I Ain't Afraid of No Daleks

Not all that long ago, when I was in my 20's and 30's...and even into, to a lesser extent, my early 40's, I was plauqued by being obsessive-compulsive. Mostly in the way of buying things that grabbed my eye at a particular moment.

It wasn't good: sometimes I could blow through a paycheck frighteningly easy...and going to auctions made that only worse, as auctions became to me, what a gambling addiction is to a gambler. I couldn't go to an auction, without waving my card in the air. This wasn't so bad, when mum and I had our flea market business, as I had to buy things to sell, anyway. But...sometimes...well, that's how I wound up with a mid-19th century percussion musket. What the hell did I need that for? I do love antiques, but I wasn't a gun collector. It was my complusion to buy something that caught my eye.

I suppose it's not as bad as having an alcohol or drug or sex addiction--where you have to go out all the time and get stoned or drunk or desperately needing to sleep with someone--anyone, or whatever. At least my problem wasn't causing me any physical damage..and wasn't something that might potentially endager others.

Well, along about the time I hit my early 40's, I started to gain enough self-awareness that I realized that I had a terrible problem, and that I needed to stop. Well, that's always easier said than done, but, today, I have it about 80 to 85 percent licked.

It didn't happen overnight, mind you. I gradually made a conscious effort to change, to form new thought processes, to learn to put on the brakes.

One thing I did, was to start asking myself--three times--"do I REALLY want this?"

I also ask, "Is this something I really need?"

Sometimes I will pass up something that "catches my eye," and wait. If I still very much want it a week, or two weeks or a month later, then I will think about getting it.

I might say to myself, "If you buy this, you won't have cash to get ____, later in the week."

And, I'm happy to say, after about 6 or 7 years of conditioning myself, and trying to find other outlets (like writing blogs, plays and Who-fic), I'm mostly cured...mostly.

For instance, I would LOVE to go to Tractor Supply Company, and pick out some Christmas stuff (decorations and/or a present for myself) to put on lay-away until December). I'm not going. Well, I MIGHT go Friday or Saturday, but I'm trying to back off and not get too carried away--just because they're having a sale, and they sell "horsey" Christmas stuff, the pull (all my life, I've adored ANYTHING to do with horses) is quite strong to go...but I'm making myself wait. Because I know I have to, if I don't want to be foolish.

But...sometimes I do slip, just a bit. I try so hard not to, but...I'm only human. Today I was a baaaad girl. I went to the consignment shop near the laundromat--merely intending to browse and maybe buy a used paperback book or two, to read...when I spied three evening dresses--I mean, drop dead gorgeous evening gowns. To my disappointment, they said size 18 (I've been taking a 20/22). So I thought, nah, they won't fit. Then, I thought, that they looked rather like large 18's, and that I HAVE lost some weight since becoming ill...so I took the three gowns and whisked off to the dressing room, just for the hell of it. I had 30 minutes to kill, while my wash was going 'round, so I thought, "Oh, why not?" Well...got in there, put the first one on--a glittering midnight blue and black floor-length gown with a jacket (all three gowns were cut exactly the same)--and my jaw dropped. I looked gorgeous! Then I tried the other two--Oh-my-god....wow. Was THAT woman me???

Well, I told myself, you're nuts. When would I ever use a formal evening gown? The blue one was a teensy bit snug in the stomach, there was a black one with reinstones, and that seemed a bit over-the-top...oh, it was still tasteful, but just not really me. So I chose one that was black, with solid black from the waist down to the floor--the dress part having a discreet slit up to the knees. It has a delicate lavender, slightly glittery floral embroidery motif on the top and jacket. I looked wistfully at the price tag, thinking, "well, I can never afford this." I could. It was $12. I hemmed and hawed and bit my lip indecisively for several minutes, with a "You're nuts, you don't need this--where the heck would you ever where it" being muttered under my breath.

Long and the short of it, I'm now the proud owner of an Alex Evening gown, for $12.36 Never heard of Alex Evening, but I looked them up on the net just now, purely out of curiosity, because it didn't look like something that would be found at Walmart. Noordstrum's and Macy's sells them...they start at around $125 and go for over $200 to even $300+, depending on the style. Well, maybe I don't feel quite so guilty and ashamed, now. Well, not as much, anyway. Okay, I still feel stupid, but...I also now have bargain hunters bragging rights.

And, if the RSC and David Tennant, ever bring Hamlet or Love's Labour's Lost to New York City, then by gosh, I will have something to wear, ey?

Okay, I feel rather sheepish though...it's my first actual evening gown, that I've ever owned (I don't count that awful polyester sea-foam green gown mum bought me for my 8th grade graduation from the Ward's bargain room in 1975...bleh, it wasn't my idea)...still, it's going to just sit in my closet now...I never go anywhere! Oh well.

Well, I just spilled dirty cat litter on my last clean pair of jeans...damn. Now I'm stuck wearing dirty jeans...that stinks....the situation I mean, not the jeans...I changed out of the cat litter jeans, into a pair of jeans I'd worn several days ago, that have a slight stain on one leg, but are otherwise reasonably clean.

So, I'm just about to pop off to the laundromat over across the bridge in South Glens Falls.

