stuff jen says: Thursday Thunks

Showing posts with label Thursday Thunks. Show all posts

Sep. 16: Thursday Thunks #17

What number blog post is this for you?
Had to look it up. Wow: #1670. Wow.
You are driving down a road and your GPS says turn right, but the road has a “dead end” sign. You check your GPS and according to its map, there is a road at the end of the dead end road that you need to turn onto. Do you follow the GPS?
Haven’t you seen that episode of The Office? I don’t trust my GPS very much in some situations; in fact, I’m quite sure Nigel Fingerbottom would like to drive me right into a lake because he’s always yelling “recalculating!” at me.
If you had a $2 bill, would you spend it?
Sure. It’s money, isn’t it? I like spending money.
When there is nobody else around and you sneeze or cough, do you cover your mouth?
Yes.
Have you ever stopped to help a stranger with a flat tire?
I don’t think I’d be much help. Beyond being able to identify the flat tire as flat, I know not one thing about changing tires. I’m a girl! Besides, isn’t that why we pay our AAA dues? (Which reminds me, I think I let ours lapse. Oops.)
Have you ever ridden an elephant?
Nope.
Time to bitch and moan! What is your biggest complaint about your current friends on Facebook?
For keeping up with the friends I really care about, FB is priceless. For the others, well… some of them are annoying as hell. Can I just leave it at that?
School is back in session for all little girls and boys now. What in your life changes when kids go back to school?
It’s certainly easier to schedule work for my clients—no need to arrange for child care—but what makes life much more hectic is my involvement with PTO. Things get crazy right after school starts, slow down for a while, then peak a few more times during the school year. Generally speaking, though, I like that the kids are back in school. When I’m at home, I love the house being so quiet for so many hours in a row.

Aug. 12: Thursday Thunks #16

What radio personality bothers you the most?
Does Rush Limbaugh have a personality? If so, it’s his.
If abandoned alone in the wilderness, would you survive?
Have you seen the episode of The Office when Michael goes out into the forest to prove that he can survive on his own, and nearly dies after just a few hours? I think I’d be a lot like that.
If a sexy person was pursuing you, but you knew she was married, and neither her significant other or yours would never know, might you do the deed?
No.
Do you like to pursue or be pursued?
Be pursued, if I remember correctly.
Use three words to describe yourself.
Tired, sleepy, exhausted.
Do you think more about the past, present or future?
The present.
If your house was on fire, what would be the first thing, other than family or pets, that you grabbed?
The wedding album, I guess. Even though I’d rather have all my scrapbooks and photo albums, I know exactly where the wedding album is—the other things are spread all over the house.
Was your mom a cheerleader?
No, but she was a majorette.
Was your dad a jock?
He liked to think he was. He was very “Al Bundy” when he reminisced about his days as an athlete.
What’s your favorite junk food?
McDonalds French fries.
Do you believe in reincarnation?
I don’t think I do. The concept is fascinating, though.

Aug. 5: Thursday thunks #15

Do you have any special talents? Tell us about them.
I type with lightning speed. That’s the only prize I could possibly win in a Miss America pageant: “she typed up those meeting minutes supa-fast.” SAD TROMBONE SOUND.
What is your favorite sound?
Silence is quite lovely.
What was your favorite TV show as a child or teen?
Love Boat
There are a lot of specialty TV networks now devoted to things like golf, gardening, shopping, game shows, sports, news and sci-fi. Do you have any favorite TV networks?
A lot of shows I watch are on NBC. I like some of the USA network original programming. Comedy Central frequently rocks.
What is your guilty pleasure TV show?
I haven’t seen too many episodes of Big Love, but I find it quite entertaining, and that makes me feel dirty.
What is your favorite sci-fi movie?
I hate sci-fi, so my favorite would have to be more of a mainstream sci-fi flick like Back to the Future or Jurassic Park. I don’t think those really count, do they?
What is your favorite reality show?
Ugh. I hate most reality TV, but Deadliest Catch is watchable.
When shopping at the grocery store, do you always return your cart?
Almost always.
Do you take compliments well?
Aw, shucks! (No.)

