Song Title Meme

Okay, so I found this meme over at Magic In These Hills a while back, and of course I have to do it and OF COURSE I choose Journey-- the Steve Perry years... what else? Duh.

Rules: Choose a singer/band/group.

Answer the following using ONLY titles of songs by that singer/band/group.

1. Are you male or female? Walks Like a Lady

2. Describe yourself. Colors of the Spirit

3. What do people feel when they’re around you? Why Can't This Night Go On Forever (**ROFLMAO** sorry, couldn't resist!)

4. How would you describe your previous relationship? Don't Be Down on Me Baby

5. Describe your current relationship. Stone In Love

6. Where would you want to be now? Escape

7. How do you feel about love? It's a Natural Thing

8. What’s your life like? Sweet & Simple

9. What would you ask for if you had only one wish? Precious Time

10. Say something wise. Be Good to Yourself

AWOL, Memes & More

I've been AWOL this past week. Maybe it was noticed? Maybe not? My hours at work started up full-time again the day after Election Day, so now my days look more like this: long commutes, busy all day, tired in the evening and in bed early; which hasn't left me much time to do much of anything else, let alone blog. But it's good to be FT at work, and I'm enjoying my new project and meeting new people.

Playing catch up in the blogosphere this weekend!

First off, Talamuir, one of my very first blog friends, has tagged me for the Six Random Things meme and Kreativ blog award. Talamuir's blog was one of the very first pagan blogs I found way back when I started blogging years ago. We lost track of each other for a while, and recently reconnected, which makes me so happy. Visit her at her new place, Voices at Samhuinn and enjoy her lovely photography!

1. Link to the person or persons who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

I know I've done six random things in the past, but there are plenty of random things about me, so I'm going to share it some more!

1. I love to read historical fiction and non-fiction about the Tudor Period. I am fascinated with Anne Boleyn and her very tragic story-- and the other wives of Henry VIII. The great Queen Elizabeth I, Anne Boleyn's daughter, is also an intruiging woman.
2. I love vintage china and would love to collect it, but I don't see the purpose of having lots of stuff I don't use, so I mostly drool over it at antique stores and online. My favorite styles: anything chintz, especially in yellow/pink, and Clarice Cliff's Tonquin in mulberry. Looooove transferware and carnival glass, too.
   
3. I like to buy my books in trade paperback size. I carry them around in a zippered book cover during the time I'm reading them. I don't dog-ear pages or break the spine.
   
4. I've had the same pair of slippers since 1996. Firehand got them for me. They're warm, comfy sheepskin, all fuzzy inside. I wore off the fuzzy on the soles inside, so we had to buy new fleecy sole inserts about 6 years ago. It's about time for new inserts, again.
5. I love to crochet, but I am a "threadie"-- I don't crochet too much with yarn. I like making lace, doilies and such, instead. Especially floral motif doilies.
   
6. I took children's theatre classes when I was young and had many roles in theatre productions in junior high & high school, but I'd be terrified to be on stage nowadays. I don't know how I ever did it.

I've tagged six people in the past for this meme, but I've met some great creative people through Soul Coaching, so I'm going to tag a few more:

Jamie at Starshyne Productions because she is so inspiring and brings out the best in all that she touches.

Genie Sea at Reality Insanity* fierce and open sharing and beautiful digital tarot art collages.

Aurora at Foxy Art Studio inspiring quotes, lovely knitting projects and creative, honest journaling pages.


Also, my sweet friend Nydia at Bringing Up Salamandars nominated me for the "Love Your Blog" Award! Thank you! Along with the award comes this fun (or, if you're wordy like me, challenging) little meme where you have to answer the following questions with one-word responses.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse

2. Where is your significant other? desk

3. Your hair color? red

4. Your mother? inspiring

5. Your father? bearded

6. Your favorite thing? reading

7. Your dream last night? none

8. Your dream/goal? creating

9. The room you’re in? living

10. Your hobby? crafting

11. Your fear? many

12. Where do you want to be in six years? content

13. Where were you last night? pumphouse

14. What you’re not? slender

15. One of your wish list items? tarot

16. Where you grew up? Iowa

17. The last thing you did? potty

18. What are you wearing? pajamas

19. Your T.V.? off

20. Your pet? Moose

21. Your computer? emachine

22. Your mood? positive

23. Missing someone? Claire

24. Your car? Forrester

25. Something you’re not wearing? bra

26. Favorite store? craft

27. Your Summer? dry

28. Love someone? totally

29. Your favorite color? green

30. When is the last time you laughed? evening

31. Last time you cried? Sunday

Please Hold...

