Feast Number One Hundred & Fourty Two

Appetizer: Name something you would not want to own.

• Any sort of firearm.

Soup: Describe your hair (texture, color, length, etc.).

• Thick, straight, blonde, chin length bob.

Salad: Finish this sentence: I’ll never forget ___________.

• I’ll never forget my first opera or what Alex thought passed for good pizza.

Main Course: Which famous person would you like to be for one day? Why?

• Honestly, as difficult as life can be sometimes, I really wouldn’t want to be anyone other than myself.

Dessert: Write one sentence about yourself that includes one thing that is true and another thing that is not.

• Despite being in two car accidents in 12 years, I’ve never been in the driver’s seat when an accident occurred.

Condiments:

1. Whether you’ve ever been there or not, what are your thoughts on Texas?
   I’ve spent some time in Houston and didn’t mind it. Granted, I was working so I spent most of my time shuttling back and forth between work and the hotel. While I honestly don’t remember too much about the city, I did meet some wonderful people there.
2. Who was the last person you sent a text message to? If you’ve never sent someone a text message, is there some reason?
   Most likely Robin (former co-worker).
3. Who’s usually the first person you go to when you have a tech-related problem, especially for computers?
   For computers – no one. If I can’t figure it out, it’s gonna be fried and broken beyond repair. If it’s anything to do with the TV/DVD/Stereo/Bazillion associated remotes thingy (love those technical terms) – I make the hubby fix it.
4. What was the best textbook you were ever assigned?
   Mager, Robert F. Preparing Instructional Objectives. Center for Effective Performance: Atlanta. 1997. On page 21, it has the best example of an objective “Given a stick, beat a dead horse into oblivion”. Even better is the fact that this example, however humourous, wouldn’t be an effective objective, since “oblivion” can’t really be measured 😉
5. What are your thoughts on techno music??
   Don’t have any either way.

h/t to Caylynn’s Contemplations for the FF graphic. I shamelessly swiped it from her site.

Technorati Tags: Friday’s Feast, condiments

Welcome to the 25th edition of the screaming pages Thursday Thirteen.

This week I was planning on posting photos of the paintings, prints, and watercolours in our house. However, after taking the pictures and discovering that I have no skill with a camera (where’s the hubby when you need him?), I’ve decided to put that plan on hold and do a basic rundown of things that have happened since last week’s Thursday Thirteen.

Thirteen things about my week. Went to dinner with ex-coworker from the evil empire. Had a fabulous time. She’s one of the few people left working there that I miss on a daily basis. There’s something to be said for those who share the cube farm and your crazed outlook on life. Received the most amazing you escaped from the evil empire gift from said former co-worker. She presented me with my own mike for Karaoke *wheeee* so I can practice at home. She also included a CD of music for me, and lent me her giant collection of music to practice with. Went grocery shopping. I now have real food in my cupboards and fridge. Too bad it can’t cook itself… Took the dogs for a slow meander (daily). I’m not co-ordinated enough to run while out with two dogs. Scratch that, I’m not co-ordinated enough to run outside where there are cracks in the sidewalk to trip over! Got a new haircut. I was tired of looking like some sort of 80’s throwback and got it chopped into a bob. Now, considering the pre-ugly haircut was a just-past-the-shoulders bob, you can imagine how thrilled I am to now be sporting a new chin length one. Maybe I just should have shaved it all off and started fresh again… Ordered and received new books from Chapters.ca. Ordered books from Amazon.com. Connected with a potential employer – yes, this is the job I really, really want – and received a list of recommended reading and a referral to an online course to complete. I’m hoping this is a good sign. The company works in a very small field and completion of these items wouldn’t help me get a job anywhere else. I’m hoping that means that the company is seriously considering hiring me. They said I have the right attitude and aptitude – that’s good right? Filled the gas tank before the crazy price hike shennanigans started. Completed my pension transfer forms and sent them off to my investment advisor. Cleaned up the back yard, trimmed the hedge at the front of the house, made a honey-do list for the hubby when he gets home 😉 Paid all our bills. Talked to the hubby for the first time in a week. He got access to a phone and called tonight. *wheeee* There’s nothing quite like the 35 minutes a week the gov’t graciously gives families to connect while their loved ones are away. Bonus: Posted my T13 early so I can spend some additional time tomorrow working on completing the online course mentioned in #8. Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Technorati Tags: thursday thirteen, t13, meme,

Feast Number One Hundred & Fourty One

Appetizer: How fast can you type?

• Last time I was tested I was at 83 wpm. I think it depends on the keyboard I’m using though.

Soup: What is your favorite online game?

• I don’t play any. I am, however, addicted to the many versions of Ratchet & Clank and Resident Evil

Salad: On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as highest), how intelligent do you think you are?

• Uh oh! I’ll probably rank myself far higher than I should. I’d say about an 8.5, since my last IQ test tells me I’m a lazy genius.

