1. Nobody can ... like I can.
   
2. Every year I grow...
   
3. I've always wanted to know...
   
4. ...makes life simpler
   
5. My favorite book is... because...
   

1. I can't...
   
2. I can...
   
3. ...made me feel really good this week.
   
4. I bought...
   
5. My car...
   
6. My bedtime ritual includes...
   
7. This weekend I will...
   

1. Oh my aching...
2. I'm addicted to...
3. This week I discovered...
4. I don't understand....
5. ...makes my blood boil.
6. I should have....
7. WooooEeeeee, this weekend....

Thanks, Megan!

1. When I grow up...
   
2. Dear Spring....
   
3. Thank you...
   
4. If I were a color I would be ... because...
   
5. I miss...
   
6. I don't need....
   
7. Dude, this weekend I'm....
   

Thanks, Meg!

• My next pet will be named... [thanks Maribeth]
  
• This weekend I plan to...
  
• Breakfast was...
  
• Last night at 8pm I was...
  
• I deal with stress by...
  
• I forgot...
  

Or, actually Friday finish these sentences. Thanks Meg!

1. If I could....
   
2. I wish....
   
3. I am....
   
4. Yesterday....
   
5. Once I...
   
6. This weekend I will....
   

Thanks, Meg!

1. What your favorite movie that you've seen so far this year? [Thanks Bethany!] I'm sure I've seen three movies, but I can only remember what 2 of them were, so I'll go with The Family Stone. (Edited: Little Matty has helped me determine that I've seen 4 movies in the theater, and I now know what they were, but I am sticking with my original answer.)
   
2. Favorite new musical artist? [Thanks Bethany!] I don't know. I kinda like that girl that sings the "2AM- Breathe" song. Anna Nalick?
   
3. Jennifer or Angelina? [Thanks Bethany!] Angelina.
   
4. How often do you check your email? [Thanks Sky!] Too often, although both of my e-mails have notifiers. And I no longer check my work e-mail at home.
   
5. What are your plans for the weekend? Dinner with Cdub tonight, tomorrow going out to Chapel Hill to pick up some earrings I ordered, cleaning, and hanging out with the boys. Also, I need to make coleslaw. Because Sunday is a Jaycee cookout.
   

From Megan, the bestest web designer.

1. When you think about the next 10 years what are you most excited about? I don't know. I have things I'd like to do, but nothing concrete. I'd like to get married, have kids, travel. I don't know that any of that will happen, but maybe the things that happen instead will be wonderful. I've stopped planning my life, and am just living it.
   
2. Do you wear jewelry every day?? What kind?? [Thanks Liz!] Yes. I wear a watch and a ring that I bought in Puerta Vallarta. (Except when I leave it at the barn and am without it for two weeks. It's back! Am happy!) And at least one pair of earrings.
   
3. Do you prefer writing in pen or pencil? if ink, what color? [Thanks Liz!] Pen. The scientist in me prefers black, although recently I bough a navy blue pen and I love it!
   
4. What's your skin regime? [Thanks Liz!] Interestingly, I just had to change it. My skin said, "I am thirty! I must be dry! But still oily at the same time!" So, I use a Clarins wash twice daily, exfoliate twice a week, use a mattifying moisturizer in the morning and a richer one at night (both Clarins), and eye cream for the zombie circles.
   
5. What kind of shampoo do you use? [Thanks Liz!] Kiehl's Amino Acid Shampoo. I love Kiehl's.
   
6. What's your favorite TV show? [Thanks Jim!] The two don't miss shows for me are Gilmore Girls and The Amazing Race. I have season passes for other shows, but am just not into TV right now.
   
7. What are your plans for the weekend? Tonight is our Valentine's Day dinner. D's made reservations somewhere. There will be wine. Tomorrow night is the Water for Life Dinner, so we are working on that most of the day. Sunday, I hope to talk D into just hanging out and watching the Daytona 500.
   
   10:39 AM - Comments (2)
   
   
   

From the lovely Megan!