Oooh, don't I lead an exciting life, ey? And, as a special bit of excitment, I may even nip off across the street, and buy a milkshake or something from the McDonalds. Oooh.

Then, it's home again for a quick change into my office duds, and off to the office for four dreadful hours of trying to sell stuff to a bunch of

Sometimes though, I do get someone nice on the phone, whom is very kind to me, and sometimes even tells me they enjoyed talking to me...and that's always nice to hear, don't you think? Sadly though, that sort of thing is all too rare, and mostly I get these childish whingy redneck males, snarky high-pictched mean, nasty housewives--usually...and oh, don't get me started on Texas women...they excel at snarky-nasty...think of the most annoying high-picthed whiney sound you know...that pretty much describes Texas women. Kentucky women are sometimes like that as well, for some reason.

Gah--my keyboard's driving me bonkers--I hit the key, but sometimes it doesn't type the letter! And, naturelly, I don't always notice, until after I've posted something. My typing as also been a lot more dyslexic lately...but, I have a tendency to think a lot faster than I type, so I don't always pay attention to what I'm doing...back in school, I was almost anal about typing as perfect a copy as possible...now...who the hell cares? It's not like anyone ever in my life, is going to read something I wrote and ask me if I want a job...that would be a bit too much like a Frank Capra film, and unfortunately, I live in the real world.

Anyway, as I said, I'm off. I don't want to go. I feel horrid, my throat burns and my chest feels funky, but..no hope for it. Gosh, who'd ever think I'm miss some things that I totally took for granted for a couple of decades, like a washing machine, or a car? I realize how much of a luxuray they really were now--oh, not the first time I've had to do without a car...though the first time I've had to do without one when I couldn't walk well, or was ill for a while.

It's nearly half past one, and I have to be to work before five, so I'd better get the hell out of here--still waiting on a cab, lol. Have a good day, all.

I didn't have a clue what to make myself for Thanksgiving this year. This is the first year since 2004, when I actually have funds to buy a proper nice TG meal for myself--not lots of funds, but, enough. I wanted to do $10 or less for the dinner.

At first, I thought perhaps something totally different, than I'd ever had before (usually, it's turkey or some other form of poultry--cornish hen, pheasant, etc.) One year we had ham instead of turkey, and other year a pork loin roast. Some years we simply had dinner out at a Thanksgiving buffet...or Denny's, ha-ha, just like Tim Allen in The Santa Clause.

I thought about homemade chicken parmagain from scratch...but, meh. It's my day off, so I decided....trout.

Now, fresh fish is eye-poppingly, jaw-dropping, blinking expensive, where I happen to live. No lie. And also, my family rarely ate fish (except for the fish and chips from Ted's fish fry, and frozen fish sticks, and filet o' fish from McDonalds). So, if I have fresh fish once a year--that's a lot for me, actually.

But, I do happen to like swordfish and trout. So, swordfish is ridiculously high, but..trout is smaller and therefore less expensive--one medium size trout should run me about 6 or 7 dollars--maybe a bit less if I can find it on sale somewhere, as opposed to 9 or 10 dollars for a decent sized swordfish steak, so...

...for Thanksgiving this year, I decided to have brook or rainbow trout--smoked or fresh, and buy a package of frozen petite peas, and a box of rice--either Near East rice pilaf or Uncle Ben's long grain and wild rice--to go with it...and, if I have lettuce, maybe a salad and some warm dinner rolls, if I really feel like splurging. Oh, and the traditional pumpkin pie, let's not forget the pie.

. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

I used to go all out with the wrapping paper in ribboons--I was a sucker for the charm of the sight of nicely wrapped packages under the tree.

2. REAL OR FAKE TREE?

Well, certainly I've done both. Last year I won a white and blue four foot tall fake tree.

3. When do you put up the tree?

Whenever. It's just me here, so, one year I might do it the first weekend of December, and another year a few days before Christmas. Just depends on how I'm feeling (emotionally and/or physically), I suppose.

4. When do you take the tree down?

I go with family tradition here, and take it down the day (or two) after New Year's.

5. Do you like eggnog?

Not usually--it's a bit rich for my tastes...mostly because of the nutmeg, which for some reason sometimes upsets my stomach. I do sometimes drink "light" eggnog, though, which is, as its name suggests, much lighter in flavour. Mum used to adore it though, and was quite excited to see it in the grocery store every December.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

Ah. Hard to say, there were several that vie for fond memories. I suppose it was Mark's Fort Apache, I just about loved that to bits, took it everywhere I went...and when one of the kids on my street (or possilby my klepto sister--wish I was kidding) stole the first one, mum, bless her, bought me another. Probably my favourite toy of all time, the one I most played with

7. Do you have a nativity scene?

I used to have an antique ceramic nativity scene, complete with stable, but someone stole my family Christmas boxes, that I'd left outside next to my front steps overnight, while moving from my caravan in 2006.

8. Hardest person to buy for?

These days, my sister doesn't celebrate Christmas, which is thankful, because she has poor manners--if she doesn't like what you got her, she lets you know, but mostly she just plain never liked Christmas and getting presents, even as a child she was a bit of a sourpuss during the holidays.

