The Queen's Meme: The Mission Impossible Meme

Mimi, Queen of Memes, is back for round two of another delicious questionnaire. Click on the button below if ya wanna avoid the dungeon.


1. You are a guest on the space shuttle. You just arrived on the moon and realize you forgot something back home that you can't live without. What is it and how do you convince them to go back and fetch it?
Ya want me to be honest here? My iPod, folks. Seriously. It only leaves my purse when I'm listening to it in the gym or at home as I'm doing chores. And how do I convince them to go back? Easy. I'll threaten to drive the shuttle for the rest of the trip. As I said last week, I have a lead paw. I'm also the worst driver in my inner circle--ask anyone. They've got stories.

2. Pretend you are a teacher in a rough public school for one day. You have been assigned to teach Manners 101. You have the "challenging bad butt kids" class (remember this is a pretend school and anyway I can't say ass on my blog 'cause it's so unQueenly and I might get fined or something). They are jumping up and down, cursing, and throwing things at you. What is the first thing you would write on the board?
I'd write my name on the board, followed by, "No one leaves this room until they are absolutely silent--even if it's till 5 PM." Then I'd sit back at my desk, calmly, and wait for them to be quiet. The key here is non-reaction; these kids see you react once, even in the littlest bit, and they're all over you. Yes, I know it's easier said than done, but silence is more effective than screaming at their level.

3. Someone in your family or a friend has started a blog. They think it is anonymous but you have figured it out. They are saying derogatory things about you. Do you tell them or do you read it for awhile? How would you handle it?
I'd read for a while until I was absolutely sure it was a friend or family member, gather enough evidence. Then I'd wait to calm myself down and contact them, and tell them, honestly, how I felt. But I need to be sure I have enough clues to make sure my case is rock solid.

If it was someone I was really close to, I'd be really, really wounded. If it was someone who was more of an acquaintance than anything else, I'd still be hurt, but maybe not as much. Maybe. You all know I tend to take things way too personally.

4. If you had one dollar left in your pocket, what would you spend it on?
Seriously, what does a dollar get you these days? It doesn't get you a gallon of gas or a small coffee--anywhere. Even 99 cent coffee is more than a dollar when you include tax. Up in my parts, a dollar and a nickel could get you that small coffee. So I'd scavenge my couch cushions and car seats for the elusive nickel, and treat myself to a Dunkin' Donuts French Vanilla.

5. President Obama and the First Lady are coming over for dinner. What do you serve?
Are they just dropping in or is this a planned visit? If they were just dropping in, they'd have to have whatever's in my fridge. If it's a planned affair, they'd get pork chops, homemade mac n' cheese, and homemade applesauce. As you know, that's my favorite meal, and if it's good enough for me, it's good enough for Barack and Michelle Obama.

6. You walk in on your lover. They are trying on your clothes. What do you do?
I'd choose an outfit that I thought looked good on him. I'd go along with it. However, if he wore my clothes outside, I'd find a new guy.

7. Every astronaut must have shots! Choose your vaccination: You only get one and you can't enjoy any of the attributes of the other choices. You choose either: (1) The fountain of eternal youth and sexual vigor but only for 10 years (2) perfect health for a lifetime (3) eternal mind-numbing nirvana and peace of mind (4) unlimited hedonism for one year with no negative consequences.
Perfect health for a lifetime. What happens when that ten-year period of eternal youth expires? Do I automatically age ten years? Secondly, I don't want my mind to be totally numbed. You have to accept both the good and bad emotions in life in order to be completely human. Too much of a good thing is never a good thing. I know some of you will disagree with me on that, but as I've said before, I am highly suspicious of people who seem to lead absolutely perfect lives, people who have what I call "the Pollyanna Complex." I'll write a post on that in the near future.

The Future Homemakers of America, by Laurie Graham

This book was the random book selection in Jenners' wonderful Take a Chance Challenge. Here were the rules for this particular task:

Go to the library. Position yourself in a section such as Fiction, Non-Fiction, Mystery, Children (whatever section you want). Then write down random directions for yourself (for example, third row, second shelf, fifth book from right). Follow your directions and see what book you find. Check that book out of the library, read it and then write about it. (If you prefer, you can do the same at a bookstore and buy the book!)

So I went to the library and wrote some directions for myself. I hope I remember what they were, but here goes:

"Fiction section, middle row, fourth shelf down, tenth book in."

Found myself in the Gs. I picked one book, but saw another one with a title that looked intriguing, so I thought, "What the hell? I'll read this one instead."

Kittens, I still feel that this was a random book selection! I didn't specifically search for this title!

So I borrowed this from la bibliotheque.

I took it home, and finished it in one setting.

This book spans about thirty years. It starts off in England, in 1952, with the death of King George VI. Peggy Dewey's husband, Vern is stationed at the Air Force base in Norfolk, and is raising their young daughter, Crystal. She has made friends with a few other Air Force wives:

• Betty Gillis, a mother of two young daughters, who has become the model of the perfect housewife, decorating her little abode and constantly making dinners and dresses. She and Peggy are old high school friends. They really weren't friends in high school, though, since they had different interests at the time: Peggy was captain of the softball team, and Betty was an active member of the Future Homemakers of America.
  