1. I've got to come up a better name for these "Friday Questions". Friday Five has already been done and I never have five questions. What's your suggestion? Hmm. I don't really know. I'm actually OK with "Friday Questions."
   
2. What's for lunch today? If you work outside the home do you usually pack a lunch or buy? Today it's hummus and feta on a tortilla. Forgot to grab a yogurt to go with that. I usually pack a lunch, but sometimes I go out.
   
3. How do you feel about Valentine's Day. What are your plans? If you're single, do you plan on doing something special for yourself? I don't really have strong feelings about it. If my partner can't show he cares for me the other 364 days a year, then who needs him? This year on Valentine's Day I will be babysitting the Boo so that 2.0 and 2.0 spouse can go out. D and I are celebrating on the 17th- he's taking me out for dinner at one of 2 places. I don't know more details. Well, except that I get to pick which tie he wears. I am having fun putting together a gift bag for him.
   
4. What's your favorite fruit? Bananas. I love bananas.
   
5. List five things you're grateful for.
   
   
   
   1. My family
      
   2. My friends, both here and away.
      
   3. D
      
   4. The boys
      
   5. My education
      
   
   
6. Who was the last person you hugged? I believe it was CP at book club last night.
   
7. What are your plans for the weekend? Well, today I have to make a trip out to a WWTP to get anaerobic digester sludge, and it's near this jewelery store I like that is having their twice annual 50% off sale, so I am going in and buying these earrings I've wanted. (I told Cool Boss I was stopping there.) Tomorrow, I have Adopt-a-Highway in the morning and then D's coming up, and we're doing dinner/movie. Sunday, I have two jobs to apply for.
   
   08:28 AM - Comments (2)
   
   
   

Thanks Meg!

1. What is your reaction to waking up and seeing snow? [Thanks ME!]
   
2. What's your favorite dessert to order out? to make at home? [Thanks Monique!]
   
3. Do you usually get a big refund? If so, what do you do with it?
   
4. How do you handle your bills? Are you really organized, really laid back or somewhat in between. Describe.
   
5. How important is money in terms of your happiness?
   
6. What did your parents teach you about money?
   
7. What do you wish your parents had taught you about money?
   
8. What are your plans for the weekend?
   
9. bonus question. Jimbo and I want to go away for an extended weekend somewhere within driving distance and not too much money (but nice!). Where do you suggest?
   

Thanks, Megan!

1. If you have a full-time salary paid job and are expected to work at least 40 hours each week, how many hours do you really work.. more or less? [Thanks Jimbo!] I probably work a little over 40 hours a week- I check e-mail from home, and my mind works on problems/issues practically constanly, so I ocassionally send out e-mails at 10PM.
   
2. Which way does your toilet paper roll? Forward or backward? [Thanks MB!] Backward, so that the sheets come from under the roll. Unless I put it on the other way, in which case I don't change it.
   
3. What's your favorite candy? pick only one. [Thanks Liz!] Chocolate Truffles.
   
4. What book are you reading right now? [Thanks Liz!] See the sidebar.
   
5. Are you jealous of anyone? [Thanks Liz!] I'm a little jealous of 2.0- she has a great husband, a cute baby, a lovely house, and is just so confident!
   
6. Laundry...do you sort it into colors and groups or just throw whatever in? [Thanks Liz!] I sort. (Like y'all didn't figure that one out.)
   
7. What smelly candle is your favorite? Do you have one that you just don't like one bit? [Thanks Liz!] I don't really have a favorite, as I can't light candles in my house.
   
8. What is your best feature? [Thanks Liz!] My hair. Or maybe my eyes. But I'm vain about my hair.
   
9. What are your plans for the weekend? Tonight, cleaning, Battlestar Galactica. Tomorrow, I will either go to the gym or for a walk, then I have some shopping, and D and I are doing dinner and a movie. Sunday, Cdub and I (and a co-worker of hers) are window shopping at the new outdoor mall.
   

From the lovely Megan, posted at the ridiculously early hour of 0518.

