Must see Poll

I love reading the blog Feministing. I learn so much information from these gals. Today they have an interesting (and in my opinion disturbing) poll. I urge all of you to check it out!

Which PETA campaign do you hate the most?

FF:181

Appetizer

Who was the last person you hugged?

Adult: Amy

Children: Nikita or Dillon, although I'm not sure if they were hugs. When you are surrounded by children they tend to perform "hanging hugs" to get your attention.

Soup

Share a beauty or grooming trick or tip with us.

I use a toothbrush to groom my eyebrows. I also apply hair oil to the ends of my hair. It helps moisturize and strengthen my long locks. I also use conditioner to shave my legs, it's cheaper and longer lasting.

Salad

What does the color yellow make you think of?

Gerber daisies, daffodils and a certain submarine

Main Course

If you were to make your living as a photographer, what subject would your pictures revolve around?

flowers, plants, gardens, parks, water--relaxing eye candy

Dessert

What was the longest book you ever read?

I have no idea, one of the following most likely:

War and Peace

Anna Karenina

Harry Potter series or individual book. Depends on how you view series

BTT: Heroine

Who is your favorite female lead character? And why? (And yes, of course, you can name more than one . . . I always have trouble narrowing down these things to one name, why should I force you to?)


The first one that comes to mind is Anne, of Anne of Green Gables. I loved her as a child and still do as an adult. Her adventures and challenges are wonderful to follow. She is strong, confident, loving, hard working and sincere, traits any good role model for young girls should have. Another lead is Sophie Amundsen in Sophie's World by Jostein Gaardner. She is also curious and smart in her adventures through the history of philosophy. She best reminds me of Alice from Alice in Wonderland. I would list Alice but I have never read the book and it would be poor form to list book-to-movie characters, not to mention pure laziness.

I'm currently reading Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy and Tess definitely stands out as a lead female character, however I wouldn't say just yet that she is a favorite. I'm finding that it is quite a depressing novel.

Conversations with Farmer Ted

Farmer Ted: I have a great idea for a cover band.

Idaho Gal: ok...

FT: Take Metallica and get rid of all the instruments.

IG: ok...

FT: Then insert a cappella singers and call it A Cappellica!

An embarrassed IG can do nothing except shake her head.

Random

Remember last year when a woman was kicked off a Southwest flight for what she was wearing? Well, supposedly, it has happened again. However, these two "brilliant" women claim it was their great looks that brought on discrimination. I think they should just get over themselves.

I am tired of having actors and actresses win Oscars for playing real people. I look at it as mimicking and not acting. With a fictional character you have such a difficult job of creating every little aspect. Yes, they are great actors but I just feel there is an ounce of laziness present. Hard to explain... This made me feel better about the Oscars.

I can't believe I just read this.

I'm going to read fiction! Hooray! (At least I'll try to...)

But, I will most likely turn to this half-way through the above book. I'm a non-fiction gal. And its ok. I know, I'm also a dork.

Here, enjoy a music video! They're coming to Boise!

America Saves Week

Hey, its America Saves Week! Hooray! I can't wait to save my pennies all week!


Oh, wait! Doesn't this contradict the fiscal stimulus the U.S. government is suggesting? Aren't we supposed to spend money? Isn't that what is going to jump start our slowing economy? Hmm....

????

Should I be concerned that my second-grader Nick pinches his nipples while practicing his spelling list? Should I rename him Nip?

FF: 180

Appetizer

Have you ever played a practical joke on anyone? If so, what did you do and who was your victim?

The earliest one I can remember was dragging a dead cat into a girl's yard for some prank. All I can remember is the cat part. I was in the 4th grade with my friend Denise and the victim was Elizabeth, a girl who drove us crazy. In general, my family is known for practical jokes. Whether it be switching the fortune cookies for ones that have dirty messages or sending traveling missionaries to your home we've done it or thought about it.

Soup

What do your salt and pepper shakers look like?