9. Easiest person to buy for?

Acutally, the only family member I have left to buy prezzies for, is my nephew. He pretty much likes what I get him, tho' he's a tad harder to buy for and to please, in his late teens, than when he was a child.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

One year my sister gave me some really horrid ugly pierced earrings that my newphew had made...they were poo brown polsihed stones....only, problem: I didn't have pierced ears. It was nice getting something my newphew had made, don't get me wrong, I'd never be so churlish to down somehing like that, but...geez.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards?

E-mail cards? How cheap are you?

If you truly care about someone, especially at Christmas, you MAKE the time to physically buy some cards and write them, and mail them, a bloomin' card! Cripes, who's that cheap and chav? Especially now that you can get a box of cards at some shops, for as little as a dollar or two, if you're hard up for cash.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

The Christmas Story. A film every middle class American over 40 can relate to.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

These days? I don't. That said, if I want to buy myself some decorations--or buy myself a gift, and put it/them on layaway, usually mid-Novemeber. When I still had family (mum and dad to be exact) to buy for, I might start a bit earlier than that, say late October or early November.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

No, never had. That would be just...tacky. I have sold some at garage sales though...does that count?

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Hmmm--nothing. I've never had anything "special" at Christmas, per se. Thanksgiving and New Years were usually reserved for "special" treats, food-wise. Family tradition was to go out to a diner on Christmas eve to eat--I always liked that...usually ordered the hot turkey sandwich dnner, or a burger and a coke, depending on my mood.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?

It depends on my "theme"--and what type of tree I have. Right now, it's a white and blue fake tree, with white and blue lights. Some years I go all clear lights, some years red and green, or all blue lights, or all green or all white, and briefly, for a couple of years, I had white and silver metal snowflake shaped lights.

17. Favorite Christmas song?

I used to adore Christmas carols, there was something so...delicious, and special, about them...especially when you are singing with--and for--other people. But, these days? Meh. Not to browbeat the point, but Christmas is a holiday for togetherness, and Christmas alone? Really? Just another day...you try to make it special, but really, Christmas alone---let's not sugarcoat it here, it just plain sucks. End of discussion. Moving on....

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

I've gone to Vermont on Christmas a few times when my parents were still living, to my sisters--and in fact, our very last Christmas as a family--the four of us and my nephew--was at my sister's caravan in the woods, in 2002. These days...obviously without a car and cash, and nowhere to go (sis has never invited me to Christmas since mum died), I just stay right here, where I'm sitting now.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Coment and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen...and do you recall, that most famous reindeer of all? Rudolf? (what a stupid name for a deer).

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

Always an angel, in my family.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

As a child and early teens, Christmas morning...but then in my late teens, I forget why, we began opening presents after Christmas eve service--after midnight mass when I was still Catholic, and then around 9 or 10pm in the evening, as an adult, and after I became Presbyterian, and we'd (meaning, post-divorce, mum and I) go to the 7pm candle service and had a light meal at the diner, after, we'd go home, listen to some carols and talk, have some dessert or coffee, and then open all but one of our present--the one being opened on Christmas morning. Now, I buy my own presents--if I buy myself any at all, so this quesion doesn't count, cos there's not much point in wrapping something you've bought yourself, is there?

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?

I get somewhat annoyed when I see the half-hearted, unenthusiastic bell ringers. I used to ring that bell for all it was worth, smile and say, "merry christmas!" when I saw people coming--I mean, it's to help the poor and the homeless, ey? To give them food, shelter and clothing, and poor kids toys, as well. But, so many times I've stood outside the shops, and seen some schumuck standing there bored, lazily ringing the bell non-stop, in a totally annoying fashion (I only rang my bell when there were people actually right in my vincinity--otherwise it becomes just pointless noise pollution, doesn't it?) Oh, don't get me started. Oh, and I get annoyed with people who vomit Christmas decorations all over the place--but are ill-mannered to people and buy presents just to buy presents, and not because it's actually the birth of Christ and a time of peace and love....not that I believe in that crap any longer. There is no peace and love...there's just...life.

23. What I love most about Christmas?

No contest: giving...and sharing the season with someone--whether it's looking at the christmas lights on the houses/streets, or singing carols, or christmas shopping..it was nice.

24. Strangest Christmas occurance?

One year, on Christmas eve, when I was around 14 years old, we came out of midnight mass during a raging snowstorm--I mean, raging--there was about 6 inches of snow already on the ground and it was snowing to beat the band...we came out of church--and there was this bright blue flash in the clouds in the sky, followed by a resounding thunderclap---a thunderstorm in the snow, at midnight on Christmas eve--how strange was that?

25. Ever have a Charlie Brown (ugly/puny) tree, or someone who got coal in their stocking?

Both. I had a "chrlie brown" tree Christmas of 2006...it was a 3 inch high, really lame little fake tree, I got at the one-dollar store. When I was about 18 or 19 years old, one year I cut my own tree--a spruce, from out in the woods near my house...well, it was HALF a tree, 'cos I just didn't have the heart to kill a whole tree---it was kind of sad looking, that tree, and mum never let me live it down.

Oh, and my mum used to talk about her cousin (who grew up with her) once did something really bad, and wound up with reindeer poo (dog poo) in his stocking.