1. Do you lie about your age? Why? [Thanks ME!] No. Getting older beats the alternative.
   
2. How many resolutions have you broken so far? [Thanks ME!] I didn't make any this year, so none!
   
3. What's your best attitude adjuster? [Thanks ME!] Snuzzles from Ri.
   
4. Do you have any vacation plans this year? Where are you going? [Thanks Sky!] Well, I am definitely going to Boston sometime this spring, and I'd like to go to Ireland.
   
5. I'm looking to buy a new purse...what would you recommend to me? [Thanks Janet!] Still this one. I want this one in black.
   
6. nail polish or au natural? do it yourself or manicures? [Thanks Liz!] I work in a lab. Therefore it is au natural, and do-it yourself manicures. The toes are another story.
   
7. what was the last thing you searched for on the computer? [Thanks !] The Carolina Hurricanes schedule.
   
8. whats your fav go to recipe, ya know the kind thats good and tasty everytime? [Thanks Liz!] Rosemary Chicken. Yummy!
   
9. tea or coffee, and how do you like it? [Thanks Liz!] Both. Coffee- light with splenda. Tea with splenda.
   
10. some people always feel cold in bed and others are always hot...which are you? do you sleep with lots of covers, or just one? [Thanks Liz!] I am usually comfortable. I sleep with a duvet and a blanket, but take the blanket off in summer.
    
11. What are your plans for the weekend? Tonight, cleaning, laundry, Battlestar Galactica. Tomorrow I have a Jaycee thing for the project I'm chairing, and the guy I'm dating is coming up for dinner- the aforementioned Rosemary Chicken. Which I am making with roasted herb potatoes, and I still need a vegetable, so suggestions are welcomed.
    

From Megan, the goddess of web design.

1. What did you do for New Year's Eve? Hung out with some friends and played Cranium. Best off the wall guess of the night (the person was doing a charade of "bike messenger"): "You're a chimpanzee. Riding a unicorn!"
   
2. Did you make any resolutions? Nah, I always make the same ones and then never keep them.
   
3. If you had to change your domain name, what would you change it to? Well, Janet actually came up with it, but I kind of like "Heathen Asshole." I mean, even though I don't really think I'm either.
   
4. What was one thing on your wishlist that you didn't get for Christmas but you wish you had? Return of the King on DVD.
   
5. If you could be granted just one non monetary wish (for yourself; so world peace doesn't count) what would it be? [Thanks Michelle!] New job! I want a new job!
   
6. Full day at a spa (manicure, pedicure, facial, massage, hair cut and color, waxing etc.) or $750 cash. Which do you take? [Thanks Michelle!] The cash. No question.
   
7. What's your creative outlet? [Thanks Heather!] You're reading it. Seriously. I'm not a very creative person. I do daydream a lot.
   
8. What was the last thing you dreamed? [Thanks Krista!] I can't remember anything specific, but lately I've been dreaming I'm in Thailand.
   
9. What was the last nice thing someone did for you. [Thanks Krista!] A friend just bought me lunch.
   
10. What are your plans for the weekend? Tonight I'm putting taking the Christmas decorations up down. Tomorrow, a hike with the WW and then a dinner/movie date. Sunday, I will probably go into work.
    01:50 PM - Comments (3)
    
    
    

From Megan.

1. What is your favorite family tradition? [Thanks Michele-my belle!] Cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning.
2. What's the best gift you ever got from a yankee swap? What's the worst? Is that the same as a white elephant swap? I’m going with yes. I got an ornament of a horse and rider jumping. Is there a bad one?
3. Your work yankee swap is in 5 minutes and you forgot to buy a gift. What item from your desk do you wrap up? My handmade pencil cup (Target!) and the origami diamond.
4. What would you do if Rudolph went on strike? How would you convince him to do his work tonight? [Thanks sLeigh-ride!] Reindeer are like horses, right? Crop!
5. What is your earliest memory of Christmas? [Thanks Kristamas!] I remember waking up in the middle of the night at our old house, bringing my sister out into the living room to show her the presents, and my dad yelling at us to go back to sleep.
6. What's your favorite Christmas movie?! A Christmas Story.
7. You're spending Christmas in a place you'd always dreamed of...where is that place and why? [Thanks Santa-Snape!] Ireland. I don’t know why, but I’ve always been drawn there.
8. What kind of presents are you looking forward to this year? [Thanks Heather the red-nose Reindeer!] Books! And CDs!
9. What do you prefer candy canes or christmas chocolate? [Thanks Smoochy-Claus!] Chocolate
10. What is your favorite christmas food that you only eat at christmas time? [Thanks Smoochy-Claus!] I don’t know that I have one. Moravian Spice Cookies?
11. What are your plans for the Holiday? Heading up to Peg's tonight, Church, dinner at the Holiday Inn and gift exchange Sunday. Back to NC Monday.