• Lois Moon is married to Herb, has a daughter named Sandie, and is not a very good housekeeper. She is known for her salty language and partying ways. She is known for her red hair and is always looking to socialize and have a good time. Lois is the comic relief of the group; at one point, one of the wives refers to her as the "Lois Moon Experience."
• Audrey Redman is married to Lance, who is advancing very quickly in the Air Force. He eventually becomes Captain Redman. Audrey then becomes the model of the perfect military wife, becoming active in the Wives' Club and organizing many events for the families.
• Gayle Jackson is the youngest in the group. She has recently married Okey, who is on her first assignment. She is obsessed with having a baby, but has also been hiding a drinking problem.

After the death of King George VI, Peggy, Lois, Betty, and Audrey drive off-base to see if they can see the king's funeral train. There they meet an Englishwoman named Kath Pharaoh, and they quickly become friends.

The whole book does not exclusively take place in England, or in the military. Throughout the years, the families receive new assignments and are stationed elsewhere. Some end up leaving the armed forces. There are a few births, deaths, career changes, marriages, and divorces. But what remains at the novel's core is the enduring friendship among these six women. Peggy is the central character; she narrates the story.

Throughout this book, the word "homemaker" keeps coming up. Each of the six women have different conceptions of what it means to actually be a homemaker. For Betty, it's staying home, raising her girls, and cooking and decorating. For Audrey, it's becoming an active military wife and assisting fellow Air Force spouses. For Lois and Peggy, it's trying to find a career--and an identity--separate from being an Air Force wife.

All six of the women portrayed in the novel face very different struggles as the years progress. Betty's home life is not as perfect as she lets the world see. Lois is determined to carve a life and career for herself. Gayle becomes a widow, and has difficulty setting up a life for herself as a single woman. Kath becomes a successful businesswoman, but almost ends up losing everything.

For a random book selection, this was excellent! I really enjoyed reading it! The chapters are all very brief, and Laurie Graham keeps the plot moving at a quick pace. You feel as if you're the seventh girlfriend in this little group of friends. She writes as if she's having a conversation with you.

This was an excellent book for reading on the beach, or on any lazy Sunday afternoon, especially when you've got a huge pitcher of iced tea--that's my experience with it!

In addition to this being the latest addition in my Take a Chance Challenge, this is also the latest edition in my 2009 100+ Reading Challenge and my 2009 Support Your Local Library Challenge. As always, click on the buttons in the right sidebar for all of the archived lists of my challenges!

Sunday Stealing: July 19, 2009

1. Who was the last person of the opposite sex you lay in a bed with?
I'm with Mimi here--this is a highly personal question here, Judd!

2. Where was the last place you went out to eat?
The Cat Family homestead. We had a picnic yesterday with some friends.

3. What was the last alcoholic beverage you consumed?
Beer from a mini Heineken keg.

4. Which do you prefer - eyes or lips?
Eyes may be the windows of the soul, but as the old song says, "If ya wanna know if he loves you so, it's in his kiss."

5. Medicine, fine arts, or law?
Fine arts, s'il vous plait. With medicine and law you get into these really complicated terms that no layman will ever, ever understand.

6. Best kind of pizza?
One with a tres thin crust, tomato sauce, pesto, mozz, and dollops of fresh ricotta cheese.

7. What is in store for your future?
Sorry, the last time I wanted to find out the fortune teller looked through her crystal ball, shrieked in fright, and ran out of the room as fast as she could.

8. Who was the last band you saw live?
Barenaked Ladies, with Vertical Horizon as the opening act. Amazing concert!

9. Do you take care of your friends while they are sick?
I do. I bring 'em food, talk to them on the phone, and am just there for them.

10. How many songs are on your iPod?
1,729 and counting.

11. Where is the last place you drove to?
My home, on the way back from Barnes and Noble.

12. Where did your last kiss take place?
Last night, kissing friends goodbye at the Cat Family homestead.

13. What were you doing at 11:59 PM on Monday night?
Watching The Tonight Show.

14. Are you a quitter?
No! I'm one who sees things through. There are times when I want to quit, but whatever doesn't kill me can only make me stronger, no?

15. Who was the last person you had in your house?
Mama Cat. She needed to use the bathroom and critiqued my housekeeping methods--AGAIN.

16. What do you think about people who party a lot?
It depends on what is done at said parties. I go to a lot of parties, but I don't engage in any abusive behavior. All I can say is, people must live with the consequences of their choices, whatever they are. If they're harmful, obviously the consequences are more dire.

17. Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable?
Only when I have to talk about it in front of the whole damn blogosphere.

18. What was the last CD you purchased?
Brad Paisley's American Saturday Night. I love his songs. He writes some very cheeky ones, but very meaningful ones as well. I'll have to post some examples...

19. What are two bands or singers that you will always love?
Just two?!?! Well, most of you know the obvious choice here: SPRINGSTEEN. I also love Bon Jovi. Maybe I'm in a Jersey state of mind here...

20. Which of the seven deadly sins are you guilty of?
Isn't everyone guilty of all seven at some point?

21. How is your last ex doing?
He's my ex for a reason.

The songs in my head

This song came out in 1999--I can't believe it was that long ago. Whenever it came on my car radio I'd crank it up as loudly as I could. I just loved this band.

For some reason it re-entered my head recently, and I can't get it out, so I'm doing a public service and passing it on to you.

Ladies and gentlekittens, sit back, relax, and enjoy the musical stylings of The Offspring and their hit song, "Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)."

