Quiz Me: ParkHopper's Quiz Central

Soda Pop

2006-07-04T13:34:00.000-04:00

Take the quiz:
What soda are you???

Shirley temple
You're fun and sweet, and although you may be a little bit childish, you're one of the best people to be around.

Gross!

2006-06-15T12:27:00.000-04:00

You Are 56% Gross

You're more than a little gross, but probably no more gross than the average person.

Maybe it's time to drop some of those disgusting habits that could eventually embarrass you!

How Gross Are You?

Which Dr. Seuss Character Are You?

2006-06-04T12:40:00.000-04:00

You are the Lorax!
Take this quiz!

Ha Ha Ha

2006-05-30T22:31:00.000-04:00

My score was lower than Scott's (51%)

I am 45% Asshole/Bitch.

I may think I am an asshole or a bitch, but the truth is I am a good person at heart. Yeah sure, I can have a mean streak in me, but most of the people I meet like me.

Take the
Asshole/Bitch Test
@ FualiDotCom

(pardon the bad words... I didn't write 'em)

Quack!

2006-05-30T19:32:00.000-04:00

You Are Duck

Exotic and unusual, you are a bit of a rare bird - literally.

You're known for being soft and succulent, though at times you can be a bit greasy.

What Kind of Meat Are You?

Muppet Show!

2006-05-20T00:33:00.000-04:00

I took this quiz in honor of my manager John the Cajun Shrimp... erm Pepe the King Prawn. Sadly, I don't think that Pepe was one of the answers.

You Are Miss Piggy

A total princess and diva, you're totally in charge - even if people don't know it.
You want to be loved, adored, and worshiped. And you won't settle for anything less.
You're going to be a total star, and you won't let any of the "little people" get in your way.
Just remember, piggy, never eat more than you can lift!

The Muppet Personality Test

...of course, according to this quiz, my "dream man" is Rizzo the Rat! I doubt Piggy would go for him though.

Surprise! Rizzo the Rat is your dream man. He has a healthy appetite and a keen sense of fun. I'm certain you two would have a fabulous time together

Star Wars

2006-05-15T12:36:00.000-04:00

I can't remember if I've done this one before, but here it is...

Your results:
You are Chewbacca
Sure you're tall and hairy, but you've got heart!

Click here to take the Star Wars Personality Quiz

Sunday Seven - 5-7-06

2006-05-07T11:50:00.000-04:00

Play along at Patrick's Weekender

Name seven foods in your kitchen (including your refrigerator or freezer) or pantry that you could prepare as a meal in less than ten minutes.

1. Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
2. Hot dogs
3. Ramen noodles
4. Crispix (breakfast is a meal, right?)
5. Campbell's soup
6. Oatmeal
7. Refried beans (add cheese & tortillas for instant burritos)

Brain Waves

2006-05-07T11:49:00.000-04:00

Your Brain's Pattern

Your mind is a multi dimensional wonderland, with many layers.
You're the type that always has multiple streams of thought going.
And you can keep these thoughts going at any time.
You're very likely to be engaged in deep thought - and deep conversation.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

Four Things

2006-05-02T23:31:00.000-04:00

My mom tagged me with this in an e-mail. If you're reading it, consider yourself tagged too!

Don't tell me stuff I already know, surprise me!!! For instance, did you know...............

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Ran a TV movie channel
2. Introducer of a 3D movie
3. Answerer of stupid questions (current)
4. Babysitter of the three best kids ever (proof of that whole "absence makes the heart grow fonder" thing)

Four movies I would watch over and over:
1. Princess Bride
2. Monsters Inc.
3. Ever After
4. The American President

Four places I have lived:
1. Philadelphia, PA
2. Lauderhill, FL
3. Medford, NJ
4. State College, PA

Four TV shows I love to watch:
1. American Idol (go CHRIS!!!)
2. Desperate Housewives
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. The Daily Show

Four places I have been on vacation:
1. Nassau, the floating ghetto
2. Jackson Hole, WY
3. Loch Ness
4. Vermont (whose idea WAS that?)

Four Web sites I visit daily:
1. Diary of the Food Whore
2. Adventures in Juggling
3. Re-Imagineering
4. The Blog of Darwin Matthews
yes, they're all blogs. so?