... I am experiencing technical difficulties in setting up my Etsy shop, but continuing to work on getting it all figured out and put together...

... in the meantime... let's just take a nice, deep breath and enjoy a Steve Perry moment...


Well. I don't know about you, but *I* certainly feel a little bit better...

The Year Was 1986

Firehand and I have been listening to the XM radio 80's channel for weeks now on digital cable and it's been a total blast from the past. Lots of Huey Lewis & the News, the Bangles, Bon Jovi, Lionel Richie, Hall & Oates, INXS-- even some Squeeze! They even play old American Top 40's from the 80's. I once sent in a Long Distance Dedication that made it on the air; if we ever hear that particular countdown, I'll die of embarrassment. It was sappy as hell. We listen to XM 80's almost every evening.

SOOooOOo... when I saw this music meme over at Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom, I had to see what came up for me:

The Rules:

A.) Go to Music Outfitters.

B.) Enter the year you graduated from high school in the search function and get the list of 100 most popular songs of that year.

C.) Bold the songs you like, strike through the ones you REALLY hate.

AND, just 'cuz I can, I'm adding color to the ones I absolutely adored and still do.

SAY HELLO TO 1986:

1. That's What Friends Are For, Dionne Warwick, Elton John, and Gladys Knight
2. Say You, Say Me, Lionel Richie
3. I Miss You, Klymaxx
4. On My Own , Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald
5. Broken Wings, Mr. Mister
6. How Will I Know, Whitney Houston
7. Party All The Time, Eddie Murphy
8. Burning Heart, Survivor
9. Kyrie, Mr. Mister
10. Addicted To Love, Robert Palmer
11. Greatest Love Of All, Whitney Houston
12. Secret Lovers, Atlantic Starr
13. Friends And Lovers, Carl Anderson and Gloria Loring
14. Glory Of Love, Peter Cetera
15. West End Girls, Pet Shop Boys
16. There'll Be Sad Songs, Billy Ocean
17. Alive And Kicking, Simple Minds
18. Never, Heart
19. Kiss, Prince and The Revolution
20. Higher Love, Steve Winwood
21. Stuck With You, Huey Lewis and The News
22. Holding Back The Years, Simply Red
23. Sledgehammer, Peter Gabriel
24. Sara, Starship
25. Human, Human League
26. I Can't Wait, Nu Shooz
27. Take My Breath Away, Berlin
28. Rock Me Amadeus, Falco
29. Papa Don't Preach, Madonna
30. You Give Love A Bad Name, Bon Jovi
31. When The Going Gets Tough, Billy Ocean
32. When I Think Of You, Janet Jackson
33. These Dreams, Heart
34. Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone), Glass Tiger
35. Live To Tell, Madonna
36. Mad About You, Belinda Carlisle
37. Something About You, Level 42
38. Venus, Bananarama
39. Dancing On The Ceiling, Lionel Richie
40. Conga, Miami Sound Machine
41. True Colors, Cyndi Lauper
42. Danger Zone, Kenny Loggins
43. What Have You Done For Me Lately, Janet Jackson
44. No One Is To Blame, Howard Jones
45. Let's Go All The Way, Sly Fox
46. I Didn't Mean To Turn You On, Robert Palmer
47. Words Get In The Way, Miami Sound Machine
48. Manic Monday, Bangles
49. Walk Of Life, Dire Straits
50. Amanda, Boston
51. Two Of Hearts, Stacey Q
52. Crush On You, Jets
53. If You Leave, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
54. Invisible Touch, Genesis
55. The Sweetest Taboo, Sade
56. What You Need, INXS
57. Talk To Me, Stevie Nicks
58. Nasty, Janet Jackson
59. Take Me Home Tonight, Eddie Money
60. We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off, Jermaine Stewart
61. All Cried Out, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam With Full Force
62. Your Love, Outfield
63. I'm Your Man, Wham!
64. Perfect Way, Scritti Politti
65. Living In America, James Brown
66. R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A., John Cougar Mellencamp
67. Who's Johnny, El Debarge
68. Word Up, Cameo
69. Why Can't This Be Love, Van Halen
70. Silent Running, Mike + The Mechanics
71. Typical Male, Tina Turner
72. Small Town, John Cougar Mellencamp
73. Tarzan Boy, Baltimora
74. All I Need Is A Miracle, Mike + The Mechanics
75. Sweet Freedom, Michael McDonald
76. True Blue, Madonna
77. Rumors, Timex Social Club
78. Life In A Northern Town, Dream Academy
79. Bad Boy, Miami Sound Machine
80. Sleeping Bag, ZZ Top
81. Tonight She Comes, Cars
82. Love Touch, Rod Stewart
83. A Love Bizarre, Sheila E.
84. Throwing It All Away, Genesis
85. Baby Love, Regina
86. Election Day, Arcadia
87. Nikita, Elton John
88. Take Me Home, Phil Collins
89. Walk This Way, Run-D.M.C.
90. Sweet Love, Anita Baker
91. Your Wildest Dreams, Moody Blues
92. Spies Like Us, Paul McCartney
93. Object Of My Desire, Starpoint
94. Dreamtime, Daryl Hall
95. Tender Love, Force M.D.'s
96. King For A Day, Thompson Twins
97. Love Will Conquer All, Lionel Richie
98. A Different Corner, George Michael
99. I'll Be Over You, Toto
100. Go Home, Stevie Wonder