Beginner's Greek, by James Collins

Plot summary for Beginner's Greek: Boy meets girl on airplane. Girl gives boy her digits. Boy loses girl's digits. Boy loses girl. Girl marries boy's best friend a few years later. Boy gives up all hope of getting together with girl and marries another woman.

So far, sounds like a romantic comedy. A pair of star-crossed lovers, fated to be together, but they aren't. Will they ever have a second chance at love?

I know, I know, we've all heard of this same old story in many different variations. But Beginner's Greek takes the classic boy meets girl story and adds several layers of sophistication.

For example, Collins likes to focus not only on his protagonists, Peter and Holly, but his secondary characters, particularly their love stories. At the beginning of the novel, he writes about Peter's boss, Arthur, who was completely distraught after his wife died of cancer at a young age, and vowed never to marry again. He writes about Peter's stepmother in law, and how her parents' divorce and subsequent re-marriages affected her view on love.

All of the descriptions of the secondary characters' experiences may seem trivial at first, but they play an important part of the novel as it progresses. And that's what makes Beginner's Greek so intriguing. How do the parts of this puzzle fit together? Why is Collins telling us all of these stories? Do they affect the core essence of the story, which is about Peter and Holly falling in love?

There are so many themes in this book, but the primary ones deal with love. What is love? Is there such a thing as love at first sight? Can people get second chances at love?

I really enjoyed this book. Collins kept me in suspense as I read it; I really wanted to find out if Peter and Holly were really going to get together, and I kept reading as fast as I could to find out what roadblocks would be thrown at them. The subplots helped out too; the whole time I kept thinking, "Why is he writing about this?" As the novel progresses, it's neat to see how everything weaves together.

If you're looking for a twist on the traditional boy-meets-girl story, you won't be disappointed in Beginner's Greek. Be prepared, though, to sit for a while as you read each chapter, as they're 30 pages long on average. But trust me, it's all worth it.

This is the latest entry in my 2009 100+ Reading Challenge, as well as my 2009 Read Your Own Books Challenge. As always, click on the buttons in the sidebars for all of the archived lists!

VGNO: Only in my dreams

It's Friday night, kittens, and it's time for another VGNO, hosted, as always, by the lovely miss Ann over at Ann Again...and Again. I am a wee bit late for the par-tay tonight, since I was just at a real-life GNO. It was a potluck at a friend's house, her hubby ran errands for us, and a fabulous time was had by all!

Anyhoo, this week, Ann has asked us this question:

"What is one of the strangest dreams you've ever had?"

This is an interesting question, kittens. As some of you know, I've had some really weird dreams. But the weirdest dreams I've ever had have been a result of illness, medicinal side effects, or both. I'm about to describe this one really weird dream I had in 1996, when I was studying in Paris during the first semester of my junior year of college:

About two weeks into my stay I came down with a cold. I really didn't want to go to a doctor, but everyone around me insisted that I buy some medicine. My host family sent me to a pharmacy across the street from their apartment to get some meds.

Now in France, when you go to the pharmacy, you don't just grab whatever medicine you need off the shelf. You have to talk directly to the pharmacist. You explain your symptoms, and they ask more questions. They talk to you for a couple of minutes, and then they go into this back room where they keep all of the medications. They search for a medication that works best to alleviate your symptoms and bring it back for you.

So I got my little box of "Rhinofebral, a la vitamine C" and went back to my apartment. I took two capsules, as was recommended on the box, and soon found myself in a wonderful, blissfully deeeeeep sleeeeeep.

That's when I had the dream.

It was a rawther weird dream...Carol Burnett was in it, as well as Kermit the Frog. I know that Carol guested in an episode of The Muppet Show, but it was quite a long time since I saw it, so I don't know why these two popped up all of a sudden--in Paris, of all places. Anyhoo, I don't remember much of the dream itself, other than Carol and Kermit were dancing and singing, and there were a lot of swirly, trippy psychedelic patterns, shapes, and colors throughout.

I remember waking up, after about three hours, and feeling two things: One, I had never felt so well-rested before. Two, "what the hell was in that medicine, and why don't they sell it in the States?"

By the way, when I woke up, my cold was gone.

I still wish they sold Rhinofebral in the States.

Even if it does provoke some rawther weird dreams.

Friday Shoot-Out: Yard objects

These pictures were taken last week, while I was housesitting. I live in a condo and our association by-laws don't allow for many--if any--yard objects on the property. So here are some of the yard objects at my friend's house:

Yes, this cat is a yard object in the sense that he's almost always outside, especially on his favorite chair:


My friend has these little lanterns all over her garden:


I love this little table and chairs. There's a little slide in the background. It belongs to my friend's nephew:


The pool: classic yard object.

You can barely see it, but there's a little dog peeking out of the bush:


We finish with one of the many kitties lining my friend's garden:

Next week's theme is "reflections." I've been thinking a lot about that one. See you then!

Thursday Thunks: July 16, 2009

Click here if y'all wanna join our merry band o' Thunkers!

1. Do you know anyone with heterochromia? Does it freak you out or do you think it's interesting?
My BFF has one green eye and one hazel eye. Gabby, my younger cat, has one green eye and one gold eye. I think it's cool, and just adds to their mystique.