Rough night, but got through it okay...only I've woken with a slight fever this morning. At least I'm breathing better, and my cough isn't quite making me sound like a whooping crane like it did last night. I've had all of 6 hours sleep, and hope I'll be able to take a nap before going into work tonight. Gah--I have the WORST taste in my mouth though, this morning...a combination of salty-metalic...and naturally, I'm clean out of both mouthwash and toothpaste, not a breath mint for miles around. Typical.

Well, we wake to a different America this morning--not necesarily a smarter one..but...different. The changes that made me wince in 1980, cry in 1990, and made me want to make a mad dash for the Canadian border in 2002, have now gone...possibly forever, or at least, for the next 20 or 30 years...that is, if the dems don't screw things up even worse than the republicans have...don't think that's possible though...no one can screw things up as bad as the republicans have. However, I don't thing the changes will be as sweeping as many hope they will be, as Obama has a history of leaning towards the right quite a bit, on issues such as terrorism and the right to bear arms (weapons, not sleeveless shirts). Guess we'll see. But, the democrats have pretty much won Washington, at least as far as fund raising and lobbying goes. Laws, legislation, public funding and regulations? Meh, not so much, realistically.

So, David Tennant leaves Who, and Obama wins the presidency...one loss and one gain. Been a bit of a ying-yang week, hasn't it?

A gloomy, foggy start to the day here, but the sun's trying to come out. My tree out front has finally started to look less sickly, and now is almost pure golden, with a tinge of brown here and there.

Well, I've GOT to do laundry today, as I'm down to my last clean pants (on both counts).

Man, I miss having a life. Outside of reading of Obama's victory last night, the most exciting thing that's happened to me in the past week, was that I found out that Tractor Supply Company is having a good sale on their country/cowboy Christmas decorations.

They've got 3 month layaway (they put the stuff you want to buy in a back room, while one makes payments on it, up to three months--bought some clothing that way), whoo-hoo, I can afford to decorate more this year--okay, I know I just became an atheist, but...it's hard sitting here alone on Christmas eve, looking at other people's trees and lights and stuff.

A family around the corner from me, has just decorated for Christmas--not just the outside lights turned on, but their tree is up and the stockings are hanging over the fireplace. Okay, I find that a bit too much. I mean, Christmas is a wonderful holiday, but, after nearly two months of staring at the stuff, don't you sort of lose the glow...and the point? I once had a redneck neighbour that used to vomit Christmas (trust me, nothing in her "collection" matched, it was UGLY, let me tell you) all over her front porch every 1st November--you couldn't move for all the decorations--and the day after Christmas (we yanks don't do a "boxing day") All of it would disappear, like she was sick of looking at it. Go figure.

Mum would never allow me to put the decorations up too early, she hated that. Mum believed that Christmas should be Christmas...not Halloween and Thanksgiving and Christmas. I could decorate however I wanted--live tree or fake tree, wreath or no wreath, etc, providing the decorations could only go up one to two weeks before, and stay up until the day after New Year's. She was a bit of a Christmas conservative, my mum.

Well, I have to go sort laundry--this is one day when I wish the Tardis would take me away.

Read this very excellent analysis:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/15300

Fifty-seven percent of voters in Arkansas supported a measure to prohibit unmarried sexual partners from adopting children or from serving as foster parents. The measure specifies that the prohibition applies to both opposite-sex as well as same-sex couples.

Arizona has just voted to ban same-sex marriages, reversing an earlier law that came into place just a few years ago, which allowed it.

California may swing either way on the same issue, and Florida has yet to tally in on how voters reacted to a law there, to ban same sex marriages.

Results are still pending for California's Proposition 4, which requires physicians to provide parental notification to guardians of minors at least 48 hours before performing an abortion

ON THE PLUS SIDE THOUGH...

Californians could face jail time if voters approve Proposition 2, which outlaws the confinement of pregnant pigs, calves raised for veal, and egg-laying hens "in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely."

Voters in Michigan also chose to amend the state constitution to permit human embryonic stem cell research with certain restrictions. The embryos, which must have been created for fertility treatment purposes, would have to have been discarded otherwise, and they may not be used more than 14 days after cell division has begun.

South Dakota rejected a proposal to prohibit abortions except in cases of rape or incest or where the mother's life or health is at risk. A similar measure that did not include exceptions for rape or the health of the mother was on the ballot in 2006, but voters rejected it 44 to 56 percen

Nebraska voters approved a measure to prohibit state governments from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to people based on race, ethnicity, color, sex or national origin. Results on a similar measure in Colorado have not been announced.

I've known the horror of having to take a terrified, fatially injured, crying/screaming in pain and suffering pet, on it's final ride to the vets, after it had been hit by a car. I've known the pain of letting a pet outside...and never seeing it again. I've known the horror of having a pet come home--after days of being lost, with a broken leg. I've learned my lesson the hard way, over the decades.

Learn your lesson the easy way: Read this, and then keep your pet indoors--if you love it, don't let it die horribly, for no other reason than you were too lazy to change a cat's litter box, or walk your dog on a leash.

http://home.hiwaay.net/~keiper/indoors.htm

Barack Obama is to be the United State's first black president! Welcome America, to the civilized world, and to the 21st century! And...Palin, get the hell back to your cave where you belong...and Bush, don't let the door slam you on the way out, ey?