Jul. 29: Thursday Thunks #14

Do you draw anything in the sand when you go to the beach?
Usually. We write our names and maybe draw smilies or something. I can’t remember, really—it’s been a while.
What is out your back door?
Deck and backyard. Bugs.
Do you prefer the beach, a pool or a lake? Why?
Around here, a pool. At the Oregon coast, a pool (that water’s friggin’ COLD!). In the tropics, I definitely prefer the beach. Not a huge fan of lakes, except for being ON them, not IN them. I don’t like water critters very much.
What is something recently that happened to you that you are REALLY excited about?
My hair is growing!
Are any of your great-grandparents still alive? If not, did you ever meet them?
No. The closest I came to knowing any of them was my Grandma Saltmarsh’s mom (“Teeny Grandma”), who died sometime close to when I was born.
When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group? Tell us about it.
It was probably the last volunteer orientation I did at the school—there were about a million moms and dads heading out on a field trip.
Have you ever bungee jumped? Would you ever bungee jump?
No. No.
How strong emotionally do you think you are?
I always thought I was pretty weak, but the past eight months have shown me otherwise. I think we’re all capable of more than we believe.
What is the first thing you notice about people when you meet them?
Their smiles.
Who do you mess with the most?
Tease? Definitely Victor.
Who was the last person you talked to on a land line?
(What’s a land line?) Ours hasn’t worked for a couple weeks and I don’t care because I have so little need for it. I called to shut it off the other day and the Comcast dude talked me into a new Internet-TV-voice package that was cheaper than cancelling it. He told me how to check the phone problem, but I’m still in no rush to get it working again.
What was the last movie you watched long after it came out and loved?
Night at the Museum II: Battle of the Smithsonian
What did you dream about last night?
Weird, I can’t remember. I usually have vivid dreams and remember every detail. Hm.

Feel free to play along in a comment or your own blog!

Jul. 22: Thursday Thunks #13

What is the most common question that you are asked (in life) that is none of the questioner’s business?
Probably “How are you?” Geez! Who do those people think they are???
Who makes you happiest right now?
My fab friends. They rock. All o’ dem rock.
Would you consider yourself to be spoiled?
Completely, and I highly recommend it.
Do you want to be famous one day?
Only if it’s for something good. I don’t want to be the girl in the YouTube video who tripped over her own feet in the grocery store and knocked over a display of toilet paper, sending another shopper to crash face first into the lobster tank, which starts an electrical fire in the meat department, burning the store to the ground. But most likely, that’s exactly what’s gonna happen. You just watch.
Could you handle being in the military?
Nope. Too much of a weenie.
Do you believe in Karma?
When I first read this question, I read “Karma” as “Kansas.” And my first reaction was not “Oh, I must have read that wrong,” but “Really? So now we’re thinking Kansas may not be real? Hm.” To answer the Karma question, YES.
What’s the stupidest thing you ever did with your cell phone?
Let my kids use it. Because: Oh, the fingerprints! And the grime! But worst of all, the clearing of my high scores, dammit!
Who knows a secret or two about you?
Way. Too. Many. People. I should really get fewer friends. The good thing is that I trust most of the people who know the secrets. And it helps that I know a few myself.
Last thing you did that ticked off your significant other?
I talked about getting a puppy. Well, “talked” is a little inaccurate. What I did was much closer to “whined.”
Have you ever purposely been irritating to someone? If yes, explain.
I’m a little sister. OF COURSE I’ve purposely been irritating to someone.
What’s crazy to you?
That I have four Facebook friends who “like” Glenn Beck. I’m afraid to click and find out which four they are. I don’t want to know. Because honestly, who can listen to that man? He’s an idiot jackass.
Who writes the most interesting blog?
There are so many good ones in my reader these days, and they vary so much in style that it’s hard to pick out a favorite. I suppose the one I read that makes me laugh the most would be The Bloggess.

You’re welcome to answer these questions yourself in a comment or your own blog. You know I love it when y’all play along wit’ me.