2. Should a 5th face be added to Mount Rushmore? If so, who?
Yes...mine. Can you picture my cute little grey face smiling next to Abe Lincoln's? (And I can't do a Photoshop illustration of it, sorry guys. If anyone out there wishes to do so, E-mail me your work at thebookkitten@gmail.com).

3. If you could live on any planet other than Earth, which one would you choose and why?
Jupiter! Right smack dab in the middle o' the Big Red Spot. I have always wanted to see what the Big Red Spot would be like.

4. We're going to spend the night at a reportedly haunted location, are you going with us?
If so, which reportedly haunted place are we going?
Ahhhhh, noooooooo. I don't do haunted that well. I'm a pretty easy person to scare.

5. Did you play The Queen's Meme this week? If so, was it fair of The Queen to put Berleen in the dungeon by association with Kimber? (We all know Kimber deserved it, but Berleen?!)
I did play The Queen's Meme this week, and you can find my answers here. As for the answer to your second question, I don't believe in guilt by association.

6. What color is the towel(s) hanging in your bathroom?
I have striped pastel towels hanging up right now--white, pink, blue--ah, hell, here's a pic for y'all:

7. Tell us something funny that happened to you recently.
Click here for my lesson on how NOT to clean your keyboard.

8. We just bought you a cow. Do you kill it & grill it, feed it & milk it, or sell it?
I will hug it and squeeze it and call him George and make him mine forever!

9. It's 115 degrees outside (46 degrees Celsius), are you able to go without Air Conditioning?
Ahhhh, nooooooo. I'm asthmatic. When it's that hot usually there are pollutants in the air, which make it hard for me to breathe. So I just stay inside and chill by the A/C. HA! I made a punny!

10. When you visit the zoo do you wonder which animal tastes better with a bit of butter & spices?
OK, first we had a question about the welfare of a cow, now you're asking me another question about animal killing? Is it rabbit season or duck season where y'all live?

11. Dog ate your homework/work papers. Does it crap out Shakespeare, quantum physics, or just crap?
I don't think I've ever seen a dog crap out Hamlet's soliloquy or Einstein's theory of relativity. Seriously, the dog craps out some pretty shitty papers. HA! I made another punny! I'm on a roll this week, kids!

12. We are taking you to a Broadway show, what are we going to see?
Oooohhhh, you're taking me to a Broadway show?!?! I wanna go see A Steady Rain, a play starring Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman. James Bond and Wolverine sharing a stage. Ahhhh...

13. Gunshots in your neighborhood. Pop, pop, pop. Do you go out to take a look, or hide?
If there was an opportunity for me to help the victim, I would. But I wouldn't randomly go take a look for the heck of it. I'd call the police.

Writers Workshop: We bring good things to life!

Once again, Mama Kat is inspiring us with her weekly Writers Workshop prompts. But before we get to the prompt, we now must acknowledge our sponsor:

This week our prompt is sponsored by the good folks at General Electric!

Why GE, you ask? Well, here's this week's prompt:

4.) Which appliance in your home would you most miss living without if you had to live without?

Do I have to limit myself to just one appliance? I'm not gonna go crazy and name every single one I own, because there are some that, in my eyes, are much more important and valuable than others.

We're gonna do this countdown style:

4. My garbage disposal

This stems from when I was a kid. We didn't have a garbage disposal, and one of our chores each night, after we did the dishes, was to empty the little drainer in the sink. It would catch all of the little leftover particles of food left over from the dishpan. Whoever did the dishes had to dump the drainer onto a paper towel, fold it up, and throw it away.

I got stuck doing this task most nights, even on nights when I didn't do the dishes. Sister Kitten referred to the remnants as "toxic waste." Or "radioactive waste." Or "nuclear waste." Y'all get the idea. I don't know why she hated it so much. Even as a 30-year-old adult, she loathes this task.

The garbage disposal enables me to get rid of all of the toxic waste that Sister Kitten loathed. I use it to rid myself of egg shells, potato peels, apple cores, and other such items. I know I can use this for compost, but I live in a condo and don't have room for a composter. Plus, ridding the waste this way prevents odors from coming out of my garbage can. If this happens it stinks up the whole condo. Not a pleasant thing.

And yes, I know they're bad for the environment, and they strain septic systems, but I can't help it! I love my garbage disposal!

3. My KitchenAid mixer

I had been coveting a KitchenAid for years, but couldn't justify paying $300+ for one. I just couldn't afford it. And then, lo! One day I was on Craigslist and saw one advertised for $50. I thought it was too good to be true, but it wasn't! It had only been used once. I talked to the owner and she was very nice about it.

And the price? $50!!!! It was as if the culinary angels were singing and smiling on me.

I took it home, and it has been an absolute godsend. Baking is more of a joy now than ever. Previously I had used a hand mixer, and that could get inconvenient at times, especially when you mixed with one hand and added ingredients with another. Now I just turn on the mixer and let 'er rip!

2. My Keurig coffee maker

I bought my Keurig a few months back, and can't imagine life without it. I no longer have to brew a whole pot of coffee and feel obligated to drink the whole damn thing. I don't waste coffee, and I can brew as many or as few cups as I want. And I can make hot cocoa with it, if I so desire. But I just use it for the coffee.

And finally, my #1 favorite appliance is...

