I Ain't Afraid of No Daleks

1. If you were flying business class, and found yourself seated next to a celebrity, what person would you want that to be?

I'm really not into celebrities, truly. I don't know. If a celebrity sat next to me, I probably wouldn't even notice, unless he or she starts talking to me...even then, might not notice, unless it's someone like one of the Bond or Dr Who actors or Queer Eye guys, or a really famous long-time film star, like Eastwood or Hanks. Musician or band member? Definitely wouldn't notice, probably. Likely not a television actor/actress, either.

2. When was the last time you watched a play? What was the name of the play?

Erm...Spring of 2005. It was that Greek play, Lysistrata.

3. Have you ever worked or volunteered for a theatrical company? If yes, what did you do?

I had my emphasis in theater for my liberal arts/humanities degree at my 2-year college. Acted, directed, ran sound (foley), wrote a couple of short plays.

4. Have you ever been on the radio? When and where?

I crowed like a rooster on-air once, when I was 14, and won a free chicken dinner, and a really nifty little red-white and blue transistor radio.

I also in college, wrote, directed and did sound effects (folely artist) a short radio comedy, and also wrote and recorded (on the radio stations' computer) a news broadcast.

5. Have you ever been on tele? When and where?

Was interviewed (along with other local Doctor Who fan club members) by BBC's Breakfast, in 1987 or 88. Also manned phones in-studio for the local public TV station's pledge drives.

6. Have you ever been interviewed by the media? Have you ever interviewed anyone?

I've been interviewed approximately half a dozen times by reporters, for various reasons. I've done about 10 interviews as a freelance reporter for various feature and news articles, 98% of which were for my 4-yr college's newspaper. The other 2% were for online magazines.

7. Have you ever had something you've written published? Where was it published (do not have to disclose specific names)

Mostly just feature articles (see above). A couple of poems (small regional publications), and an essay (in the local newspaper).

Oh, I guess online I'm self-published, a couple of NY state tourism articles, and my Doctor Who stories (wordpress.com and moviefanficchains.com), and also I've published poetry here on my blog, and my 97 100 word stories for the Accord Hospice fundraiser on my blogspot blog...and my plays are published on a blog...but I keep that a well-hidden secret.

8. Have you ever given a speech? If yes, what was the largest audience you ever had to address? Mostly in college, but also gave a couple of lectures on antique saddles and saddle care to 4-H groups, and a local history lecture at a library, once.

Biggest audience for a speech? Maybe 500 or so? I usually just try to ignore the size of the crowd and just focus on the task at hand, that way I don't get nervous (hopefully).

9. Have you ever participated in an art show? If yes, what type of art did you display?

Just stuff at my elementary (primary) school. The usual stuff that kids do. Never won anything.

10. Have you ever won a beauty pageant, or contest or received a special award? If yes, what was it?

Well, they weren't "beauty" pageants, but I was Miss Colleen in 1979 (won solely by anonymous ballet), and Lady of the Fair in 1997 (top award for best ladies' summer hat design). Won a 50 dollar savings bond for coming up with my village's official motto when I was 13, I won a some awards for my floral designs at the Saratoga County Fair, an academic award for my participation in theater classes, a small scholarship.

"I'm so glad I spend three hours in front of a mirror every morning, practicing this expression--really makes the girls "Sqeeeeee!" when I turn and look at them like this."

I'm a bit knackered, but still have stuff to do. Taking a quick break. Fussing between deciding to take the trolley to the laundromat in Lake George (well...sort of a day out...I could wander down to the shops and people-watch, while my washing spins around)...or just grabbing a cab to the local laundry, and just getting it over with. It's late, 3pm, so it'll likely be the cab, as I've not done the shopping, yet. The trolley can take forever, some days. And, it's 30 minutes (the trolley's are SLOW movers), to the town of Lake George, couple hours there, and then back...that's about 3 to 4 hours...wouldn't get home 'till half-past 7!

So...the plan is to do the shopping first, and then a cab to the laundromat. Oh, big day out ey? yippee-skippee. I need a life--anyone have one that I can borrow?

Erm--one of the most thankless and useless jobs I'd ever seen anyone do, was the sand sweepers at the pyramids. I mean, think about it...sweeping sand off roads and monuments in a windy desert...makes telemarketing seem downright posh, doesn't it?