Jul. 8: Thursday Thunks #12

Most of the U.S. is in a serious heat wave. What do YOU do to beat the heat?
I try to stay indoors when it’s god-awful hot. Drink iced tea. Swim.
What is your favorite summertime song?
I don’t think I have one favorite. I like lots. Some are on the playlist I posted the other day.
What’s your favorite outdoor summer activity?
Not camping.
I’m inviting everyone to a cook-out. What should I cook for you?
A burger would be great, thanks.
When selecting your swimwear do you go for sexy or practical?
Practical, but it always ends up being dead sexy too.
Back in the day, did you ever have a summer fling? If yes, do tell. (Names not required.)
Yup.
When and with whom was your last skinny dip?
I love how this question assumes I skinny dip often enough that it only asks about my LAST time.
When you were a kid, what was your best summer?
Probably one of those I spent at my Grandma Saltmarsh’s house. She was the best.
Belly up to the bar; we serve ANYTHING. It’s 100 degrees. What should we pour for you?
Just about anything that’s frosty and quenching. Please include an umbrella because then it will feel like I’m on vacation.
Is there a favorite meal that you like to have in the summer?
Picnic or BBQ food, like grilled meat of some type, potato salad, fresh veggies, iced tea. Yum.
Do you think they will solve the oil spill in time for the Gulf states to enjoy summer?
Sure doesn’t sound like it.

Jul. 1: Thursday Thunks #11

So yeah, it’s a holiday weekend. Fourth of July, Independence Day, whatever you want to call it. What are you doing on July 5th?
I’ll be driving up and down I-5 to hand Jack over to my mom for a few days. He thinks he’s going there to have a Harry Potter movie-fest with Grandma Mary; what he doesn’t realize is that it’s actually a Jack-and-Grandma bonding time with some Harry Potter thrown in. (Please don’t tell him or he’ll refuse to go.)
If you stumble upon a link that will show you celebrity death photos, do you click the link?
I made that mistake once. I saw Chris Farley’s death scene photos. It took me a reeeeeally long time to get those images out of my head.
Do you decorate your computer/laptop?
Like, the outside of it? No. I’d love to have a laptop in a color, though. Maybe my next one…
There is a cockroach, a tarantula and a mouse in the room; which one do you kill first?
I smash the hell out of that tarantula—a shovel works well, according to Kath—and then go for the cockroach. A shoe? A shoe oughta do the job. The mouse gets trapped with a little treat in a grocery bag and then goes in the freezer until he stops squeaking. After that, I bleach my hands for three hours.
Is there someone in your life that you strive to be like?
Not one single person, but several. I am lucky to have some amazing people in my life, and who wouldn’t want to be like them?
Do you attend parades?
I haven’t been to one in a very long time, but I have nothing against them. I love the high school bands. The floats are kinda “meh.” I like the crazy stuff.
If all the flowers but one kind withered and died, never to grow again, but that one kind of flower would grow worldwide forever, what would you want the surviving flower to be?
Hard question. Probably tulips.

Jun. 24: Thursday Thunks #10

It officially became summer on Monday. What’s your favorite part of winter?
I love the holiday season and snuggling up in warm sweaters and blankies, but I think my favorite part of winter is when it’s finally over.
What was your worst summer vacation ever?
Probably one of my summers between two years of college. Some of those kinda sucked.
Tell us about the best job that you ever had.
Definitely my software training position at Catapult. Fun coworkers, fun work, constantly learning new things. If not for most of the students from one large county, it would’ve been PERFECT.
Who is probably talking a load of crap about you right now?
Someone I don’t like anyway.
An alien appears and offers you the opportunity to repeat one year of your life. You will still know everything that you know now. He explains that no matter what you do differently, when you are returned to the present nothing will have changed. What year would you pick and why?
Hmmmm… probably 1989. I turned 21 that year, and wasted a lot of my time pining over a boyfriend that didn’t matter. However, there were a lot of good things too, so I’d want to repeat that year to fix the stupid stuff I did and re-live all the awesomeness.
Name three things you have on you at all times. Explain why.
Phone— for obvious reasons.
Lipstick—can’t stand dry, pale lips.
Hat or scarf—these days, there’s always one nearby in case I have to do a quick cover.
When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?
Probably that snotty exchange of letters between me and my grandmother a while back.
If you could have everyone in the blogosphere read one of your posts, which one would you pick and why?
I have no idea. There aren’t very many I’m that proud of. I guess it’d have to be this one, in which I explain the mystery that is Jen. <cough, cough>
What would be the worst entertainment or sporting event that you could be forced to watch?
With apologies to my football-loving friends, here’s my interpretation of that sport: someone blows a whistle, a bunch of guys run into each other and fall in a big pile, someone blows a whistle, the players spend a little too much time in the pile, the guys in the studio talk about the ‘play’ for ten minutes, then it all happens again. There’s also a ball in there somewhere. Sooooo booooooring.