1. My dishwasher

I know, I know...I have said in previous posts that I enjoy doing dishes. I really do love to wash dishes, but there are some nights where I'm just too tired or lazy. So I just load 'er up, put the dishwasher tab in, and let 'er rip! Two hours later, sparkling clean dishes!

I use the dishwasher for glasses, plastic storage containers, silverware...and dishes, of course.

And no, kittens, I am not getting free appliances from GE because I mentioned them. *SIGH* I could really use a new washer/dryer too...

Movies I wanna see

It's been five and a half years since I've set foot in a movie theater, kittens. The last time I went to the cinema was New Year's Day 2004, and I saw Meet the Fockers with a few friends.

Why haven't I been to the movies in so long? Well, a lot of it has to do with movie etiquette. I always end up, no matter where I am in the theater, sitting amongst people who are gabbing, texting, or taking pictures with their cell phones, or couples who are sucking face throughout the entire film. I don't wish to go to see a movie when those around me are being downright rude and aren't paying attention to what's on the screen.

That, and the price of a movie ticket has gone up ridiculously. Not to mention, there haven't been that many movies which have piqued my interest enough for me to go to the theater as opposed to waiting for the DVD to come out.

That having been said, there are three movies coming out this summer that I really do want to see.

The first one is called Post Grad. It stars Alexis Bledel as a freshly graduated college student searching for a job. The timing of this release couldn't be more appropriate, given the state of the job market.

But I don't wanna see it just for the former Ms. Rory Gilmore. Carol Burnett plays the kooky grandmother, and Demetri Martin is in it too!



The next movie I wish to see is The Time Traveler's Wife, starring Rachel McAdams. I have the book, and I have yet to read it. This will be a part of my Take a Chance Challenge--and I'll reveal details about that later.



The last movie I want to see is the one that I'm anticipating the most. It's called Julie and Julia and it stars two of my favorite actresses, Amy Adams and Meryl Streep. It's based on the book by Julie Powell, which I read a couple of years ago. I absolutely loved the book, and judging the trailer, I don't think I'm gonna be disappointed with this one!



And what movies do you wish to see, kittens?

The Queen's Meme: Blog Outside the Box

My friend Mimi Lenox asked me personally if I would do this meme when it first launched. Well, you can't say no to the Queen of Memes!

So here, kittens, is the inaugural launch of The Queen's Meme. You can become a participant by clicking ici, or the button below.

1. You are in court. You are in deep doo-doo. What did you do?
I most likely got a speeding ticket, ran a red light, or a stop sign. I'm known for having a lead paw.

2. Your blog just became a best-selling book. What is the title of your book?
The Gospel According to Kitten.

3. It is midnight. The phone rings. It is Michael Jackson calling from the Great Beyond. What would you like to ask him?
Why are you calling me now? Everyone who knows me knows not to call me at that hour, unless it's an emergency.

4. You are having your fortune told. The fortune teller looks in the crystal ball, screams and leaves the room in fright. What did they see?
If that's the reaction that the fortune teller gave, I don't think I'd wanna know what they saw. I'd scream and leave the room in fright myself.

5. You're blogging along minding your own blusiness (that's blog + oh...you know) when Google unexpectedly puts a Objectionable Content Warning on your blog. Your own mother is afraid to enter! What, pray tell, did you do to warrant it? How did this happen? Do you think you deserve it? Just how objectionable are you? Do tell.
I said the f-word once. Just once. Oh yeah, and just one mention of the word "sex" as well. Just one. I don't think I would deserve it for just a one-time thing.

6. You suddenly become God Of The Universe. What would your first Commandment be?
Evil shall be banned from the world. In all forms. I'd like a peaceful, harmonious universe, merci beaucoup.

7. And finally, what secret would you like to tell the Queen?
If I answered this question right now, it wouldn't be much of a secret, since I'd be telling the Queen and the world. :) Besides, I don't think I've got many secrets...I can't think of any to write here!

It's Monday! What are you reading?

This meme is brought to you by the lovely J.Kaye. Click here if ya wanna participate.

So what am I reading right now? Let's see...

Beginner's Greek: I'm on page 265 of 441 pages. I should be able to finish this week; it's going to be a busy week, so I don't know how much time I'll have for reading. It's had a lot of interesting plot twists. I really can't wait to finish this one!

Rise and Shine: This is not a book I'd normally choose, but it's for my A to Z Challenge, and I needed an author with a Q name--Anna Quindlen.

The Future Homemakers of America: I'm reading this for my Take a Chance Challenge. I'll let you know which task it was for when I post the review.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: This one's for my Summer Vacation Challenge.

And that's what I am reading right now! What are y'all reading, kittens?

How NOT to clean your keyboard

NOTE: I composed this a few weeks ago, and was only able to upload the photos just now. Still, it should not take away from your enjoyment of my little story. :)

One Monday night, a few weeks back, I had a fabulous blog post planned, and I was all ready to go post it, when I came into the office with my dinner and dropped a hot bowl of freshly microwaved potato all over the keyboard. I did not have one of those fancy-shmancy spill-resistant keyboards, so the potato spilled all throughout the cracks and crevices.

Now, I had heard a story on NPR, years ago, about how one could put the keyboard in the dishwasher for cleaning. I didn't think this would be feasible, though, so I decided to clean it by hand.

I knew I had to clean it out before any further complications arose, so I unplugged it, brought it into the kitchen, turned on the faucet and used the spray hose. I took great pains not to get the plug wet.