HA! I'm the proud owner of my grandmother's Depression era salt and paper shaker collection! I think I have close to 200 sets of shakers that will shake no more. I have several nice outhouse sets, along with chickens, priests, skulls, and A-bombs.

Salad

Where is the next place you plan to visit (on vacation or business)?

Vegas. Need sun and all you can eat buffets.

Main Course

What kind of lotion or cream do you use to keep your hands from getting too dry?

Aveda Hand Repair. Its a little oily but it feels lovely. My hairdresser gave it to me. I also love Bliss hand cream--its not as oily and feels heavenly.

Dessert

Make up a dessert, tell us its ingredients, and give it a name.

This one is real, Burnt Sugar Cake. My great-aunt was famous for it. One would go for 200 smacks at her church auction, a cake! It sounds odd but the way she made it was so fabulous. It was easily my favorite dessert.

BTT: Format

All other things (like price and storage space) being equal, given a choice in a perfect world, would you rather have paperbacks in your library? Or hardcovers? And why?

I would rather have hardcovers in my library. In fact, when I buy used books online I usually opt for the hardback. I don't mind if the dust cover is missing or in poor shape I just prefer hardbacks and here is why.

• They usually have better cover designs. I have two copies of some books because I find the hardback cover more appealing and will pass on the paperback to friends.

• The paperback usually get bent up, the spines creased, or pages torn due to a soft cover. I'm hard on my books.

• I don't like paperbacks that have the Oprah's Book Club label, or other reading group label on them. Hardbacks usually don't have these labels. Nor do I want the "Reading Guide Inside" label. I'm not interested in these. I also don't like paperbacks with movie themed covers. I don't want the movie, I want the book. I think by having a movie scene as a cover it cheapens the book. I also don't want friends thinking I just read the book because it was a movie. People forget that it was a book first.
  

• Yes, the price is different however if I want a book badly enough I'll read it at the library and wait to purchase a used hardcover copy. I'm usually a year behind in my reading anyway so price usually isn't an issue.
  

• Storage? We have more books than the rest of the people on our block. Some people have televisions in their living room, we have a library. They surround us. Hardcovers don't take up more room that paperbacks when you have as many books as we do. I think we will always make room for books. We also try to weed through them every so often. In fact we did this over the weekend.
  

"Idaho Travel Packages"

At first I couldn't believe this story when I read it. Then I remembered I live in Idaho where these types of jokes unfortunately occur way too often. However, this is Idaho and this prank came from Montana so I feel an itsy bitsy better. Here, read it for yourself:

"Montana's gay and lesbian community is calling on Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., to apologize for a gag he recently played on one of his colleagues. On a congressional trip to the Middle East last month, Rehberg left an "Idaho Travel Package" on the airplane seat of Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho.

The contents included a stuffed sheep with gloves attached to it, a Village People CD, books on cross-dressing and sign language and a T-shirt that reads, "My senator may not be gay, but my governor is Butch." The shirt referred to Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, who was caught in a men's airport bathroom sex sting, and Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter." (more of the story)

Dan Savage, a syndicated columnist and writer for Seattle's The Stranger believes the "focus on Rep. Denny Rehberg’s real crime: attempted murder. Sending a colleague into the Middle East with a Village People CD and a t-shirt with the word “gay” on it? Is Rehberg nuts? Or was he trying to get Simpson beheaded?"

I agree with Savage and Montana's gay and lesbian community. This is ridiculous. Oh, and I want one of those shirts.

Between the Thighs

Over several pitchers of crisp, cold beer last night The Philosopher and I learned we share the same fear. There may come a day in our futures when we will be unable to see through our thighs. And it scares us. I'm pretty sure Farmer Ted and the Coach think we're nuts but for us, that gap, that slice of space represents stability. We may not be in the greatest shape but the gap is still there, and our sanity in place.

