 3 hours. Not a land speed record, but it was a first.

I told DH I wasn't going to do that again for a month, when I would be ready to do it without the falling apart halfway through.

After the ride, a bite to eat and a brief nap did me a world of good. We also decided we like exploring around us better than the trail...it's a bit to flat and straight right now. And for both of us, it's rather bland after having been on the Monon Trail in Indy so many times. But it'll get there as it grows and expands...and especially as more people will be biking, we'll need a good trail to get from point A to point B.

Bicycle....bicycle

In the words of Queen (I believe), "I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike."

Well, that's just what I've been doing. A.LOT.

I may have found my zen...not sure yet, I'll have to get back to you on it when I know for sure. But last night I retraced a route DH and I rode the night before. See I finally got an odometer that worked. (Thanks Wal-Mart!)

I added a little bit to the ride, since it was a nice night and I was having fun. The total distance? 12 miles and change! Time of my ride? One hour, 13 minutes. Not bad for someone who was just going at her own pace, not blazing miles.

It's a nice peaceful time for me and my head during these rides. I don't even need an MP3 to 'zone out'. It's similar to when I used to ride horses. You can't think about work, things to do at home, projects waiting for you, phone calls or any of that. You're just "in the moment" of what you are doing and that's it. It's a great way to put the rest of the world on "pause" while you take a time out.

But I made a goal to myself. See there's this great bike store in town and they have "sunset" rides on Tuesday and Thursday. So naturally, I saw quite a few of these folks last night. These are more "hard-core" riders, but all levels are welcomed to join. It's a 30-40 mile ride that takes you from Sarasota, the distance of Longboat Key and back. Whew, that's a ride! My goal? I want to be joining those rides by December. I think thats more than reasonable amount of time to be able to ride that kind of distance. I've got 6 months to get there, so there's no rush.

Who wants to go for a bike ride?! ;)