Jun. 10: Thursday Thunks #9

Did you pass your driver’s test the first time you took it?
Yep.
You are sitting outside on your deck in your comfy lawn chair, feet are up and the temp outside is perfect. There are no bugs to bite you and ruin the night... it’s peaceful and all you can hear is the birds singing and an occasional cricket. What’s in your hand?
Definitely a frosty and adult-like beverage.
How many graduation parties and weddings do you have to attend this summer? OK... how many are you invited to?
We haven’t gotten any invitations to a graduation or wedding that are near enough for us to attend. Does this make us lucky, or does this make us loser-y?
Someone once said that the grass isn’t greener on the other side... are you jealous of your neighbor’s lawn?
I used to be, until we got rid of our front yard lawn. Now we’re not the ugliest yard on the street anymore!
I’m gonna take you fishing... are you going to be a whiny baby and not bait your own hook and when you catch a fish? And am I gonna have to take it off the hook for you?
I have no problem baiting a hook, or taking a fish off a hook. I’ll do whatever you want as long as you don’t make me eat the fish. Blech.
Hamburger buns - sesame seeds or not?
I don’t really care.
What’s your favorite flavor of water?
Water-flavored water. Purified for drinking, preferably; if not, with lemon to cover up the chemical taste. Lots of ice, please.
Eclipse is coming out this month... are you going to see it?
Gawd, NO!

May 20: Thursday Thunks #7

For this week’s Thursday Thunks, we describe something in our lives for each letter of the alphabet. This might be harder than it looks.

A: Ambulance drivers. Careful, they kill critters. My paramedic friend Kim F’n can tell you all about it, though not as proudly as my sister.

B: Books. I’ve got a stack of good ones right now. Reviews and recommendations coming soon.

C: Cancer. I can think of lots of things I like better. Like hangnails. And cleaning toilets. And flat tires.

D: Desk. I have a helluva time keeping mine clean, no thanks to the kids, who load it up with their crap. Whenever I do get it cleared off, though—enough to see the top, anyway—it feels like I’ve done something really, really good for humanity. But not really.

E: Exercise. I’m actually doing it. I’m proud of myself for this because I really, truly hate exercise.

F: Facebook. It rocks. I love being able to communicate with my friends so easily. I love the re-connections I’ve made there. It’s almost always a happy thing.

G: Garbage truck guys. They stop in the middle of the street, where there’s no way to get around them, and slowly pick up, like, five houses’ garbage at once, and won’t make eye contact because they obviously know you’re glaring at them from your car. They’re assholes. I’m sorry, but it’s true.

H: Happiness. It’s planning a lunch date with my girls.

I: iPhone. I’m working on another list of iPhone apps I love. Stay tuned.

J: Joe’s, Trader: I love finding new items there. Yesterday it was a Thai chicken salad, fresh mozzarella in snack stick form, and delicious frozen coffee bars. Of course, I got my standard favorites too: frozen macaroni and cheese, Caramel Bites (stroopwafels), and a small block of Havarti. Yum.

K: Kitty. Seems Millie is a scaredy-cat, literally. Another cat chased her into the house this morning. The other cat stayed outside, but Millie growled at it from her side of the pet door. Her tail was huge, but otherwise she was not exactly menacing. We thought she was kind of a bad-ass kitty, but when another cat chases you out of your own yard, I think that means you’re the opposite of bad-ass. Nice try, Millie. Stick to stalking grasshoppers.

L: Lucky. I’m a lucky girl. I’ve got the best of friends, a wonderful family, and much happiness. Sure, there’s that itty-bitty cancer nuisance, but all those other things make it totally do-able. Lucky. That be me.

M: Modern Family. Did you see it last night? Great show. So funny.

N: Naps. I cannot speak highly enough of naps. Are they the best? I think they just might be.

O: Online shopping. I love most of it, but some eBay sellers are being jackasses lately. Taking your time to ship things means I won’t buy crap from you again, get it?

P: Piano. The kids’ recital is coming up. This will be Jack’s first one and he’s actually excited about it—unless you ask him; then he says he hates piano and hates lessons and hates music. Funny, because we can’t keep him off the piano—he plays at least an hour a day. It’s the same series of songs over and over and over and drives us insane, but we’re glad he’s playing.