From the lovely Megan, of course.

1. What is your #1 winter beauty product? Kiehls Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. Not greasy, and works wonders on my laboratory-dry hands.
   
2. What's your favorite kind of Christmas cookies? Have you ever baked pornographic cookies? Thanks ME! Jewel Brooch cookies- it's a recipe from my grandmother. And no, no pornographic cookies.
   
3. Does your company do a holiday party? Yep, we had it last Friday. Was fun.
   
4. What's the most embarrassing thing you've done at an office holiday party? [Thanks Janet!] Nothing. Am boring.
   
5. Have you ever had a martini? If so, what is your favorite? [Thanks Janet!] Nope, the closest I've had is a Cosmo. Love them!
   
6. What's your cure for a hangover? [Thanks Janet!] Phoebs taught me long ago to drink lots of water and eat a cookie before going to bed. It's preventative, and I have never had a hangover.
   
7. Who do you think is the cutest person in your office? [Thanks Janet!] Probably Mark.
   
8. What are your plans for the weekend? Party tonight, party at Jbabe's tomorrow, Goodfellows on Sunday.
   

From the lovely Megan, as usual.

1. Do you give yourself a Christmas present? If you did, what would you treat yourself to? I don't normally, but this year I made an appointment for a massage on January 2nd.
   
2. What are you enjoying about this holiday season? Spending time with my friends, and the smell of the wreath on my door.
   
3. If you could chose a place to visit as a surprise gift for someone close what place would you chose and why? [Thanks Leigh!] I'd take Peg to Budapest and Prague.
   
4. Would you rather it snow hard on a weekday or weekend? [Thanks Janet!] Weekend. That way I don't have to worry about getting out, and I can just enjoy it.
   
5. Have you heard of James Blunt, and if so, what do you think of him? [Thanks Janet!] Nope, but I'll check him out later.
   
6. What are your plans for the weekend? Tonight is my company's Christmas Party. Tomorrow Cdub and I are doing some Habitat for Humanity work, and then we are going to dinner and then to see The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
   

Courtesy of my favorite web designer.

1. What kind of pillow do you like? (Thanks Heather!) Down. I love my down pillows.
2. Do you wear slippers? (Thanks Heather!) Not usually. I've put some on my Christmas list for this year, because I am keeping the heat low.
3. Do you sleep with socks on? (Thanks Heather!) No. I don't sleep with much on, really.
4. What were you doing a year ago today? Probably working.
5. Do you send out Christmas Cards? Yes, I love to! If you want me to send you one, email me your address. watergirl.micheleATgmail.com.
6. Do you like to wrap? No, I just see it as a necessity.
7. What are your plans for the weekend? TRgirl and Randy are coming down, and then I am having a birthday party. All of your favorite people from this here blog will be there- Little Matty, 2.0, TRgirl, Randy...

From the Divine Megan.

1. What do you give thanks for this Thanksgiving?  My family, my friends, the boys.
2. Do you have any Thanksgiving traditions?  I go up to my Great-Aunts.  Dinner is at my Aunt and Uncle's with her family.  We also go see the new Harry Potter movie sometime over the weekend.
3. What's the best part about Thanksgiving?  Having time off from work and seeing my family. 
4. What's your favorite Thanksgiving food?  I like the stuffing.  And mincemeat pie.
5. Do you have the day after Thanksgiving off? If so, what are you going to do with your day? Yes, I do.  I will hang around Peg's house reading.  We eat leftovers for dinner.  I think TRgirl and Randy are coming out to see us that day. 
6. What are your plans for the weekend?  Tonight I am going to see Walk the Line with Little Matty.  Tomorrow I am riding, and I don't know what else I'll do.  I may have lunch with Jbabe. 