I'm still up...I should be in bed, I feel like absolute rubbish, my damn chest hurts so...still wheezing like a malfunctioning Tardis.

So, I did a meme, watched the old TV show from my early teens, "Emergency!" again online on NBC's vintage TV website-God, Randolf Mantooh was CUTE! David Tennant be damned, give me tall, dark and handsome any day--and you should see this guy climb a tree--without a rope! (the show used real firemen, and the often the lead actors did their own stunts, mostly). Bet Tennant couldn't do that!

And...I've been writing. You know, I hardly ever make notes---I hate this drivel that my English professors pushed on me, about brainstorming and copious note-taking---rubbish! I write best in the wee hours of the morning, totally off-the-cuff. The ONLY time I take notes, is if I'm lying in bed, or sitting around somewhere, and I get this scathingly brilliant idea, and I don't want to lose the thread. And, when I don't have a word processor handy, of course, I have to make written notes--but writing is so painful, and my handwriting so rubbish that it physically hurts to hold a pen for too long ('cos of the DCD and and the slight tinge of arthritis I get sometimes in my hands--(the price I paid for being so butch and "outdoorsy" and (also working at riding stables on and off over the years) in the rain, wind and cold.)

Gosh yeah, that was the worst part of going to college sometimes, having to spend as much as two hours, doing nothing but taking reams of handwritten notes. My hand would positively ache like the devil, by the end of day! I used to HATE timed "brainstorming" in my English classes--that's were the professor MAKES you write whatever the hell comes out of your head, utterly non-stop, for 10 or 15 minutes...in the end, my page would looks something like this...."boring, boring, blah, blah, blah, boring, bullsh_t, boring, I hate this, boring, boring, boring, this sucks...boring, blah, blah, blah...." well, you get the picture. Thank heavens we never had to turn in our notes! My precious A- and B+ grades that I laboured so long and hard for, would have suffered horribly, methinks. (unlike my 2 year school, the profs at my 4-year college really hated actually giving me an "A")

Well, gonna' check on the election results, then hit the sack. Have a good morning all!

so, got tagged..again...it's fairly short, so I thought, "what the hey, I'll do it."

It's a celebrity meme. I'm not usually very keen on celebrity memes--mainly because I really don't follow celbrities all that much, and honestly don't know who's who or who's doing what, or wearing what or... whatever the heck it is that celebrities do.

A. If you could spend 24 hours with a celebrity:

1. Who would he/she be?

You know, I haven't a clue. Of course, I'm tempted to say David Tennant, but I don't think we'd have all that much to talk about, think he'd get bored with me fairly quickly...I mean, what on earth do we possibly have in common?

Catherine Tate would be charming, I think...she loves her cat, and, she's closer to my age (tho' still younger) and seems a bit more mature than Tennant, and, I bet she doesn't fart as much as I've heard he does... so we MIGHT have more to talk about...and, of course, I think we both enjoy a good laugh...but also, I lean towards Russell T. Davies, 'cos he looks like a fun guy to hang with, and he's a writer (although, I reckon comparing him to me, as far writing goes is very probably like comparing Einstein to Mr. Ed the talking horse, ha-ha). Although, like Tennant, our lifestyles and life experiences would be vastly different of course, but, like Tate, he's again, a bit closer to my age, so maybe we could find some common ground enough to enjoy ourselves. Well, this whole paragraph is totally silly, isn't it? Like I'm really actually ever going to meet any of these people--gah, you can take these meme's too seriously, sometimes, can't you?

2. Where would you expect him/her to bring you? Okay, I have no idea. I've never been to the UK. Coffee shop? Dr Who exhibit? The zoo? Show me where the loo is?

3. Where would you bring him/her? Over here? Aw, that's easy. We'd take a scenic ride (providing I had a car, and he or she liked scenic rides), stop for coffee or a bite to eat somewhere that's quaint and cosy--then I'd find out what he or she is interested in (we have just about everything here, between the resorts around Lake George (like Blackpool with millions of trees around it), and the posh resort city of Saratoga Springs, and all the other stuff around, shouldn't be too hard to entertain a celebrity.

4. What would you like to do with him/her? Anything (within reason) that would make my guest happy--I've never had guests at all these last few years, so it'd be as much a treat for me, as for him or her.

5. What’s the one thing you’d been always wanting to ask the celebrity?

"Do you fart in public?"

Seriously, for someone who's studied journalism, I suck at thinking of good questions to ask...I do better on spur of the moment, go with the flow, that sort of thing.

6. If s/he didn’t treat you well, would he/she be your favorite celebrity?

Hell no, I eat rude people for breakfast--and mighty tasty they are, too.

Seriously though? I don't know. If I felt he or she had a good reason to be rotten to me-- because of illness or bad news or something, I'd probably cool off and calm down later, and forgive him or her. On the other hand, if he or she was just being a complete pain in the ol' arse...yeah, I'd think a lot less of him or her, sure.

7. What would you give to him/her as a gift before saying goodbye so he'd/she'd remember you?

I have no idea, other than it definitely would be something I took the time to pick out something personal, hopefully something he or she would enjoy looking at or having. Again, I find this part of the meme a bit surreal, in that I'm answering them like they were serious questions.