Q: Quiet. I love the peace in the house when the kids first leave in the morning.

R: Recital. I already mentioned it. See ‘P.’ Duh.

S: Strawberry pie. My mother-in-law brought over a homemade one yesterday. She made it with the shortbread crust she uses for her pumpkin pie, and OMG, it is delicious. I hope Victor enjoyed the pieces he had yesterday, because the rest of the pie will probably be gone by the time he gets home from work today. Heh heh heh…

T: Teeth. Jack said yesterday a dentist talked to their class about proper dental care, and when he mentioned yellowish teeth, “everyone” looked at Jack. I asked why, and he said, “Because they all know I have yellow teeth.” Nice. I’m so proud.

U: Unconscious. I will be soon. It’s almost naptime.

V: Vacation. I want one. I’ve probably mentioned that before.

W: Weather. We had a weird, wild storm yesterday, but at least it wasn’t anything like this one (thanks to Darby for that link). It’s continuing today; this morning I went out to my car after a short hailstorm and it looked like it was covered in snow. Crazy, I tell ya.

X: X-rated. I wish my son would stop telling naughty language stories in class. OK, they may not be x-rated, but they’re definitely R. Mr. N says they’re funny, but I think he’s just being nice and secretly thinks I’m the worst mom in the world.

Y: Yikes. That’s what I say when I think about the kids being home all summer. I have GOT to think up some ways to keep them busy and most importantly, out of my hair (so to speak).

Z: Zero. Zero letters left. I’m outtie.

Sheesh, that took forever. Feel free to play along if you’ve got four hours to kill.

May 6: Thursday Thunks #6

Have you ever performed the Heimlich maneuver on someone or had it performed on you?
No and no. We discussed the Heimlich at lunch the other day, though, and Mike had a pretty good story about it. Mike has a pretty good story about everything.
Do you have a red room in your home (either painted red or red curtains etc.)?
Our living room has red sofas and the bottom half of the walls are red
Have you ever felt like banging your head against the wall?
Almost daily
What’s the dumbest thing you have done after a breakup with a significant other?
Cut my hair
What are the wildest, craziest pajamas you own?
I have some pirate jammies that probably qualify as wild and crazy because most of my jammies are pretty boring/tame. My friend Debi has an AWESOME collection of pajamas. So jealous.
Have you ever ridden in a sidecar on a motorcycle?
Nope
Do/did you go party on Cinco de Mayo, and if so what color was the bartender’s shirt?
I didn’t go out partying, but I partied in my head because it was Sunshine’s birthday
Why does a hat have a bill?
To block the sun? Is this a trick question?
If you were a WWE professional wrestler, what would your stage name be?
The Librarian (because you’re being entirely too loud)
How many keys do you have on your key ring?
Five
What is the oldest picture you currently have in your home? What year was it taken and who/what is the photo of?
I’ve got some ancestor-y photos put away in albums, but the oldest one I have framed and on display is of me and Kathy on a donkey. I think I was three.

Apr. 29: Thursday Thunks #5

thursdaythunks I haven’t participated in Thursday Thunks for a very long time. Part of the reason is the creators include themselves in a lot of the questions and I don’t know much about them, so I feel like an outsider trying to play along. This time I took out the questions that didn’t make much sense to me or I didn’t feel like answering. Hey, I can play by my own rules, right?