Four Pet-Peeves:
1. People who expect me to be able to give them directions based on "I just passed Denny's."
2. E-mail forwards that begin with "if you love your country/God/me, pass this on."
3. People who only remember they have family in Orlando when they want cheap theme park tickets
4. ?

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Butternut squash soup (Woflgang Puck Cafe)
2. mac n cheese (any except velveeta)
3. Chicken pesto sandwich (Bucca)
4. arroz con frijoles negros (yellow rice & black beans)

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. snorkeling in the bahamas
2. Yellowstone
3. Alaska
4. in bed

You've been tagged. so here it goes...delete my answers, replace with your own and post your answers or e-mail on to other friends!

Kismet

2006-04-30T11:43:00.000-04:00

Wow...I haven't played the Saturday Six in forever, but I happened to have some free time this morning and thought I'd play and there was my own reader's choice question. How could I not participate?

1. What new piece of technology have you resisted buying and what would it take for you to change your mind? Well, considering we just bought an HDTV, I think we're done with technology for a while. Our next step will probably be digital cable, since Scott has wanted that forever. The only other thing I can think of is a really sweet digital camera with manual controls like this one. I'd have to be handed a wad of cash for that though - I just couldn't justify the expense.

2. If someone was to go through a closet of your old clothes, what clothing style would you find most embarrassing? I think that, for the most part, my clothes have always tended to be more classic than trendy. That being said, I have a lot of tie-dyed things I'd rather forget about!

3. The movie United 93 opened this week to controversies over whether or not it is too soon or not to deal with the events of September 11th. Do you have any desire to see this movie? Why or why not? I have no intention of seeing the movie. I don't really think it's too soon. After all, it's been almost five years, and there have already been TV movies on the subject. It seems to me that it's being promoted as truth, when there's no way we could know that for sure. That's what I object to.

4. Take the quiz: How Class Works Without getting specific about any of the actual results, which category hurts you the most, and which helps you the most? I had the lowest score in wealth, and the highest in education.

5. Of the results you got in the last question, which one was the biggest surprise and why? I'm shocked that my "some college, no degree" made me upper middle in that category. Have you tried getting a decent job without a degree?

6. READER'S CHOICE QUESTION #89 from Jamilyn: What is your favorite article of clothing? Is there a story behind it? I can't believe this is my question. It's not even one I have an answer to! I guess my jeans are my favorite item of clothing. It seems that I never have more than two pairs of jeans at a time, and I only like to wear one of those pairs. Right now they're boot cut and a little too long (shocking, considering I'm 5'8") and I would wear them every day of the week if I could.

The Wikipedia Birthday Meme

2006-04-10T12:19:00.000-04:00

This meme is going about the Internet right now (I picked it up at By The Way...), and you know I can't resist a trend! What you do is go to Wikipedia and enter your birthdate (but not your birth year) and then post three events, two births and one death that happened on your birthday. Proof your birthday is full of all sorts of history.

Honestly, I think you can tell a LOT about a person by which events they choose. Here's the full list for my birthday (March 3). I had a hard time limiting my choices!

Events
1845 - Florida is admitted as the 27th U.S. state.
1931 - The United States officially adopts "The Star-Spangled Banner" as its national anthem.
1955 - Elvis Presley appears on television for the first time.

Births
1847 - Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish inventor
1982 - Jessica Biel, American actress

Death
1991 - Arthur Murray, American dancer and dance instructor

Bonus
1937 - Amelia Earhart, American pilot, disappeared
Hinamatsuri - Japanese celebration day for girls.

I'm an ANGEL? LOL

2006-03-31T11:10:00.000-05:00

You scored as Angel.

Angels are the guardians of all things, from the smallest ant to the tallest tree. They give inspiration, love, hope, and positive emotion. They live among humans without being seen. They are the good in all things, and if you feel alone, don't fear. They are always watching. Often times they merely stand by, whispering into the ears of those who feel lost. They would love nothing more then to reveal themselves, but in today's society, this would bring havoc and many unneeded questions. Give thanks to all things beautiful, for you are an Angel.

Mermaid

67%

Angel

67%

Faerie

50%

Dragon

42%

WereWolf

33%

Demon

What Mythological Creature are you?
created with QuizFarm.com

...does anyone else think that's the scariest looking angel EVER!?!?

Idiots

2006-03-26T11:45:00.000-05:00

I am 22% Idiot.