As you can see, I was a total 80's child. I liked almost everything. Lionel Richie got pretty overplayed and so did Madonna, though, which accounts for my dislike of them. I also was not swept up in the whole Tom Cruise/Top Gun mania that was so big that year, barf. Like barf out, totally! Fer shure! But I absolutely adored Level 42 and The Outfield-- in fact, I have them on (ahem) cassette and play 'em when I'm driving my car, even now!

Six Random Things Meme

Livia Indica from Magic In These Hills has tagged me to share six random things about myself.

The rules are:

1. Link to the person or persons who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Okay, lets see if I can entertain you...

1. My feet are so small that I could not find women's heels that fit to wear for my high school prom and had to wear children's size dress flats. I still have a terrible time finding shoes that fit, which is why I prefer to wear Birkenstocks-- even though I wear an odd size, they always fit right.
   
2. I pretty much refuse to wear anything black. When I was younger I liked wearing black and white together and I still wear white now, but not black. It's just too... black.
3. Back in the '80's, I offended actor Richard Gere by loudly exclaiming “Oh my god, he’s SO SHORT” in his presence when I first saw him (he gave me a dirty look). He was making a film called "Miles From Home" in and around my home town at the time. Never heard of it? Most people haven't.
   
4. I have dated 3 Davids: one died, the second one mysteriously disappeared (I had nothing to do with either of those occurrences, btw-- just sayin') and the third one I married. (I also dated 2 Joes and 2 Mikes.)
   
5. I said "No' the first three times my husband asked me to marry him. I'm glad he asked one more time!
6. I have a degree in psychology and my all time favorite job was doing research for the Institute for Social & Behavioral Research. I'd love to do more behavioral research, it's fascinating.

In no particular order, I tag:

Nydia at Bringing Up Salamanders (let Lucas help you with this one!)
Sacred Suzie at Suzie's Sacred Space (maybe she can do it when she's back from vacation)
MrsB at Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom (go wish her Get Well Soon)
Peppylady at Peppylady's Almost Prefect World (check out her Skywatch posts-- lovely photos)
Willow at Ramblings of a Witch (and stop by her lovely shop Goldentree Wands, too)

Fun with Shaving

Firehand decided to shave off his full beard at long last, but not before we had a little bit of fun with the process.

Presenting Firehand as a young married Amish man:

Shave a little more, and you have Firehand as Hugh Jackman as the Wolverine:

But wait, there's more! Shave some nice sideburns and you have Firehand as David Tennant (swoon!) as the 10th Dr. Who:

I begged Firehand to keep the 'burns, but to no avail... guess I'll have to continue to sigh over David Tennant...