It seems that there are several very popular memes each day of the week. Which meme did you first become a regular of?
The first one I participated in regularly was Thursday 13, which I haven’t done in ages. It’s hard to think up 13 anythings, much less make them interesting for others to read. However, if not for Thursday 13 I never would have met Jen E of MommaBlogsALot and my life would be much less bloggy-friendy.
Tell us about your pets. Do you have one that you wish would run away?
Scout is our beagle, our baby, our first love. She turned 13 years old last week. Scout is a typically bark-y beagle, and it’s a lot worse now that she’s almost completely deaf. Over the years she’s become quite naughty, constantly trying to steal food and occasionally having accidents in the house. But she’s still the cuddliest, lovey-est girl there ever was.
Casey is a rat terrier who came to us as a stray. She’s incredibly insecure and sticks to me like glue, probably because I was the first one in the family to whom she bonded. She’s really friendly to adults but sometimes gets freaked out by little kids and has been known to snap at a few—personally, I think she’s just got a really accurate evil detector. She also hates other dogs—she definitely lived the first part of her life in a single-pet household. One of the funniest things about Casey is that when my sister visits she stares at her non-stop, like she’s keeping an eye on her not to steal stuff. Ha!
Millie is our kitty, and she’s nearly two years old now. She’s sweet as can be. Loves to sit on my shoulder, and if I don’t pick her up and put here there, she’ll jump up on her own. She thinks Victor is her food source and meows at him if he goes anywhere near her food.
All our critters are funny, sweet girls. I would cry my heart out if any of them ran away.
What was the last thing colored red that you wore?
I think I wore a red shirt on Saturday. Yeah, I’m pretty sure I did.
I have a train that runs by where I live several times a day. I actually find it peaceful. What’s the longest journey that you have taken by train?
I rode Amtrak from Pendleton to Denver and back when I was in college. I’m not sure I’d do it again without a sleeper room or someplace a little more comfy and private. It was relaxing but I got a little stir-crazy because it was something like a 35-hour trip.
If reincarnation really happens, whose life would you like to know that you have already led?
I love the idea of being some kind of noble, honorable person who made a mark on history. Most likely, though, I was a badger or something else asshole-y.
What are your three favorite possessions?
My iPhone, laptop, and car. They are what connect me to my friends and family and the outside world. I don’t know if I can say they’re my favorite, really, but they’re definitely the things I use most and appreciate very much.
A lot of people still believe that Elvis is alive. Have you ever worn blue suede shoes?
I’ve had navy blue leather shoes with a bit of suede on them. Does that count? I think it counts.
Do you have siblings? If yes, are you anything alike?
One seester. Our sense of humor is very similar. We both have a huge sense of devotion to our friends, families and each other. Personality-wise, though, we’re pretty different.

Please play along in a comment or your own blog!

Apr. 23: Thursday Thunks #4

If you could skywrite anything you wanted, what would it be?
Something profound, for sure. One possibility: “Girls are NOT complicated. Seriously, how hard it is to say ‘you're pretty’ and give us chocolate?”
Did you get drunk at your prom?
Adventist schools = no prom
What is your favorite spice to use cooking?
Is sugar a spice? I’d say I probably use basil, oregano and cilantro more than anything (I don’t know if they count, but I’m gonna say they do). I don’t have a favorite spice, exactly; I use what the food tells me it wants. (If that sugar thing doesn’t make me sound like a weirdo, my food talking to me should... heh heh…)
What color is your roof?
Black.
In a land far, far away I _____________
think people have it all figgered out.
In the Miss USA pageant, Miss California was asked; “Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?” and her answer was; “Well I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. Um, we live in a land that you can choose same sex marriage or opposite marriage and, you know what, in my country and in, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman,” Carrie said to a mix of boos and applause. “No offense to anybody out there. But that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think that it should be between a man and a woman.” Do you think that cost her the crown?
If Perez Hilton was voting, then it most certainly made a difference. My first reaction to Miss California’s response was that it’s shameful how close-minded she is, but then I thought about how young she is… and the fact she used the term “opposite marriage” kind of says to me that she probably hasn’t given the issue much serious thought. Why should she? She’s a pageant girl who’s probably never needed to. And she deserves a little bit of pardon for the nervousness factor.
Do you watch Miss USA/Miss America pageants?
I remember watching them as a kid. I thought they were fascinating, but my interest waned as an adult. I admit to paying more attention since my friend Annalee represented Washington State in Miss America, and since our very own Miss Oregon won a few years ago.
Have you ever driven/ridden on a tractor?
Yes.
For the parents - what cartoon/children show did your child watch obsessively? (Hey, if you aren’t a parent, maybe a niece or nephew...)
Pretty much everything on Disney Channel.
If I set a level on your living room floor - would it show that it was level?
Yes. The walls aren’t straight, but the floor is fairly level.
What was the last restaurant you ate at?
California Pizza Kitchen on Tuesday.
What’s the picture on your wall calendar for this month?
Um, who uses wall calendars? Is it 1980 again somewhere?
Are you superstitious?
No.
If I get into your car and turn on the radio - what type of radio station will I hear?
NPR.
Would you rather wake up with a snake in your bed or a lizard?
Neither, thank you.
Do you think schools have changed at all since the Columbine tragedy 10 years ago? In what ways?
The “zero-tolerance” thing is definitely enforced now, at least around here. I’m thankful for that, but if kids really want to shoot up a school, they’re still going to find a way to do it. More importantly, parents need to remember they still have a job to do at home, like (for starters) keeping guns separated from ammo and keeping both locked up.