I am not annoying at all. In fact most people come to me for advice. Of course they annoy the hell out of me. But what can I do? I am smarter than most people.

Take the
Idiot Test
@ FualiDotCom

Well, I don't feel like a friggin' genius... but I do feel like an idiot about 22% of the time. I guess it works out. :o)

Desperate Housewives

2006-03-25T11:44:00.000-05:00

Which Desperate Housewife are you?

Congratulations! You are Susan Mayer, the divorcee and single mom who will go to extraordinary lengths for love.

Take this quiz!

Which Friend Are You?

2006-03-25T11:31:00.000-05:00

You scored as Ross.

You're brainy Ross. Once a geek and now a hit with the ladies. Hope you have enough money to pay for all those weddings!

Which Friend are You?

Trekkie?

2006-03-19T11:55:00.000-05:00

Uhura

You are a good communicator with a
pleasant soft-spoken voice.
Also a talented singer.

Which Star Trek character are you?

St. Patrick's Day Frivolity

2006-03-07T13:47:00.000-05:00

You're 45% Irish

You're probably less Irish than you think you are...
But you're still more Irish than most.

How Irish Are You?

Saturday Six for 2/4

2006-02-05T11:32:00.000-05:00

Play along at Patrick's Weekender!

1. How interested are you in this year's Super Bowl game?
On a scale of 1-10, maybe 2. But since you asked, I'm for the Steelers.

2. How many Super Bowl parties have you been invited to attend? Are you going to one?
None...unless you count the pot luck at work. I'm going to that one - spinach dip and bread bowl in hand.

3. What's worse, in your opinion: when the media produces what you consider to be a one-sided story, or when someone who is critical of the media for producing what they think is a one-sided story retells the story telling only one side of it themselves?
I think that no matter how hard you try as a journalist, it's impossible to be completely impartial. And I have to say that I don't see a whole lot of completely one-sided journalism... but that might be because I don't watch Fox News. ;o) That being said, I would find one-sidedness more annoying coming from the media.

4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): What kind of weather are you?
I am lightning!
Beautiful yet dangerous. People will stop and watch you when you appear, even though you're capable of random violence.You are best known for: your power. Your dominant state: performing

5. What kind of weather do you find to be the most relaxing?
Rain without electrical activity... if I'm able to sit at home and listen to it on the roof. If I'm out, I prefer sun.

6. Consider any television shows you are currently collecting on DVD or are planning to collect. Are there any series that you'd stop collecting at a certain point rather than just collecting the entire run? If so, why?
I don't collect any TV shows on DVD. I think my movie collection is sufficient.

Sunday Seven for 1/29

2006-01-30T12:55:00.000-05:00

Play along at Patrick's Weekender!

List up to seven sounds that make you happy or relax you.

The "ooh ooh ooh" noise that Reyna's guinea pigs make when they're hungry
Rain on the roof
Wind chimes
Milo purring
The Daily Show theme song
The time clock (clocking out, of course)
Fanfare trumpets

gee...that's quite an eclectic mix, isn't it?

Saturday Six for 1/28

2006-01-30T12:38:00.000-05:00

Play along at Patrick's Weekender!

1. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?
That would be ME! Before me, it would probably be Ryan back in early '01.

2. How many jobs have you held in your life? How many of those were part of your chosen career field?
4 outside of my current employer, and 8 within my current employer. I can't say that I have a chosen career field, so I opt out of the second half of the question.

3. Of those, how many did you leave voluntarily?
All of them. :o)

4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): What animal were you in a past life?

You Were A Jaguar - A shapeshifter that understands the patterns of chaos.You are powerful and move without fear in dark places.

5. What animal were you expecting you'd be?
Some kind of small bird.

6. Time to pull this tactic again: Your turn to come up with a Reader's Choice Question. What question would you like to see asked in a future edition of "The Saturday Six?" (Don't answer it...just provide the question.)
I've been sitting here racking my brain, and I can't come up with anything good. How about, "what is your favorite article of clothing? is there a story behind it?"

Tuesday Two for 1/24

2006-01-25T11:28:00.000-05:00

Play along at Patrick's Weekender!

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC: FUNERALS

QUESTION A:How do you feel about open casket viewings or visitations at funeral homes? Does it bother you to see the decedent or do you feel a more complete sense of closure from it?