The Divine Megan's Friday questions:   

1. What tantalizes you the most? (tan·ta·lize (tăn'tÉ™-lÄ«z'): To excite (another) by exposing something desirable while keeping it out of reach.) [Thanks Janey!]   Hmm...  Dark Chocolate maybe?  I don't know. 
2. Have you started your Christmas shopping? When do you usually start? (Thanks Michele!)  No.  I don't usually start until after Thanksgiving.  I also do a lot of online shopping. 
3. Do you have today off? If yes, what are your plans. If no, what would you be doing if you had it off? No.  I am working.  If I were off, I'd be cleaning. 
4. Sleep nekkid or no? Why? (Thanks Krista!)  Yes, usually.  I buy nice sheets, I like to feel them.
5. If you have pets, do you let them sleep with you? (Thanks Krista!)  I do, and they usually do, unless Orion keeps waking me up to get me to move.  Then they get thrown out. 
6. What is your favorite thing about the holiday season? (Thanks Azzy!)  I like Thanksgiving, getting together with family.  I also like baking Christmas cookies. 
7. What's your favorite writing instrument? The Pilot G-2  0.5mm.   
8. What are your plans for the weekend?  I am cleaning my house, Cdub and I are going to the movies and dinner, and another friend and I are getting together to plan my birthday party!

From Janet today, because Megan's got issues. 

There's a saying "To have a good friend, you need to be a good friend." How do you maintain a good friendship?  I listen to my friends, I try to be there for them, and I make them laugh.

What makes friends different from family?  Well, you choose friends.  I think that's an important distinction in the relationship- neither one of you is "stuck" with the other, this is a person who wants to talk to you and spend time with you (not all the time, of course!).

What qualities do you think are important in a friend?  Loyalty, humor, the ability to listen, and having a good heart. 

What are some ways your friends have influenced your life in a positive way? A friend got me into riding, which is very important to me.  The most positive influence they have had on me is having strong marriages, the kind I would like to have (unfortunately, I have never seen my parent's marriage as anything I wanted to repeat.)

What do you do to clear the air when you have a misunderstanding with your friend? I'll usually talk it out with them.  Sometimes I just let it go. 

From Megan

1. What is your dream car? (Thanks Michele!)   I'm in a weird place right now, I guess.  My dream car is the Subaru Outback.

2. How important is it that people spell, pronounce your name correctly? Why?   It's very important to me.   It's a sign of respect to me.  (one L.  ONE!)

3. Who's the jolliest person you know? Describe him or her.   Wow.  I don't know that I know anyone who is "jolly".  They would probably annoy me. 

4. What method for curing the common cold works best for you?   Rest and liquids.  And Chicken Fricassee.

5. Describe your favorite omelet (Thanks Laura!)  Feta cheese and mushrooms.

6. Do you have road rage? (Thanks Laura!)   Occasionally.  I am from New Jersey. 

7. What is the biggest risk you've taken so far in life? Are you glad you did it? (Thanks Sky!)   I would say it was moving from MA to NC.  I didn't know anyone- I did it to see if I could.  I've made a life for myself here, and I love it, but I also have the knowledge that I could do it again, so yes, I am very glad. 

8. The weather is changing... have you had to turn your heat on yet? How long will you wait? (Thanks Sky!)    No.  It's going to be 80 here today. 

9. What are your plans for the weekend?   Tonight, the new boy is coming up, we are having dinner and then watching a movie at my place.  Tomorrow I have a paddling class and then I have to work.  Sunday we are going to the State Fair. 

Courtesy of Megan.