As always, now it’s your turn. Answer in a comment or on your own blog and post a link at the Thursday Thunks site. Thanks for playing.

jensignature

Apr. 16: Thursday Thunks #3

Recently Berleen and I discovered the allure of the Twilight series. Have you ever been sucked in to the latest “thing”? (Like Harry Potter, the movie Titanic, social networking, etc. etc. etc.)
Not really. The “thing” usually loses some appeal for me once it reaches the mainstream.
What software do you use for your email?
Outlook and Yahoo
Are you comfortable being nude?
Nope
What is something you plan on doing this summer?
I’ll be taking the kids to swimming lessons every day for a month (jealous???). We also have a trip to Sunriver planned. Nothing else is a sure thing yet.
Do you have a favorite movie/book quote? If so, what is it?
So many! But I think one of my favorites is in Rent when Maureen yells, “There will always be women in rubber flirting with me!”
How many email addresses do you have?
Six, but I only use three on a regular basis
Is the sky falling?
Not to my knowledge…
Have you been to the Grand Canyon?
No. I flew over it once but the clouds were too thick to see it. Bummer.
When was the last time you mailed a hand written letter?
I mailed our handwritten thank-you notes right after Christmas.

As always, now it’s your turn. Answer in a comment or on your own blog and post a link at the Thursday Thunks site. Thanks for playing.

jensignature

Apr. 9: Thursday Thunks #2

What was the last thing you ate?
Potato chips
I say the color purple… what do you think of?
If you say “The Color Purple,” then I think of the book/movie/musical. If you say “purple,” I think of my daughter’s bedroom (which is actually lavender).
Lamps or ceiling lights?
Both. I hate having to walk through a room to turn on the light; I just want to flip a switch and those are typically connected to ceiling lights. However, I generally prefer lamp light to light a room, once I’m sitting in it.
What color rabbit is your favorite?
I can honestly say I’ve never thought about this before. White, I guess. Grey? I don’t know.
Your car breaks down on a deserted road and your cell phone has no signal - what do you do?
After I’m done crying, I’d probably start walking to the nearest home or business.
What is one thing most of your friends do online that you just can’t understand the fascination and do not participate in?
I don’t have very many friends who get into 3-D virtual world stuff (i.e., Second Life), but I suppose that’d be it. It’s not that I don’t get it; it’s more that I don’t want to try it out because I’d probably love it and end up with another time-wasting addiction.
What do you need right now?
I could really use a good night’s sleep.
And your most serious injury you’ve had was…?
Injury? That’d be my first broken foot—I had the plaster cast, crutches, all that. Some of my illnesses have been a lot more serious, but (so far) that’s been my worst injury.
What is the most evil thing you’ve ever done?
I had “Satan” embroidered on Mickey Mouse ears at Disneyland for my friend Ed. I still can’t believe I got away with it.
Give us some random fact about you.
I wish my kids wanted to color in coloring books more often because I love to color along with them.

As always, now it’s your turn. Answer in a comment or on your own blog and post a link and/or at the Thursday Thunks site. Thanks for playing.

jensignature

Apr. 2: Thursday Thunks #1

Trying something new today.