QUESTION B:If you had a chance to come back long enough to see your own funeral (unseen by the visitors, of course) just to see and hear what was said about you, explain why you would or wouldn't take that chance.

I'm going to answer Question B this week. I don't think I would attend my own funeral. Funerals seem to be a chance for everyone to come together to say what a wonderful person you were. It could be a total ego trip, but I'd view it as a chance to see people saying things you don't really think are true. Besides, without me there to veto, there would probably be a lot of not-my-style contemporary Christian music. I'd hate to hear the soundtrack.

Saturday Six for 1/21

2006-01-22T03:42:00.000-05:00

Play along at Patrick's Weekender!

1. Do any of your friends, family or co-workers know about your blogs? For those that do, did you tell them or have they stumbled upon it by themselves?
My blog certainly isn't hidden from the world. My family and friends are generally informed if I throw in a picture of them. I'm not public about it at work, since I say some crappy things about my co-workers (names changed to protect my @$$).

2. How did you come up with the title of your blogs?
The original blog, Jamilyn's Journal, had the most unimaginative title ever. The new blog, Adventures in Park Hopping, gives my anti-tourist rants and theme park talk a home. Of course, this one is called Quiz Me... because it's where I answer questions like this!

3. Do you prefer to have many projects going on at once or do you prefer multitasking?
yes

4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): What high school stereotype are you?

5. What was the hardest thing to master when you were learning to drive?
Everything! I hated driving! My drivers' ed teacher dragged me out when the roads were slushed-over, on major roadways, during rush hour. Really -- I was *so* not ready to get behind the wheel. This may be why I didn't get a car until I was 22.

6. How well did you do with that one thing on your very first driver's exam?
I got a 92% on the written exam. Shame about the driving test. I got flustered and nervous and totally bombed parallel parking... and "speed control." I guess that's why I failed the first time.

Journal Jar #33

2006-01-18T17:06:00.000-05:00

I found the Journal Jar last summer, but stopped after a while due to lack of new posts on the Journal Jar site. I'll try to eventually transfer my old journal jar entries over here, but believe me when I tell you that I have done 1-32 and also 70-94.

Question 33 - What political party comes closest to representing your own view? How do you feel about politics?

I'm a registered Democrat. I'm pretty liberal too. Every now and then, I can feel that dang southern conservative I live with rubbing off on me. And it just makes me feel dirty.

...but I'll never vote for a Bush. Unless it's a completely unrelated one.

Tuesday Two for 1/18

2006-01-18T16:49:00.000-05:00

Play along at Patrick's Weekender!

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC: BLOGGING

QUESTION A:Not counting spam, have you ever deleted a comment to your blog, or can you imagine a situation besides spam in which you would? Would you feel bad about doing so?

QUESTION B:Is blogging truly a forum for discussion, or does it still boil down to being about what the individual writer wants it to be about? Why or why not?

I'll be going with Question A this week. Yes, I've deleted a comment. Someone (possibly an ex... possibly just some jerk-off) would write a snarky comment every time I pulled out my liberal soapbox. Snarky comments, while rude and inappropriate, aren't worth deleting. However, when someone tells me the would would be better if I were dead... I delete the comment. Without a morsel of guilt. And I also blocked the IP address from leaving any further comments.

...and I'm not answering the other question, but if I did, I would say that blogging is only a forum for discussion if that's what the writer wants. :o)

Sunday Seven for 1/15

2006-01-16T14:54:00.000-05:00

Play along at Patrick's Weekender!

You can have fifteen minutes each with up to seven past presidents of the United States. You can ask them anything you like, and they are required to be honest in their answers. Which former presidents would you choose?

Teddy Roosevelt
Bill Clinton
Franklin Roosevelt
George W. Bush (truth? What's that?)
George Washington
John F. Kennedy
Richard Nixon

Saturday Six for 1/14

2006-01-15T12:09:00.000-05:00

Play along at Patrick's Weekender

1. Do you generally tend to be early, late or right on time?
I try to be early. I'm always early for work.

2. Did you belong to any clubs in high school? If so, which did you value the most?
Ha! Did I belong to any clubs? Here's the list: newspaper, color guard, choir, spring musical, national honor society, biology club (for one year), summer musical (for one year), peer leadership. Having been on the editorial board of the newspaper for three years, I'd like to say that I valued it the most. But the truth is I truly loved being in the choir. We were amazing, and I had some really great friends there.