1. Books or Music? Why? (Thanks Michelle!)   I can't chose between those!  I would give TV up before either books or music. 
2. Do you like to cook? What is your best dish? (Thanks Sky!)  I love to cook, and am pretty good at it.  My best dish is my Rosemary Chicken.  Mmm...
   
3. Do you have a dress code at work? What do you wear? (Thanks Sky!) Well, corporate has a dress code, but we don't conform to it.  Business casual doesn't work for the lab.  The one day I wore a skirt to work, Cool Boss was all, "Hey, let's fix that refrigerator today!"  So I wear jeans, T-shirts, and Danskos. 
   
4. What's the best thing about where you live? I think that it has all the amenities of a city (the ballet, the symphony, theater, concerts) but that the country is close, so there are places to ride. 
   
5. What are your plans for this nice, long weekend?  Long weekend?  Ha!  Like we would have off for Columbus Day.  My plans for this regular-length weekend are to go to the Parade of Homes with Cdub. 
   
6. Favorite breakfast cereal? Thanks Laura!  Frosted Mini-wheats.  But occasionally I want Frosted Flakes. 
   
7. What's your favorite flower? (Thanks Jimbo! ;)   Hmm... I don't know that I have a favorite.  Maybe the hyacinth?  I love the smell.  I need to plant some bulbs this year. 

From the lovely Megan, of course.

1. What's for dinner tonight? (Thanks Sky!)   I don't know- I have a date, and he made reservations at a restaurant I wouldn't have chosen (this is a good thing, really.)  Oh, and I have a reasonable expectation that he is going to pay (but I'm still bringing the debit card). 
2. What is the first movie you remember seeing? (Thanks Krista!)   E.T.
3. Are you more likely to stop at an accident or drive by? (Thanks Laura!)   Probably drive by, but I will call it in. 
4. What are you going to be for Halloween?   What was your favorite costume as a child?   I don't know yet.   My mom made me a Holly Hobbie costume when I was little.  I loved that.  I should get the pictures.
5. I hear the stores have Christmas stuff up. What do you think of that?  It is just today starting to feel like fall here.   I don't want to see Christmas stuff yet. 
6. Do you park in the same spot every day?  Yes, all of the early arrivers have our own parking spaces.  Well, in our minds only. 
7. Michelle is in Tennessee home of Elvis. Elvis: Love 'em or leave 'em?   Leave 'em.
8. What is your favorite sport and why? (Thanks Jimbo!)  To participate in, well, clearly it's riding.  It's challenging, relaxing, and there's always something new to learn.  But to watch?  Hockey! 

Questions!  From Megan, as usual. 

1.  Why are the media so intrusive? Do you think a boycott of tv news would help? (Thanks Janet!)

I think it's because we allow them to be.  People want the sordid details of other people's lives.  And my small boycott of TV news (thanks internet and the BBC) hasn't made one bit of difference. 

2.  What is your favorite restaurant and why? (Thanks Krista!)

Rockford on Glenwood South (that's the trendy/hip area of Raleigh).   Their food is simple, cheap, and they make a killer cosmo (which is not cheap!)

3.  What fast food restaurant are you partial to? (Thanks Krista!)

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this, but I love Taco Bell. 

4.  What are your standards and rules for tipping? (Thanks Krista!)

I tip pretty well- usually 20%.  I'm not that demanding- I want the person to bring me food and drink refills and generally be personable.  However, if they treat me like they think I won't be a good tipper, I will leave a penny. 

5.  Do you usually order an appetizer and/or dessert? (Thanks Krista!)

I am more likely to order an appetizer, but usually prefer a salad. 

6.  What do you usually order to drink at a restaurant? (Thanks Krista!)

Usually?  Diet Coke (or Pepsi.  I really don't care.) 

7.  How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop?(Thanks Jimbo!)

One, two, three, crunch.  Three. 

8.  If, for some reason, you didn't have to have a job to make money, but just to do something you enjoy and find fulfilling, would you do what you are doing now? Or something else? What? (Thanks Michele!)

I would not be doing what I am doing now.  I would prefer to be doing something with languages, or studying/teaching linguistics.