In other news I've spent the weekend organizing mementos. Its amazing what you collect over time and the crap you deem special. For instance, I found the Asshole's braid of hair he gave me when he chopped it off, along with pictures of him posing with his AK-47. Nice! Its these moments when I ask myself what the f%$# was I thinking? Gangsta bitch! It is still in my hope chest. (Why are they even referred to as hope chests?) I couldn't bring myself to toss it. I feel that if its gone, that part of my life is gone. And while that was a horrible time for me I'm not willing to forget that I lived through it. Make sense? The Philosopher agreed which was helpful since we shared a similar hell.

I found a brand new Prosser High School blanket that my father told me to NEVER use! "Tis a keepsake!" he said. Well, I called him. I told him its been ten years and its going to be utilized. Why? Why would I want to keep a crappy high school blanket in pristine condition? For what?

Love letters. What do you do with them? I'm thinking of blogging them since they are too funny to keep to myself. Again, what was I thinking in my choice of boys? Stories to come soon.

Found mixed tapes and CDs from Valentine's Day past. GREAT! I put those with my Jetson's movie soundtrack tape and Oly band demos from the mid 90s. Now if I only had a cassette player...

Listening to Beastie Boys throughout it all.

FF 179

Appetizer

Name one thing that is unique about you.

My family, especially my father. Aliens, Nazis, lawsuits, suspenders, cross-dressing, name anything and I most likely have a story involving it and my father in some way that everyone BUT his daughter finds humorous.

Soup

Fill in the blank: My favorite _________ is __________ but I like _________ too.

My favorite beer is Coors Light but I like Kokanee too.

Salad

What type of wood do you have for your home’s furnishings?

Walnut, hands down. I love it! Dark wood tones can be found throughout our house.

Main Course

Who do you talk to most often on the phone?

Farmer Ted.

Dessert

What level of responsibility do you have in your job?

Level? Responsibility? Have? I wish it were very minimal, but alas Montessori education involves a variety of levels of responsibility. Safety for the children and the maintenance of a peaceful community are probably the most difficult day to day.

BTT: After the Honeymoon

Have you ever fallen out of love with a favorite author? Was the last book you read by the author so bad, you broke up with them and haven’t read their work since? Could they ever lure you back?


Hmmm......this one took me some time, of which I do not have since I'm playing floral designer today. I would have to say that I hated Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake but loved Interpreter of Maladies. I am now reluctant to pick up anything new from her. Toni Morrison also fits the bill for me as I have loved some of her work but thought "blah" of some of it too. Morrison usually lures me back. Jeannette Winterson is one author I have never been sick of, even though it takes some time to read her work. I think her style is what I look forward to. Gabriel Garcia Marquez is another author I'm glad I still love.

Learned:

Twister, wine and adults almost don't mix.

Its Almost Dead to Me

These Lost spoofs happen to be more enjoyable than the new season so far. I'm just not into it. I think my favorite spoof was a tie between Sponge Bob and Brokeback Island. And yours?

Friday's Feast #137

Since Friday's Feast is down for the week I found an old one I had not done.

Appetizer
When you travel, which mode of transportation do you prefer?

Tube, train or subway. I find it relaxing and fun since you can do a lot of people watching. That is unless you're in Tokyo right after an earthquake and stranded at a station. I have many strange stories of the three too but I would still consider "rail" my preferred method of transport.

Soup

Have you ever met a blogging friend in person?

No, I haven't. But I don't think I would mind if I did.

Salad

When was the last time you were really, really tired?

Over winter holidays when I drank bad water. All Farmer Ted and I could do was sleep.

Main Course

If you could have dinner with any one fictional character from a book or movie, who would it be?

Hmm...Dory from Finding Nemo. I think it would be extremely entertaining. And if fish don't count then Samantha Baker from Sixteen Candles. I imagine us discussing how hot Jake Ryan is and how embarrassing our families can be.

Dessert

Fill in the blank:

One day, I hope to see _________.

I would love to see my dear friend Delia again and spend an afternoon with a good pot of tea. But at the moment this would require traveling to Manila again or wherever she is at the moment. I can never keep up with her.