3. Where was your favorite place to hang out when you were in high school? How often were you there and were you usually with friends or alone?
Umm...probably in the high school, in the music hallway. During marching band season, I'd stay after school to do newspaper, and then just hang out in the music hallway until our 7pm practice started. Those of us without cars spent a lot of time together there!

4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): What chess piece are you?

The Black King
You are comfortable letting a situation evolve, reacting to it, and exploiting the weakness of your enemy when he over-reaches. Your followers are loyal to you, and would gladly fall upon the sword of an advancing rook or queen for you, but you would rather use them to sneak in and suprise the enemy. You are content to let others do your dirty work, even your Queen.

5. When is the last time you played a board game and what game did you play? Did you win?
Scott and I played Trivial Pursuit. And I honestly can't remember who won. Which probably means I lost.

6. You're called to serve on a jury. Would you rather sit on a capital murder case, a personal injury case, a wrongful death suit or a drunk driving case, and why?
Last time I had jury duty, it was an abusive-guy-violating-the-restraining-order case. And, though I thought he was scummy and totally guilty, I thought the prosecutor did a piss-poor job proving his case. Of course, I was the alternate, so I didn't get to vote or even stay for the end. Bummer, huh? Anyway, that wasn't the question, was it? I wouldn't really want to sit on any of them. These are the kinds of cases where you have to look at poster-size pictures of dead bodies and severed limbs. No thank you!

Tuesday Two for 1/10

2006-01-11T13:28:00.000-05:00

Play along at Patrick's Weekender. And remember: don't answer both questions!

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC: SPORTS

QUESTION A: What sport do you most wish you could play professionally and why?

QUESTION B: What's the most exciting and least exciting sports to watch as a spectator?

Considering my sedentary lifestyle, I thought I'd break from the mold and answer question A. I wish I could be a professional ice skater. What could be better than gliding and spinning and flying through the air in a sparkly little dress?? I went ice skating... once. And I only fell once. I was thinking about going pro in the "skate around in circles" division. Of course, my knee swelled up and turned three shades of blue/green/purple, and my ankles hurt afterward, but it really was a lot of fun!

Sunday Seven for 1/8

2006-01-09T12:45:00.000-05:00

Play along at Patrick's Weekender!

You're going to be trapped in an elevator with seven comedians for three hours. Choose seven famous laugh-makers, living or dead, that you'd most like to spend time with when they were in their prime.

Jon Stewart
Ellen DeGeneres
Paula Poundstone
Billy Crystal
Rita Rudner
Adam Sandler
Steve Martin

...although I'd really just like to be trapped there with Jon Stewart only. (and no - it's not a sexual thing - I'd love to have a three-hour conversation with him)

Saturday Six for 1/7

2006-01-08T02:48:00.000-05:00

Play along at Patrick's Weekender.

1. What is your most successful "home remedy" and how did you first hear about or discover it?
Airborne! That stuff works miracles! I heard about it from Oprah...and my mommy.

2. Do you ever use substitutes for food ingredients, like sugar or salt substitutes? If so, which do you use?
Well, yes and no. I don't use "sugar substitute" or "salt substitute," but I have made some interesting substitutions of my own... including using ranch dressing once in boxed mac n cheese instead of the milk & butter (it was really tasty...but I got food poisoning that night and was sick until dawn!). And now you know why Scott does 90% of the food prep in our household!

3. How often do you go to a mall or shopping center just to window shop, with no intention of actually buying anything?
Never! I hate to shop and only go when I absolutely have to.

4. How often in those trips do you actually end up buying something anyway?
see above. If I go into a store, it's rare that I leave without anything (except for Williams Sonoma... I have to go in and drool over the stand mixers and the creme brulee kit)

5. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): What is your biggest social dysfunction?

Your Social Dysfunction: Normal
Being average in terms of how social you are, as well as the amount of self-esteem you have, you're pretty much normal. Good on you.

LOL...I can't remember the last time I was called normal. Thanks!

