The Amazingly Talented and Sweet Anne Marie!

Imagine my surprise to find an early birthday gift waiting for me when I arrived home.

And imagine how surprised I was to find it was from Anne Marie.

And really imagine how surprised I was to find it was one of her handmade knit scarves.

Thanks so much, AM; it's gorgeous, and warm and snuggly. I wrapped it around my neck and wore it out while we were running around Smallville today!

So, so sweet, and so appreciated.

xoxoxo

Get It ... or Don't?

Anne Marie stole this from Cookie and so I stole it from her ... "Ten Things I Just Don't Get":

Gay Republicans.

Christians for _____.

The Real Housewives of Auckland. Yes, it’s real.

John Lithgow.

Racism.

Justin Bieber’s appeal.

Comb-overs.

Wal-Mart.

The ‘soul patch’

Apolitical people.

Now you try ....

Bucket List

I stole this from Anne Marie who stole it from Travel Penguin:

It’s a Bucket List ... and if you wanna play along, copy and paste my list, and then place an x by all the things you've done and remove the x from the ones you haven’t done so let’s rip …

 (X) Shot a gun 

(X) Gone on a blind date 
(X) Skipped school 
(X) Watched someone die 
(X) Visited Canada 

(X) Visited Hawaii 
() Visited Cuba 
(X) Visited Europe 
() Visited South America 
(X) Visited Las Vegas 
 
() Visited Central America 
() Visited Asia 
() Visited Africa 
(X) Visited Florida 
(X) Visited Mexico 
 
(X) Seen the Grand Canyon in person 
(X) Flown in a plane 
(X) Served on a jury 
(X) Been lost 
(X)Traveled to the opposite side of the country 
 
(X) Visited Washington, DC 
(X) Swam in the Ocean 
(X) Cried yourself to sleep 
() Played cops and robbers 
() Played cowboys and Indians 
 
() Recently colored with crayons 
(X) Sang karaoke 
() Sang a solo or duet in church 
(X) Paid for a meal with coins only 
(X) Made prank phone calls 
 
(X) Laughed until some beverage came out your nose 
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
() Had children 
(X) Had a pet 
(X) Been skinny-dipping 
 
(X) Been fishing 
(X) Been boating 
(X) Been downhill skiing 
(X) Been water skiing 
(X) Been camping in a trailer/RV 
 
(X) Been camping in a tent 
() Driven a motorcycle 
() Been bungee-jumping (ripcord jumping) 
() Been sky diving 
(X) Gone to a drive-in movie 
 
(X) Done something that could have killed you
() Done something that you will regret for the rest of your life 
() Rode an elephant 
() Rode a camel 
() Eaten just cookies or cake or ice cream for dinner
 
(X) Been on TV 
() Stolen any traffic signs 
(X) Been in a car accident 
() Been in the hospital in the past 24 months
() Donated blood 
 
() Gotten a speeding or any other type of ticket in the past 12 months 
(X) Gotten a piercing 
(X) Gotten a Tattoo 
(X) Driven a four door vehicle 
() Ever owned your dream car 
 
(X) Been Married 
() Been divorced 
(X) Fell in love 
(X) Fell out of love 
(X) Paid for a stranger's meal 
 
(X) Driven over 100 mph 
(X) Been scuba diving 
() Written a published book/story (poem) (song) 
() Eaten snails 
() Broke a bone

All Fours ....Thanks Anne Marie!

Four names I go by:  Bob, Bobby, Bobolicious and, well, Bitch.

Four tunes I adore: And they all bring tears to my eyes … I’m a crier.

Four things I hate:  Ignorance, War, Racism, Child Abuse

Four places I have worked: Capital Art Gallery, Lowes Miami Beach Hotel, Mundo, Sacramento Hospice Care

Four things I love to watch: Jeopardy, American Horror Story, Tuxedo, MaxGoldberg, Consuelo and Ozzo, Leaves Blowing in the Breeze

Four places I have visited:  Mexico, and all my favorite islands: Manhattan, Key West, and Hawaii

Four things I love to eat: Curry’s, real Mexican foods, Rare Ahi Tuna, Popcorn

Four favorite drinks: Stella Artois, Bob-A-Rita [Anejo Tequila, Grand Marnier, and Lime Juice, shaken and served straight up]; Iced Tea and a great Oregon Pinot Noir

Four shows/plays: Wicked, Take Me Out [nekkid baseball players!]; Dreamgirls; Lucia di Lamermoor [Carlos adores opera]

Four things I am happily anticipating: Eating outside in spring, a trip out west; our sometimes annual Cinco de Never bash; flowers blooming

Four things I am dreading: The mere idea of a Republican President [Vote! Dammit!]; high humidity … that’s all I got because I take life as it comes.