B. Favourite quote:

1. from a film?

"I can change you from a rooster to a hen in one shot!" Dolly Parton, 9 to 5.

(Acually, that's just the first quote that popped into my head, I've no idea why, mind you.)

2. from a television show?

"I'm a Time Lord, I point and laugh at archeologists." (GREAT line!)

3. from a song?

"Come and stand beside us, we can find a better way." John Denver, Rhymes and Reasons

4. from a book?

"Not the sun nor the summer alone, but every hour and season yields it's tribute to delight." ---Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essay titled "Nature."

5. from a celebrity?

I really haven't a clue. Other than watching some David Tennant interviews in regards to his leaving, on You Tube, I've not read ANYTHING about celebrities in ages. But--oh wait, I know, I remember reading this in the Times article, about RTD's new book, The Writer's Tale, and it made me giggle--'cos I could seriously relate to that. I think this is, or is pretty close to, the actual quote in the paper, but I'm sure RTD will forgive me if I happened to get it wrong:

"When I read about other writer's fury, or alcoholism, or whatever, I actually think, blimey, I'm so vanilla..."

If Obama's won Ohio, than traditionally, that's it. He's won---since I was four years old, every candidate that has won Ohio, has been president.

Yeeee-haw!!! Whoo=hoo! Break out the champagne boys--I've got some nasty old new-cons' need hosing down!

Key win for Obama | 10:11 p.m.
Obama wins the battleground state of Ohio and its 20 electoral votes (AP). Heading into the election, Obama led McCain by 7 points. Ohio was considered a must-win state for McCain. However, the Obama campaign flooded the state with volunteers in March, specifically rural and suburban regions. Obama had 82 offices in Ohio, more than double the number McCain had. Ohio has voted for the winning presidential candidate in every election since 1964. Obama has also won Iowa's 7 electoral votes. According to CNN, Obama has a considerable lead in electoral votes: 206 to McCain's 89.

NBC and Fox are also projecting Obama will win New Mexico's 5 electoral votes. Historically, the state has had close races: In 2004, George W. Bush beat John Kerry by fewer than 6,000 votes. In 2000, Al Gore squeaked by Bush with less than 400 votes. Gov. Bill Richardson was a rumored vice-presidential candidate earlier this year and is expected to be a front-runner for a Cabinet position, should Obama win the election.

Go liberals! Hoo-ray for us!!!

So, I'm sitting here, in my at the present moment, very untidy little apartment--okay, let's be honest here, it looks like the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. An important paper went missing this morning, that I absolutely needed, so I basically tore apart my bedroom looking for it--and, while I was away voting...more on that in a minute, one of my cats had a right old field day with two of my four bookshelves in here...and ripped up some more papers...this time not my favourite book though, but just some old papers that I was using as scrap paper to jot down story ideas on--that I've already stored on a blog, so no harm, no foul there, thankfully...but oi, what a mess they made.

You know, I adore my three cats, but sometimes....as Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) used to shout in that exasperated way of his, at his wife, in the old 50's TV series The Honeymooners, "Bang-zoom! To the moon, Alice!" Ah yes, the joys of pet ownership. But then, you know, I come home and they are always, always, delighted to see me--well, if they're awake that is--, and very sad and upset when I leave, too. They lay in my lap and purr in contentment, stay by me when I'm ill and play with me, as well---tonight Flame discovered a cardboard box I'd put out in the kitchen, to take out to the dumpster (skip) in the back car park, and she was using it to play the feline equivilent of hide and seek with me...and if a cat could giggle with sheer joy, she certainly would have...so how can you stay mad at something that loves you that much, and gets so much happiness in just having you around them? (To the non-pet owner, let me put it this way: If you love them, they will love you back...unconditionally and forever...no matter how often you get mad at them when they do something wrong, or push them aside when they demand your attention--sometimes at the most inopportune moments, or even if you accidentally step on their paw or tail and hurt them...they WILL forgive you.)

Anyway, I walked the long walk to the high school, about 20 or 25 minutes. Voted..not much of a line--had a hell of a time finding the polling place though. They've got all these big signs near the entrance of the school--and then....nothing. Not a blessed thing. Anyone walking to the polling place, or not parking close to the entrance, who'd never voted there before, was pretty much left guessing...and, in fact, I had a baffled looking young woman approach me as I waited for a cab outide and ask me where the voting was supposed to be.

Ouside of the signs by the school entrance, there weren't ANY signs with arrows in the drive or on the grounds, pointing to what direction the polling place was. You just sort of had to wander around and guess--unless you could find someone to ask, that is.

Turns out, the entrance was through a gap in an iron fence and into a rather obscure--and totally unmarked---side door to the gym. Well, there were signs yes, three tiny little itty-bitty white signs, attatched to the fence saying "POLLING PLACE 100 FEET." (No campaigning is allow within 100 feet of a polling place, by law)...two of which were not even visible, because some git parked his or her car in front of them--and none of the signs were readable (it was nearly dark by then) until you were within 10 feet of them! Way to go, Glens Falls. Arseholes. No signs with arrows in the drive, pointing to what direction the polling place was. (Well, this county and city is run by die-hard party-line conservative republicans, what do you expect?)