Did you play any April Fools jokes on anyone or have a joke played on you?
I think it’s hard to do a really good April Fools joke when people are expecting it. My friend Laura posted on Facebook that a rat she’s heard in her walls ran across her bed during the night, and that had me going for a little bit; I started to reply with a big ol’ OMG and then thought (hoped) it was probably a joke. I was also a little concerned when Curt wrote that he was enjoying reading Battlefield Earth and wanted to start a Scientology discussion group. Yikes.
If you could be on any non-reality TV show as a guest star or star, which one would it be and why?
I’m not super keen on being watched. Could I be a background extra? Then I’d love to be on Bizarre Foods, making puke faces over all that freaky junk Andrew Zimmern eats.
Do you crack your knuckles?
I can. I don’t.
If you remember your first day of kindergarten, were you scared or excited? If you have kids or grandkids, were they scared or excited?
I remember vividly my first day of kindergarten, what I was wearing, finding my cubby, sitting at a table and coloring. I was a little bit scared but mostly excited to finally be able to go to school just like my big sis. I think both my kids were excited about kindergarten, especially Katie.
If you are in the shower, hear the fire alarm going off and smell smoke/see flames, will you just run out of the house with a towel on or grab some clothes and dress as you run out?
Definitely get dressed first.
Last week the Thursday Thunkers asked about your Daddy (twice), so this week tell us a little about your Mom.
I wrote a whole bunch about my mom a couple weeks ago.
Which search engine do you use most often?
Google
Did you participate in Earth Hour?
No.
What was the last new-to-you movie you watched? Was it in the theater or on DVD? Was it good?
Bolt, on DVD. It was alright, better than I expected but nothing like a Pixar flick.
If you do something embarrassing, do you laugh it off, or sit and worry about it?
It depends, but I usually worry about stupid stuff I’ve done.
Where is your favorite spot in your home to sit and relax?
The puff rocker we bought for the nursery nine years ago, which is now in our living room, is probably my favorite. It’s really comfy and often makes me fall asleep. Scout has always thought it belonged to her so sometimes I have to fight her for it. Also, I like that it’s now in the living room because that’s often the only neat room in the house. It feels peaceful just to sit and look around at the non-clutter.

As always, now it’s your turn. Answer in a comment or on your own blog and post a link and/or at the Thursday Thunks site. Thanks for playing.

Maybe they won’t grade your spelling and grammar, but *I* will. No—no, I won’t grade it, but I will secretly judge and mock you. Big surprise, huh?

jensignature

facts of jen's life

So, who do you think you are? I think I’m Jen. People who don’t know me sometimes call me Jenny. That’s weird.

Tell me about yourself. I was born a small black child, and am now a grown-up, or at least my kids think I am. I’m in my mid-40s and live in the ‘burbs of Portland, Oregon. My husband is Victor, and my kids are Katie and Jack. Read this if you want the real and very long scoop.

Tell me things people might not know about you. I am an ordained minister and can perform marriages. Why no one has asked me to do this for them yet, I do not know. ● At the request of my Disney-hating friend Ed, I got mouse ears embroidered with the name “Satan” and I didn’t even get kicked out of Disneyland. It’s quite possibly the ballsiest thing I’ve ever done. ● I “helped” write this book, published in 2012: You Take it From Here, by Pamela Ribon. My name is in the back, and I’m still geeking out about it. ● I recorded a song in a studio in 1994 and it got local radio play for a few months. At least two times I turned on the radio in the car and my song was playing at that moment—very cool. ● I nearly died from a zit in 1986. I am not making this up. ● Victor and I once appeared on The Tonight Show. Really. If you can find a VCR, I’ll show you the tape.

I read some of your posts and I think you might be an alcoholic. I drink way less than I write about drinking. If I ever STOP talking about booze, then it’ll be time for an intervention.

What do you love? Books. Coffee. Fonts. Broadway musicals. San Francisco. Bacon. Rum. Law & Order. Naps. Butter. Home. Crack cocaine. iDevices. Words. Disney vacations. You.

If you could punch anything or anyone in the face, what/who would it be? Cancer. I was diagnosed with lymphoma in November 2009. I kicked its big fat ugly ass and am in remission now. ● Comic Sans. ● People who won’t take responsibility for their problems—the “I didn’t do anything to deserve this!” attitude. Look in the mirror. That’s who to blame. ● Celebrities who are famous for no reason. Y’know, if we stop looking, they’ll go away... ● Bad grammar and spelling and the dummies who use it.

You seem bitter. Did someone piss in your Cheerios? I’m not bitter. I think unicorns-and-rainbows stuff isn’t very interesting to read, so I tend not to write that way. But also, now you’re being kind of a jackhole.

It seems like no one ever comments on your blog posts. Why is that? Most people comment on the Facebook links. I don’t know why.

What if I want to tell you something? Two ways to reach me: leave a comment on a post, or e-mail me at jenniferTAKETHISPARTOUTmanullang at gmail-dot-com.

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