Four items on my bucket list: Enjoying live every day.

Who? Me? Thanks Anne Marie For This Award

So, last weekend that wacky and wild and funny Anne Marie, From My Brain To My Mouth, has nominated me for an award — the Liebster — for which I am extremely grateful and awed … because, you know, I was hoping for an Oscar first.

And since I had some pre-planned posts and since Donald [t]Rump went off the rails … again … it’s taken me a few days to respond.

I am supposed to nominate 11 other blogs for this award, but I’ll simply ask that those who like the idea just play along and see what we can learn about our internet families …

Here are the 11 Questions:

1] Which literary genre do you prefer?

I read almost everything … and a few things at the same time. I am currently reading Station Eleven …look, there’s that eleven again … about a traveling troupe of Shakespearean actors in a post-apocalyptic world. I am also reading Z, about Zelda Fitzgerald, F. Scott’s wife. And I am rereading A Clockwork Orange.

2] Why did you start blogging?

I like to write, I have a definite POV and I like sharing ideas and thoughts with other folks. Plus, I like to read blogs, so if I was gonna read, I’d bettah write, right?

3] Order or chaos?

I am all about order, but understand that there will be chaos.

4] Where would you like to live?

I could, and have, lived in a variety of places, big and small and Smallville, but as long as Carlos is there that’s where I live. Oh, and as long as it's not too far from the ocean; I need to be able to get to the sea quickly when I feel the urge

5] Starry sky or sunset?

Sunset. I love the way the skies change from the blues of the day to the pinks and oranges and blacks of night.

6] Paper book or e-book?

I have an e-reader that I use when we travel, so I don’t have to carry the books I am reading, but at home, in my chair, propped up in bed, lounging in the sunroom, I must have an actual book that I can touch and smell and turn pages and fall into.

7] What is the writing for?

As for the blog, it’s just to share thoughts and ideas and opinions and fun stuff with people who might be interested. It’s a connection and since I have people dropping by here from every corner of this country and abroad, that’s pretty cool. As for other's writing, it's to learn and grow and understand.

8] TV or not TV?

I love TV; I can watch the good stuff and the crap. It’s a way to hear a story, have a laugh, learn something, or just relax.

9] What do you think about social networks?

Well, there’s’ the blog, of course, so I am into that. I Tweet, mostly to share my blog, and to get breaking news—it was the place to be during that historic Supreme Court decision this past summer to read all those fabulous Tweets about equality. And I Facebook to keep up with friends that are far away and to get some news.

10] Favorite food?

Spicy. I like spicy Indian food, and spicy Asian foods, and spicy Mexican food—though I have learned from Carlos that real Mexican food, at least from where he grew up, isn’t really as spicy as all that.

11] Favorite music genres?

I like a lot of all of it, save rap; I like to read a rap lyric, as long as it isn’t misogynistic or homophobic or violet, because it’s almost like poetry. But I can opera, and I can rock, and I can classical, and I can country—as long as it isn’t too twangy. I pop; and I blues and I standards and I world music, folk music and and … yeah, I like almost all of it.

And now for 11 random things about Bob:

1] I am petrifying shy in situations where I’m not in control or out of my element, though I find that, after the fact, I have enjoyed myself.

2] I have a novel I hope to see published one day and another story in me right now trying to get out.

3] I like my animals more than I like most people … except for Carlos and my family.

4] I am a middle child and nearly everything you’ve heard about middle children fits me.

5] I like mustard with French fires; I loathe ketchup or catsup or whatever that is, though I love tomatoes.

6] I don’t like sweets, unless it’s the Peanut Butter Cup.

7] I awake each and every day with a song in my head; some songs stick around for a few days and some just wander in, but I wake up singing.

8] I am fascinated by death, because I believe in reincarnation and believe I’ll be back; now that doesn’t mean I want to hurry along in this life.

9] I have a very vivid imagination that leans toward the macabre; if I cannot reach Carlos I instantly jump to, “He’s dead.” I can’t help it.

10] I am, and this ain’t bragging, extraordinarily hilarious and extremely quick-witted.

11] I have been in love twice in my life; the first time broke my heart, and this time it healed me.

Now, anyone else wanna play … ?