Any road, I voted. Obama/Biden for the big one...decided to swing my vote after all for Mrs. White for mayor, tho' being a woman AND a democrat, I think that's a wasted vote in this jerkwater city. I didn't bother to vote for county legislator or state senator--there was no competition for those seats, and I don't care for either of the people in office, so that would have been another wasted vote.

I voted for the library trustee...didn't know him but what the heck, I don't think there's ever been a library trustee who is truly good for much--it's really (and I speak from years and years of experience here, having lived in a small town and having had a mum who was in fact, not only a librarian, but the library director, so I've had years of getting an earful about..and personally knowing...library trustees..and sitting on more than a few school board budget meetings listening to mum trying to convince people about what needed funding the most...and largely being ignored)..anyway, being a library trustee is pretty much solely about bragging rights and egos, sadly enough, and not so much about doing what's best for the library. In my experience, trustees SELDOM listen to or consult the librarians and patrons. So, doesn't matter who's up for trustee, he or she is very likely gonna' be an egotiscal empty-headed git, no matter which way you slice it.

Of course, In memory of, and in honour of, my mother, June, who absolutely loved her job and adored books and libraries--and passed that love on to me (thanks mum), I voted "Yes" to the library budget. I'd like to think that would have pleased her, if she could have known.

It was a tradition in our family, to eat out on election night, after voting. Usually at the local diner, or McDonald's, KFC, Ted's Fish Fry or the pizza parlor. So, after voting, I took a cab downtown to Burger King (I had some BK coupons), and treated myself to a cheap Whopper Jr. meal, followed by a small coffee and a little slice of Hersey's chocolate-cream sundae pie, for dessert. Best 5 dollars I ever spent...yummy! Mostly the pie and coffee, I mean. The Whopper Jr. was...meh.

I intended to walk (or rather limp, by then) to the bus stop on Ridge Street, downtown, a short walk from BK. I waited about 10 minutes and a bus showed up...only, it wasn't going in my direction. I checked the schedule, and it was going to be about a 45 minute wait for a bus north! I HATE Glens Falls buses! The SUCK SUCK SUCK! I mean, what kind of transport system refuses to run buses on Sundays??? All the shops are open on Sundays...how's making it impossible to shop or do laundry or go out to eat somewhere on that day, helping the economy? Basically, it's not. I'm told they've used the same scheduling for the last 20 years--and have no plans to ever change it. Of course not, that would take BRAINS and INITATIVE--and I don't think the jobsworths that run the bus company ever even heard of that word. (Would YOU, if you were on a tight budget, pay 10 to 12 dollars for round trip cab fare 1 to 3 miles, just to shop or go out to eat?)

Anyway, I wound up having to walk home--and now I'm contemplating a trip to the ER, 'cos my chest didn't take well to all that walking in the damp November air, and I'm wheezing like the Tardis...and, when I cough--more like a nasty whoop now, I can hardly catch my breath. Damn.

I'm going to lie down in a half-hour, see if I feel better. If not, then later tonight I'll grab a cab to the ER...but only if I feel I might need some 02. I'm not going to the ER just for a cough, no matter how bad it is...my medical bills are high enough, thanks. Just got a new one today---127 dollars for a blood test, not covered by my medicare insurance. Oh joy, oh rapture, oh s_it.

Well, this isn't a very interesting post is it? Sorry. But, I am dull, so what else is new?

(Written when I was 47, by the way--a reprint from another website I used to use, 'cos I'm too tired and sore to think of anything interesting to write tonight. Cheers.)

W ell, I don't generally go 'round advertising this, ya' know.

Especially not in this day and age, ey? I mean, a 46 year old virgin--who's not a nun? Actually, I used to be Catholic--even worked in a convent for two years (shudders)--that was...an experience.

Being Catholic wasn't my idea, mind. It was my dad's--who wasn't even a devout Catholic--but to whom image was everything. He refused to let mum go to church with us on Sundays, as she was Lutheran and he was ashamed of that, for some reason. But then, that was normal for dad--if anyone didn't fit his idea of "image," even his own family members, that person was either dismissed from his presence or verbally put down. So, mum was excluded from church--mostly because she was protestant, but also, I think, 'cause she was fat. She didn't used to be, but being around dad was a bit of a bummer, so mum put on more and more weight as time went on. And dad hated fat people, as well. Blacks, fat people, foreigners, poor people---and educated people intimidated him (including me, after I went to college .) He loved rich people, though--virtually worshiped the ground rich people walked on. Dad may have been catholic, but money was his God--tho' truth to tell, he was never able to get himself out of the lower middle class (ie: blue collar/ chav) though, sadly for him.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, I positively hated being Catholic--not meaning to offend any Catholics out there, I do really have a lot of respect for the religion, but it just didn't suit me, personally--what I believe and how I prefer to worship and such--well, that and being traumatized at the tender age of 12, by a priest almost literally foaming at the mouth at me in confessional, for not remembering how to say confession properly. Kind of killed the brotherly love aspect for me. So no, I was NEVER a nun!

But I am a virgin yes. There's several reasons for that, a dark reason that I cannot discuss here and also a couple of lesser reasons.