Then I turned the keyboard over on the drainboard to let it dry.

But I got impatient. I wanted to use my keyboard, and I wanted to use it now!!!

So here's what I did: I took the keyboard into the bathroom, and plucked off each key, one by one by one.

I carefully arranged the keys on the vanity so I would know where to place them when it came to re-assembling the keyboard:

Oh yeah, and I also put the keys in a sink full of soapy water to clean them as well.

Once all the keys were off, I used Q-Tips to get rid of all of the dirt that was in every crack and crevice of the keyboard. And there was a lot more than just potato in there. There was a surprising amount of cat hair in there, too.

(See the dirty water right below the number keys? That's how dirty it was in there!)

When I got all the crap out, I used more Q-Tips to get rid of the excess water. I then took the keyboard, flipped it over on the drainboard, and let it dry for half an hour.

But I turned into Veruca Salt again: "Daddy, I want to use my keyboard NOW!!!"

I got my keyboard from the kitchen and took out my blow dryer. I aimed the hot air at the still-wet piece of equipment. This task was made more difficult for two reasons:

1. The blow dryer blew some of the keys off of the vanity and onto the floor, which led to:

2. Gabby playing with the keys as they fell to the ground.

I had to re-arrange the order of the keys at least five or six times. I trusted that my memory worked. If not, I could always go online to find a diagram.

Once I was confident that the keyboard was completely dry, I painstakingly re-assembled all the keys. Then I went back to my office and turned on the computer. I plugged 'er in, opened Microsoft Word, and tested 'er out.

There were about quite a few keys that didn't work. The enter key was stuck, as well as the c,v,b,n, and m keys. And then the beeping started...beep, beep, beep. It wouldn't stop.

It was time for a new keyboard.

Fortunately keyboards aren't that expensive. I picked one up at Staples for $15. I have finally gotten used to this new one, but I miss the clicking sounds that my old keyboard had.

Besides, this new one has a new, important feature:

Spill resistance.

Where in the USA is Kitten Sandiego?

visited 19 states (38%)
Create your own visited map of The United States or Best time to visit Villefranche-sur-Mer

I found this originally over at Vickie's. Then I found it on Vino Bodega. Thought I'd give it a shot.

In the interest of full disclosure, kittens, I counted airport layovers as visits for the following states:

• Illinois (Chicago O'Hare)
• Georgia (whatever the airport is in Atlanta)
• California (got on a cruise ship in LA, also was at LAX)
• North Carolina (really long layover in Charleston due to storms)

I have spent quality time in the other states, though.

Saturday 9: Wedding bell blues

1. If you have been or are married, tell us about your wedding. If you are not, tell us how would you want it to be.
Well, if the big day ever happens, I'd like to keep it small. I hail from a large Italian family, so this is impossible. Papa Cat is going to hand me a list of people whom I haven't seen since infancy and inform me that they have to be invited. In an Italian family, that's what you do.

That's about all I know right now. If I meet the right person, I'll give you more details. Right now I ain't gotta clue as to what my wedding would be like. Haven't given it much thought other than the size.

2. What age would you encourage your children to get married?
Late 20s/early 30s. I'd like for them to have the ability to be independent and take care of themselves (do laundry, cook, balance a checkbook) before they get hitched.

3. Who got married at the last wedding that you attended?
What WAS the last wedding I attended? Oh yeah...I think it was one of my neighbors. It was his 4th marriage, his wife's 3rd. The minister, after the readings, asked him, "What the hell are you thinking?"

4. Do you enjoy weddings and receptions?
For the most part, yeah. It all depends on who else got invited. Once I went to a wedding where I was the only one who knew the bride, but everyone else at my table was really friendly, so that made things a lot easier. It's not so much fun when people aren't so welcoming.

5. Have you cried at a wedding?
I have, yes.

6. Would you prefer a lavish event or a intimate ceremony?
See #1.

7. Have you ever been in some one’s wedding party? If yes, do tell.
I was a bridesmaid when my best friend from college got married. Her anniversary was this past Tuesday. I haven't seen her since her wedding day. We just kinda drifted apart.

8. Does a wedding make you happy and sentimental or grouchy and skeptical?
It depends on the circumstances of why the couple is getting married. I've been to a couple of weddings where I wasn't sure that the couple was marrying for the right reasons. In one case, my gut was right. They ended up divorcing a few years later.

9. Why do you think our divorce rate is so high?
There are a number of reasons. I think a lot of women get married for the sheer romance of having the white dress, the flowers, and the bridesmaids. I also think there are a lot of women who marry out of panic; they feel that if they're not married by a certain age, they've failed. There are some who think that marriage will correct the negative traits of their partners, or it will automatically make them more responsible people.

I've never been married, but I do know that relationships take a lot of work. There's a lot of compromise and give and take involved in their maintenance. They can't just function on love alone. Love is the foundation of any relationship, but it's not the sole factor that determines its success.

VGNO: They say it's Ann's Birthday!

Welcome to another edition of the Virtual Girls Night Out, or as we say it, the VGNO. Our weekly Friday night party is hosted by the lovely Ann.

Anyhoo, this is the first anniversary edition of the VGNO, which also coincides with Ann's birthday! Happy Birthday to you, ma chere amie! Ann is celebrating at a Coldplay concert tonight, lucky gal!