LOWER MANHATTAN

LONG ISLAND

MID-HUDSON VALLEY (From "Olana" state historic site)

CATSKILL MOUNTAINS

STATE CAPITAL, ALBANY (My birthplace)

MOHAWK VALLEY

SARATOGA SPRINGS

ADIRONDACKS

THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY

THE THOUSAND ISLANDS

THE FINGER LAKES REGION

NIAGARA FALLS

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL MY AMERICAN BLOG FRIENDS.

Well, it's nearly half-past nine in the morning, and I'm still lolling about in my jim-jams...feel downright decadent!

Loads of stuff to do today--whether I'll actually accomplish any of it, remains to be seen. The antibiotics seem to be working, as I feel less tired today than I have all week. I missed work last night, as I was rung up and told that I had to go to the hospital for a special test....next week I reckon my pay check will be about 50 dollars, again. Not good. I reckon if I work 6 hours tomorrow, that will give me about 50 bucks next week, after taxes. Well, at least the rent's paid, and the internet bill, and half the electric bill, roughly. Gives me about 75 dollars left over for food and laundry and medical expenses.

It's the big mid-summer holiday weekend, here. Not that I'll be enjoying it. I'll be running around like a loon today, paying bills, buying food and doing laundry. Damn. I'd rather be at the beach or amusement park, or horseback riding, or playing crazy golf, or whitewater rafting or taking a cruise on the lake...or ANYTHING but boring old chores, trust me on this.

This used to be our traditional weekend for a family picnic night, back when I was growing up. After a day at a state park, the town pool, or at the local beach on the lake just up the road, dad would fire up the charcoal grill....steak for dad, hot dogs and hamburgers for mum and us kids, with tuna-macaroni and potato-egg salad, and fresh corn on the cob, sliced tomatoes (bleh), deviled eggs, Grandma Brown's baked beans and a tossed lettuce salad, as the usual fare, with icy cold slices of watermelon and sometimes cupcakes, for dessert...by the time it got dark, we'd roast marshmallows over the hot charcoal briquettes and then run around the lawn waving our sparklers, amid mum's persistent cautions not to step on any of the smouldering discarded sparkler wires. Later we'd go in and watch the fireworks from New York Harbor on television....or, the alternative to this, was that dad would pack us two girls in the car after our picnic dinner, and take us to a local fireworks display.

Well, no one here but me and the cats, and I just said, "Happy Independence Day" to Bootsie, and he just looked at me and yawned, went back to sleep. Yup, that's about the size of it.

"Donna, I'm so, so sorry. I mean, I'm really, really sorry. Intergalatic radio waves can be a bit tricky, you know. That's why we're getting in George Bush's weekly radio address, instead of the Wimbleton match commentary. I know it was horrible...I'm so ashamed."

"Whoops. I meant to take you to see the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor...but it seems instead, that we've landed on top of a garbage barge headed for New Jersey...sorry."

Gah--I hate being broke AND car-less.

I just found out that BOTH the Doobie Brothers AND Chicago were a mere 15 miles away from me, this evening. The pair of long-time American rock legends played at SPAC (Saratoga Performing Arts Center--and I blinking MISSED IT!

Oh, that really sucks. I love the Doobie Brothers...and my sister and I and the boy next door (whom passed away in the early 90's, sadly) used to spend HOURS next to the stereo, listening to Chicago.

ARRGH!!! I don't get out to concerts much--well, hardly ever...but this is one I really, really am sad to have missed.

Here's some vids of these guys:

DOOBIE BROTHERS

CHICAGO

That truck rally video that I posted earlier (the one about the truckers protesting gas prices)...I never noticed that the very last truck in the shot, right in the last few seconds of video, was from my late dad's company that he worked for, for over 25 years.

I used to ride in these vans!

I still can remember the smell--it was a commercial laundry (hotels and restaurants) and the combination of chemical odor of heavy duty cleaning agents, and the rank odor of soiled aprons, tablecloths, bar/kitchen rags, and dirty sheets--whew...not fun riding in the back of those suckers for a couple of hours--but, I didn't care...anything to get me out and about on a summer's day.

I was just so chuffed to be actually GOING somewhere. I think dad liked that about me. It was a cheap day out...only expense was lunch, and I was happy as a raccoon in a room full of rubbish cans.

I was like one of the Doctor's companions--didn't care where I went, as long as I was just...going somewhere...in a delivery truck. Okay, I was a bit of a simpleton, I genuinely though it was cool riding in a delivery truck.

Do I sound like an idiot to you? I think I'll just shut up, now.

PS: I'm borrowing somebody's laptop...first time in my life I've ever used one..pretty cool.