I've never been kissed on the lips--not sure how I'd take that, now, in my "old age." I've not dated in over 10 years...and I've never dated the same guy more than a handful of times. Without exception, in the end, all my dates ever wanted from me, was either sex, or to use me to show off to his ex. I've dated guys that have told me outright, that they had other girlfrieds--really tacky, guys, to say to a gal on a date. Before you make the date, maybe--but on the date itself? Yeah, that went over well. I remember one guy virtually bragging to me--on my date--how many girlfriends he had, and how many times he was shagging them every week. So...dating. Forget it. Not worth it. Had a guy tell me--again, on the first date--that he couldn't "get serious" with me, if I didn't convert to his born-again Christian religion.
Okay, then. Check please!

oh and the last guy, I met online through an historical hobby message board. We'd be writing each other for months, and he said he was coming to my area. Asked if we could meet over coffee . Sure, why not--public place what could happen? Yeah. Well, seems he also wanted me to show him some of the historic sites--couldn't find how to get to Fort Ticonderoga. So, okay. We meet in the local diner in my town. Now, he wrote me that he was 55--I was 35 at the time, and I may be an old maid--but I'm an open-minded one, and don't care about age differences--up to a point, anyway. Well...Mr X exceeded that point---turns out, he was exactly my mum's age! She was, I think, 70 at the time. Yeah--I may have dyscalculia (math disability)...but even I know... 55 and 70--they don't add up. But he seemed genuine--said he didn't think I'd want to see him or write to him, if I thought he was that old--didn't buy that 100 percent...but I was willing to give him some leeway. Bad move. So, we drove out to Fort Ti---it was a hot day, did he offer to buy me a cold drink? No. In fact, he never even offered to pay for my coffee...I don't mind Dutch treat at all--I've paid my own tab more times than not, but an offer would have been the gentlemanly thing to do...at least, that's my thinking. Okay, so we get to ticonderoga--but not without him going on about what "a nice motel room" he had. (Hint-hint, wink and a nudge)...oh yeah, that was subtle.

Well, we got to Fort Ticonderoga--and he was all miffed at me, because I didn't have any admission price for the fort tour on me--well, I hadn't planned on going to the blinkin' historic site, had I? I'd just gone out with coffee money, and pocket change for a phone call, if need be. (I've been naive--but not totally daft.) I mean, you could still walk the grounds for free--you just couldn't go inside, or go on the guided tour with the costumed guide, that's all. But, he got all put out and drove me home---via the town where he was staying--which was about 20 miles south of where I lived--and we were 40 miles or so to the north, of my town, at the historic site. So, bit of a detour then--and I was NOT amused!

He insisted I go inside to "see" (wink-nudge, know-what-I-mean) his room. I poked my head in---yeah, it's a room, thanks for the tour, bye. I wound up bumming a ride home from a neighbour who worked at a restaurant near the old fart's hotel. The old fart started calling my home and bugging my mum all night--so I threated to tell his wife about us---oh, didn't mention that did I? He'd also written me that he was divorced. He wasn't. Yeah---Like a nun, I made a vow that night---NEVER AGAIN. And, like a nun, I've kept my vows...I have not, and never ever will, date a guy ever again. No. And if I was a lesbian--I wouldn't date a girl, either!

So, I'm alone.

Actually, those are the lighter reasons. The other two reasons are much more complicated and a lot tougher to talk about. And I've never really done that, in my life, and may never be able to--don't know.

But, I don't relate really, to love stories. I've never been in love--and no guy has ever loved me. And I doubt very much any guy ever will. No guy has ever wanted me--for just...me. I wish that weren't true, but it is, and it's always going to be that way. No avoiding the truth...I'm just not a very lovable person, I guess. I mean, what guy wants to date a woman who can't have sex? No guys that I know of--'least not in America.

...as of 7:25 PM Eastern Standard Time, USA:

(Note: this is NOT the "popular" vote, but the "electoral" votes, which each candidate needs to gain election. A candidate can win the popular vote, but, as with the Bush election in the past, a presidental candidate can lose the election, if he (or she) doesn't have enough electoral votes--in which case, the votes needed to win (for each candidate) are a total of 270.

The winner of the popular vote in each state wins the electoral votes in that state. (With the exception of Nebraska) There are 538 electoral votes up for grabs; the guy who gets 270 or more wins.

So far (drum roll please)....Obama has only 3 electoral votes, and McCain has 8.

Oh, that's not good for us liberals and socialists, ey?

The white American male is, unhappily, for the most part, not the most mature and logical human being on the planet. Actually, from speaking to them, day after day, I can say that many white American males are impatient, whingy, and and reaaallly don't like to think to hard about cultural or social stuff. They don't like to ask questions...hell, they don't even like to use a telephone, many of them (including my late father). And let's face it: most men, deep down, (sorry to my male blog pals) think with that thing in their pants. They see Sarah Palin with a gun and, wow! A nice looking broad that likes hockey and guns, a former beauty queen that kills moose, and is a beer drinking biker chick...wants to nuke Russia and Iran, no questions asked, hates gays and thinks women (except her of course) should be barefoot and pregnant...and she's rich too....what conservative, thinks-with-his-thing, male wouldn't find that appealling?

Anyway, early days yet. Obama won Vermont (who cares?) And McCain won Kentucky (who REALLY cares?) Two redneck states down, 48 more to go....