6. What possession would you most like to have by the end of 2006 that you did without in 2005?
A house! Although I may have to be content with the Cinderella Waffler that I'm getting on Monday. (it was delivered to the office today - I just have to go over there and pick it up)

The Geek Test

2006-01-07T12:38:00.000-05:00

I'm 18% geek. Click on the button to take the geek test for yourself

Tuesday Two for 1/4

2006-01-04T01:51:00.000-05:00

Play along at Patrick's Weekender... or in my comments section. Remember though: only answer one of the questions!

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC: GOALS

QUESTION A:If you could travel to your own future and see what has changed, what would you hope to see yourself doing ten years from now?

QUESTION B:What is the New Year's Resolution that you actually kept most successfully, and how long ago did you make it?

I'm totally going to answer Question B. One year when I was in High School (I'm thinking probably New Years of '94), I made the only resolution I actually kept for the whole year. I gave up eating mammal. I was going to give up meat, but thought that might be near-impossible because at the time I didn't really like any alternative sources of protein. So I basically gave up beef and pork, but still ate chicken and fish. I kept it up for the entire year, but didn't feel compelled to keep it up after that. So on New Years Day the next year when my dad made a big ol' pot of pork and sauerkraut, I had a big ol' plate of it. And boy was it delicious!!

Avast! There be pirates in this entry!

2006-01-03T13:11:00.000-05:00

Actually, there not be pirates in this entry, because I'm not one. Darn it!

You're Norrington...
You're honest. You always try to do what you know is best. You can always put someone else's happiness before yours.

What charater from Pirates of the Carribbean are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Sunday Seven for 1/1

2006-01-02T02:50:00.000-05:00

Play along at Patrick's Weekender.

Don't think of them as Resolutions. Think of them as Goals or even just "Things You'd Like." But list up to seven things you hope to accomplish before 2006 draws to a close.

Stay better in touch with friends and family (my only actual resolution)
Buy a house...or at least have a significant chunk of money in savings toward that goal
Get pregnant...or lose weight...or both, but not necessarily in that order!
Establish a Primary Care doctor, visit the dentist, get new glasses, keep up my OB/GYN visits
Back up my digital photos and last year's blog on CD for safe keeping
Keep growing my hair until it's long enough to chop it off for Locks of Love (10")
Not find any more white hairs sprouting from my scalp!

Saturday Six for 12/31

2006-01-02T02:26:00.000-05:00

Play along at Patrick's Weekender.

1. From a financial standpoint, was 2005 a good year or a bad year for you? Do you expect 2006 to be better or worse?
I paid off my car in 2005. I'd say that was good. We were also able to handle $1800 in car repairs without going bankrupt. Considering Scott and I both got promotions in 2005, we should do even better in 2006...especially without those car payments!

2. What was your least favorite moment of 2005?
The entire cluster-f-and-a-half surrounding my transmission repair.

3. Did you lose anyone close to you in 2005? If so, who were they?
I didn't lose anyone to death. I lost a pretty good friend at work when she and I had philosophical differences - she thought she was the center of the earth, and I disagreed.

4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): What do you know about blogging?
I took it before, but can't find my response. This time I got 4/8.

5. Where were you when 2005 began? Where were you when 2005 ended?
Ooh - I have pictures for this one. I was in the same place -- working.

I think it's safe to say I'm happier having traded in my headset for a paper hat!

6. Did you make new year's resolutions for 2005? If so, how many did you keep?
I didn't make any...so I guess I didn't break any.

Type A...or not?

2005-12-30T02:19:00.000-05:00

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

You Have A Type B+ Personality

You're a pro at going with the flow
You love to kick back and take in everything life has to offer
A total joy to be around, people crave your stability.
While you're totally laid back, you can have bouts of hyperactivity.
Get into a project you love, and you won't stop until it's done
You're passionate - just selective about your passions

I think this is about 75% accurate. I'm pretty sure no one craves my stability...and am only a joy to be around when I make a concerted effort to be nice.

Tuesday Two for 12/27

2005-12-29T12:16:00.000-05:00

It's a two-fer week. Play along at Patrick's Weekender.

THIS WEEK'S FIRST TOPIC: CHRISTMAS AFTERMATH

Question A:When is the last time you had to return or exchange a Christmas gift at a store, and how much of a hassle was doing it?

or

Question B:Now that another Christmas is behind us, what holiday song will you be happiest to no longer have to hear for another eleven months?