Every week Ann has a question for us gals (and guys, if they participate). This week's question is:

"What band or artist would you have playing at your birthday party?"

Well that's an easy one, kittens! For my B-day celebration, it's gotta be none other than Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band!

This is my all-time fave Bruce song, "Hungry Heart":

What are your weekend plans, kittens? I'm still housesitting. This current gig finishes up Monday afternoon. Then I have a week's worth of errands and appointments to catch up on.

I'm also bummed because, once again, most of my friends are out of town. Some are still on their European choir trip, some are camping or hiking, and others are with their families. I really can't go too far away because of my housesitting gig. I'm not complaining; I like housesitting, but I can't wait to be back home and sleep in my own bed again.

I was lazy today. I didn't do any reading; if you've been following my blog, in the past week I posted six book reviews. I needed a break from books! Tomorrow I'll resume; I just got to a point in Beginner's Greek where it's starting to get gooood.

Oh! Speaking of book reviews...yesterday I posted a review of Holly's Inbox, and guess what happened?

I got a comment on the review from the author himself!!!!!!

That's the first time I ever got a comment from an author on a book I've reviewed! Wow! I am soooo freakin' happy. That totally made my day. When I opened my inbox and saw who it was from, I literally went, "SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!"

Well, I'm off to go blog-hopping now! Happy VGNO to one and all!!!

Friday Shoot-Out: Textures

I haven't been a participant in the Friday My Town Shoot Out for a while now. but finally had some time this week to take some photos.

This week's theme is Textures, and as you can see, I didn't have to go far to find some great pictures. All of these photos were taken in my house and my front yard.

We start off with a shot of my popcorn ceiling:

I got a package in the mail the other day. I always break down the box before I recycle it, and on the inside, I found the great texture of corrugated cardboard:


Here's a shot of one of my end tables. I've always admired the patterns you can find in wood. Yes, it is very shiny and shellacked. It's how I bought 'em.




Here's my jean jacket:



I don't know if you can tell here, but this is my cat's fur--one of my all-time favorite textures:



These are the rocks that line the gardens at my condo complex:


Tree bark is a great texture. Here's the bark of one of the crabapple trees in my front yard:



And here's a close-up of some lichen from the same tree:


I tried to get a close-up of the veins of the leaves on the tree as well. I don't think I was quite so successful:



Flower petals are a great texture, especially on a brightly colored flower like this one:



Grass is my favorite summer texture. I love going barefoot in the grass!




Here is some brick. These bricks support the sign in front of my condo complex:


Here's a patch of sidewalk in front of my condo:


And here's some moss in one of the gardens outside my condo:


And finally, here's my neighbor's doormat, which has some great texture in it:
Thanks for looking at my photos! Be sure to go to the Friday Shoot-Out blog (the link is at the beginning of this post) and see all of the other photos from the Friday Shoot-Out gangsters!

Holly's Inbox, by Holly Denham

Don't let the length of this book intimidate you. At 668 pages, yes, it qualifies as a chunkster, but since it is written entirely in E-mails, it goes by quickly. Very quickly. And there are so many delicious plot lines, it's hard to put down.

Holly Denham has a new job as a receptionist at a large bank in London. She has a lot to deal with during her first week on the job: a co-worker who doesn't seem to care for her, a bitchy PA, and a colleague who went to school with her, who seems to know something devious in Holly's past--but she's not letting on. Yet.

And that's just at work. Holly also sends lots of E-mails out to her best friends, Jason and Aisha. Jason works at a hotel where Holly was once a receptionist. Aisha has a rawther complicated love life and constantly looks to Holly for advice.

Then there's Holly's family, who all have moved to Spain. Mum keeps meddling in Holly's affairs, much to Holly's chagrin. Charlie, her brother and the only family member remaining in England, is trying to start a nightclub--a different sort of nightclub. Elderly Granny has just discovered the wonders of the Internet, and has started to sign Holly up for various different websites.

Holly's life does get rawther interesting juggling all of these kooky correspondences throughout the day. But the most interesting tidbits are reserved for Holly herself--and we find out about them through random E-mails from people other than her friends. Let's just say that the phrase "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when we first practice to deceive" is an appropriate description for Holly's character. Eventually, her lies--and her past--catch up to her. The untruths build the novel up to an interesting climax and finale, where Holly promises that "she'll be back."

This was delightful reading for me. It was quick, cheeky, humorous, and just plain dishy. I loved it, especially as it progressed. I loved learning little details that one might dismiss as unimportant, but then they crop up again later in the novel, and one sees how the pieces of the puzzle fit together.

Serena over at Savvy Verse and Wit had the author contribute a guest post. You can read that post by clicking here. Holly's Inbox has an interesting backstory; it actually started off as a website, which you can find by clicking here. And there's more to it, but I'll leave it to the author to explain what it is.

I won't tell you much about the ending, but it does leave room for a sequel. I hope it happens!

This is the latest entry in my 2009 100+ Reading Challenge, my 2009 Read Your Own Books Challenge, and my 2009 Chunkster Challenge. As always, click on the buttons in the right sidebar for archived lists of all of my reads!

Jo's Boys, by Louisa May Alcott

OK, I finished this at 11 PM last night, but I was so tired that I wasn't about to stay up till 1:30 again writing a blog post on a book I just finished. I still remember a lot of the details, so here it is.