Election Etiquette

I'm like Litigious Mind, I don't want to hear about your visits from Aunt Flo. In addition, I also don't want to hear about your candidate of choice, or have you try to "scare me [insert candidate here]." I was taught that voting, like Aunt Flo, is a private affair. I don't have to share with you the nitty gritty details and please spare me yours. I am becoming exhausted by all the Obama support in Boise, all the caucus talk about voting for Obama and being judged for not participating in the caucus. There is nothing wrong with abstaining due to not having made a candidate choice yet. In fact some would argue this is a rational choice. There is just a part of me that seriously wonders how many people in Boise would've attended the caucus had Obama not been here within the last week. And when facing these individuals I find it difficult to bring that into the conversation. I think its a valid observation.

So dear co-workers please stop pestering me about my perceived lack of voting participation. Have some etiquette, respect my privacy when it comes to voting. And understand that I really don't want to hear your candidate opinions. They aren't going to sway a woman as stubborn as I. And I may open up about my candidate choice if or when I come to a conclusion.

But, Enough About Books

This week's BTT:

Okay, even I can’t read ALL the time, so I’m guessing that you folks might voluntarily shut the covers from time to time as well… What else do you do with your leisure to pass the time? Walk the dog? Knit? Run marathons? Construct grandfather clocks? Collect eggshells?

Well, in the spring and summer I'm gardening which reminds me I need to soak my sweet pea seeds before next week. I usually have a diverse garden with several varieties of tomatoes and herbs. I also help Farmer Ted with his two econ classes while watching movies. Last night we began another silly season of Curb Your Enthusiasm--I love that show! We walk our two dogs--Hayek and Keynes frequently. We catch up with friends over the weekends either through basketball or beer or both. Reading has always been our hobby so any other hobby we may have is not standing out at the moment.

Beer gets seatbelt. Child doesn't.

I wish I was making this up. WTF?

Myth of the Rational Voter

The whole primary/caucus Super Tuesday has left me confused. I am glad that this book arrived yesterday. Living in Boise right now and talking to people who attended the Democratic caucus last night I can't help but think that many of them attended due to Obama's visit over the weekend. This has led me to view voters in an irrational light. And so I'll hopefully be reading my way out of confusion and most likely into frustration or utter confusion.

Letter to Obama

Dear Obama,

You're coming to Idaho tomorrow morning. Great! However I would just like you to know that I won't be attending due to a little exam I'm taking, the LSAT. You remember that exam don't you? Well, I have to admit that I'm nervous. For the exam, hell no! For the fact that having you speak two hundred feet away at the same time, with doors opening at 7am and all the snow outside, I'm sure I'll not find parking. If I have to go through security to even park, I will be pissed. And now I have to be there around 7am just to park, which means I'll have to leave my house at 6:30, depending on how much snow we get today. I also want you to know that I can't TiVo you either since that is being reserved for Mormon church President Gordon B. Hinckley's funeral. Let's face it, I don't know the next time I'll be able to view a LDS funeral on tv. I will however forgive you if you come on over and give us all a pep talk, between 8:30 and 1pm. Just think it over for a bit.

Sincerely,
Idaho Gal

FF 178

Appetizer
What is your favorite kind of cereal?

Captain Crunch although I believe you spell it Captn, but that just doesn't look right.

Soup
When was the last time you purchased something for your home, what was it, and in which room did it go?

Well, we purchased a lot of things due to a very large gift certificate from BBB. New silverware, duvet cover, guest room bedding, steak knives, cutting board, wine glasses -(weird unbreakable ones due to some of our friends), etc. I guess before that it would be our new LCD TV for our bedroom.

Salad
What is the funniest commercial you’ve ever seen?

This one would have to be up there:

Main Course
Make up a name for a company by using a spice and an animal (example: Cinnamon Monkey).

Uh, Turkey Thyme?

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I haven’t ______ since ______.

I haven't read anything decent since September.

I'm craving a really good nonfiction book right now.