Main Course: Name three of your best teachers from your school years.

• I’m assuming this is for grades 1-12 only. Mr. Horgan (3 years Advanced English and Canadian Literature), Mr. Theriault (French, History, Spanish, Entrepreneurship – what can I say, it was a small school), and Ms. Prescott (the only one who could help me understand basic math concepts).

Dessert: What are your plans for this upcoming weekend?

• Friday night Karaoke of course. Saturday and Sunday I need to work in the garden, clean the house, and will likely meet with a “client” about his Web site design project.

Condiments:

1. What is your favorite outdoor activity?
   Camping and all it entails (hiking, canoeing, fishing, rambling with the dogs, etc.).
2. Are you outdoors not often enough, too often, or just often enough?
   Not often enough, but in Winter and early Spring it’s just too cold to spend much time outdoors. Try to make up for it in Summer and Fall.
3. When was the last time you slept in a tent?
   Hmm, how long have we owned the RV? I think it was probably 5 or 6 years ago. We tried tenting for a year until we ended up waking up in a lake after a torrential downpour. A few weeks later we were negotiating the purchase of our (used) RV.
4. Where is your favorite beach?
   Mispec Beach, Saint John, NB. There’s something to be said for swimming in the Bay of Fundy and being home.
5. In what social, academic, or professional group are you on the outer fringes of? In what social, academic, or professional group are you right in the middle of?
   I refuse to answer on the grounds that I may incriminate myself. This is Canada, I don’t get to “plead the Fifth”.

h/t to Caylynn’s Contemplations for the FF graphic. I shamelessly swiped it from her site.

Technorati Tags: Friday’s Feast, condiments

Welcome to the 24th edition of the screaming pages Thursday Thirteen.

I’ve mentioned a few times that I’m a Karaoke junkie and figured now is as good as any time to explain why.

On a trip to Manila I headed up to Antipolo with a group of friends – Eula, MJ, Chas, Bon and Val – for an afternoon of videoke, food, beer and fun. One thing I’ve learned from my many trips to Manila is that a lot of Filipino’s love to sing. Their joy in song is infectious and before long (although with quite a bit of prodding) I joined in.

When I returned to Canada, I started joining in when my friends were singing. Since I’d only be home for a few weeks before flying back out to Manila, each trip home would always include a trip to the bar and at least one rendition of my soon to be named traveling songs.

What I hadn’t realized before Manila was what a social event heading out to Karaoke can be. As many of my work friends have also run away from the evil empire (most long before I finally quit), Friday nights at Karaoke is often the only time we manage to get together as a group. Sure, about once every few months we gather for dinner out at a restaurant, but Karaoke is always fun because you never know who is going to show up or what they’ll be singing. Sometimes, there’s only a small handful of us, 4 or 5 at the most. Other nights, over 20 people might show up to share stories and sing.

Now, I’m the one dragging newcomers out to Karaoke. Mom and the hubby have even trotted up to the mike to belt out a song or two.

Thirteen songs I’ve sung at Karaoke. Leaving on a Jet Plane – Peter, Paul & Mary Daniel – Elton John Desperado – Eagles People are Strange – The Doors The Dance – Garth Brooks Closing Time – Semisonic Bitch – Meredith Brooks Crazy – Patsy Cline Walking in Memphis – Marc Cohn I don’t want to miss a thing – Areosmith Friends in Low Places – Garth Brooks Have You Ever Seen the Rain? – CCR Proud Mary – CCR Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Technorati Tags: thursday thirteen, t13, meme, karaoke, Manila

Feast Number One Hundred & Fourty

Appetizer: What is your favorite kind of bread?

• Naan.

Soup: When was the last time you bought a new pillow?

• Just over a year ago when we bought a new bed.

Salad: Approximately how many hours per week do you spend surfing the ‘net?

• Oh boy! Depends on the week but it’s definitely in the 40-60 hour range. Granted, I do a lot of surfing to find out information, read technical papers and ejournals.

Main Course: What’s the highest you remember your temperature being?

• 40 degrees Celcius

Dessert: Fill in the blanks: When I ____________, I _____________.

• When I read I zone out to everything around me.

Condiments:

1. What’s something that used to be good but now is lame?
   Any 80’s TV show.
2. What’s something that used to be lame but now is good?
   Friday night karaoke with friends.
3. What’s something you used to feel strongly about, but are now ambivalent about?
   Being a (future) mom.
4. What’s something you used to feel ambivalent about, but now have strong feelings about?
   What brand of food we feed our pets.
5. What’s something you used to dislike but now love?
   Lobster. I hated it when I was a kid, love it as an adult. Our tastebuds are constantly evolving.

h/t to Caylynn’s Contemplations for the FF graphic. I shamelessly swiped it from her site.

Technorati Tags: Friday’s Feast, condiments