Jo's Boys is the final book in the Little Women trilogy, and primarily follows the lives and adventures of the boys that were portrayed in Little Men. The novel starts ten years after Little Men ended. Plumfield, the house, still exists, but is now a part of Laurence College. Laurie's grandfather has passed away, and his legacy was used to help create this institution. All of the surviving March sisters now assist all of the students at the college, as well as live on campus.

However, this book doesn't focus primarily on the college, but the original Plumfield boys. Nat moves to Europe to study music and begin to make a living with his beloved violin. Dan moves out west to try his luck at farming, but tragedy strikes. Tommy studies medicine for only one reason: to be with his old school chum Nan. Nan, however, will not return the lovestruck boy's affections. Demi tries his luck at newspaper reporting, much to his mother's chagrin. Daisy is in love with Nat, but her mother won't let her marry him until he proves himself capable of making a good living.

This is a fitting end to the March family story, although the very last chapter seems a bit rushed. Even though I am a speed reader, I really didn't want this book to end. I didn't want to say goodbye to any of these characters.

I will say, though, that this is the most serious, and most philosophical, volume of the series. Alcott touches on such issues as women's suffrage and co-education. The Plumfield boys face some very serious adult challenges. The March sisters cope with watching their children become adults. There weren't as many lighthearted moments in this book as there were in the first two. It did not, however, take away from my enjoyment of the plot. The Little Women series is one that I intend to reread someday.

This is the latest entry in my 2009 100+ Reading Challenge and my 2009 Read Your Own Books Challenge. As always, click on the buttons in the right sidebars for all of the archived lists.

Thursday Thunks: July 9, 2009

Wanna play along? Click here.


1. Do you have a guilty conscious?
I think you mean guilty conscience. And to answer your question, hell yeah. I was raised Catholic. That alone should explain it.

2. Do you still have your wisdom teeth?
Non. I had 'em yanked when I was 19. The day after I came home from college for the summer, as a matter of fact. They put me under the anesthesia, I was out cold, but I could still feel the good doc yank 'em out. But that's another story for another time...NOT!

3. Peanut butter--creamy or crunchy?
Definitely creamy. I don't like food in my food.

4. Get up off your butt. Take 5 steps. Which leg did you start out on?
I put my right leg in, I put my right leg out, I put my right leg in, and I shook it all about...

5. What color is your favorite kitchen utensil?
BAH! You really think that I know this? I don't have a favorite kitchen utensil. Just appliances. And for the record, my fave appliance, my Kitchen-Aid stand mixer that I bought from Craigslist for wicked cheap, is white.

6. Did you watch the Michael Jackson memorial/funeral?
Yes I did. I was on the verge of tears when Jermaine Jackson sang "Smile," but his daughter's remarks at the very end opened the floodgates. I just lost it then.

7. Do you know anyone who graduated from high school this year? Were you invited to their graduation party? Did you go?
I knew a lot of people who graduated from high school this year, but did not get invited to any parties. However, I did get invited to, and attended, a college graduation party.

8. White with black stripes or black with white stripes?
I would prefer not to look like a reverse zebra or someone in jail, thank you very much.

9. If we were to call your 6th grade teacher, what would they say about you?
I worked really hard in my classes, was polite, quiet, but could be very silly at times. I was your basic goody-two-shoes in 6th grade. When I was silly it wasn't for attention getting purposes; I was just being myself.

10. Can you draw a perfect circle?
With or without a compass? I'm assuming without. Let's see:


Not bad, but not perfect. For comparison purposes, I also traced the bottom of my coffee mug:


11. What was your favorite scratch and sniff sticker scent?
Whoa! Talk about a trip in the Wayback Machine, Mr. Peabody! I was always partial to the candy scents--chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, etc. I didn't much care for the fruity ones. However, anyone remember those fruity-scented markers? Oh, I loved those scents! The grape one was my favorite!

12. What does your sibling do for a living?
Sister Kitten works in the insurance industry. I will not disclose the name of the company, but let's just say our family owns a lot of red umbrellas.

13. How many light switches and electrical outlets are in the room you are in right now?
One light switch and three outlets. If you count the power strip underneath my computer desk, there are an additional five outlets.

14. Do you know sign language?
I can sign the alphabet easily. I used to know more signs, since I had a deaf neighbor when I was a kid, but not anymore. My favorite sign, however, has got to be the finger. I know it's not really a sign, but sometimes the flash of that middle digit can say it all...and so many different things, too...

15. Do you step on cracks in the sidewalk?
If I paid attention to that I would keep bumping into things. I'd rather not do that. Besides, I want my mother's back to remain nice and strong. She has osteoporosis, so she needs all the help she can get.

16. And the sheets on your bed look like...
Plain, ordinary sheets. Your regular 300-count, comfy, airy cotton. Oh yeah, and they're periwinkle, too.

17. What is something that everyone else has, but you don't?
DVR or TiVo. I want DVR in the worst possible way. However, I'm not about to pay CONcast cable an extra $20 a month for equipment rental and fees. I already pay $67 a month for a limited selection of channels, which they keep taking away from me and putting on digital. And it costs even more to upgrade to digital!

I feel another "Dear So and So..." letter comin' on! Hmmm...I've had some inspiration for quite a few posts these past few days! Stay tuned, dear readers!!!