I'm going with Question B because it involves holiday songs. I don't even know the name of the song I hate the most, but it's either George Michael or Boy George singing, "last Christmas I gave you my heart...the very next day you gave it away...this year to save me from tears...I'll give it to someone special." ugh...why would anyone feel compelled to write a holiday song about a painful break-up? and really, it's been a year. time to get over the heartache of your 1-day romance.

THIS WEEK'S SECOND TOPIC: MONEY

Question A:You see your worst enemy drop a $20 bill. Would you tell him or her, or would you quietly pocket the money?

or

Question B:What is your own definition of being "rich" from a monetary standpoint?

This time I'm going with Question A. I'm actually not inclined to do either. I'd rather know that my enemy has lost $20, and also be able to say "of course I don't know where it is. maybe you dropped it." Does this make me a bad person?

Quizzard of Oz

2005-12-27T22:11:00.000-05:00

I just found this on a complete stranger's blog. I found her because she and I are the only ones on Blogger who list "park hopping" as an interest.

My uncle once: moved his entire family from Connecticut to London
Never in my life: have I smoked a cigarette
When I was five: I was in first grade at a Catholic school, even though I'm not Catholic
High School was: busy and wonderful
I once met: Wil Wheaton. He was eating at the restaurant where I worked. I handed him a piece of french silk pie.
There's this girl I know who is: the mother of three beautiful daughters
Once, at a bar: my friend Meg and I had a contest to see who could pinch the most guys' butts as they walked past. There's a reason I never really went to bars that much!
By noon I'm usually: awake
Last night I listened to: the never-ending drone of complaining co-workers
Next time I go to church: won't be very soon
When I turn my head left: I see an old computer
When I turn my head right: I see family pictures on the side of the fridge
My birthday is in this many days: 66...I think
If I was a character written by Shakespeare: I'd be a saucy wench
By this time next year: I'll hopefully have my name on a mortgage
A better name for me would be: Jamilyn. I really wish I had changed it when I got married
I have a hard time understanding: some of my non-English-speaking co-workers
When/if I ever go back to school I'll: actually try
You know I like you if: I make fun of you
If I won an award, the first person I'd thank would be: "the academy," followed by my Mom, Scott, and Jenn Molea (because I once promised her I'd thank her if I won an Oscar or Emmy)
Take my advice: it's never ok to lie...or hit -- I say this a lot when I babysit
My ideal breakfast is: biscuits & gravy, scrambled eggs, bacon, and hashbrown casserole (also known as the Old Timer's Breakfast at Cracker Barrel)
If you visit my hometown: stop at WaWa and get an American hoagie
If you spend the night at my house: bring an air mattress...we're sofa shopping right now
I'd stop my wedding if: my groom made some big impromptu speech that lead to a moment of awkward silence because I wasn't prepared with the same. **coughcarolcough**
I'd rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: eat the whole thing
My favorite blonde is: me! I'm my own biggest fan
Paper clips are more useful than: rubber bands.
If I do anything well, it's: sarcasm
And by the way: it's only 66 days till my birthday...time to get shopping!

Sunday Seven for 12/25

2005-12-27T02:00:00.000-05:00

Play along at Patrick's Weekender.

List up to seven Christmas presents you received this year. If you don't celebrate Christmas or don't exchange gifts for Christmas, then list up to seven gifts you received for your birthday or another special occasion.

How ironic. I purposely didn't write up a "brag list" of what I got for Christmas on my own blog, but I'll just go ahead and spill my guts for the purpose of the Sunday Seven! We should get Scott in on this - I got him a car vacuum and mixing bowls (along with some fun stuff).

'it's a small world' hula girl Christmas ornament - possibly the best gift because I had forgotten that I wanted it, and it wasn't on my list. It's nice to know that he listens to me when I gush!
pink striped shirt, which I picked out from JCPenney.com in order to get free shipping on something we'd purchased for someone else.
salt water taffy
pink vibrating...toothbrush
Rosie the Riveter lunch box - which is acting as a diet tool since it's too small to hold the amount of food I usually pack for dinner.
the big fat color-illustrated hardcover version of the complete Chronicles of Narnia
Target gift card that's shaped like a candy cane...and it's scratch & sniff (from my Secret Santa at work)

Saturday Six for 12/24

2005-12-25T11:27:00.000-05:00

Play along at Patrick's Weekender!

1. Which of the following generally costs you more: a normal trip to your barber/hairstylist, your usual lunch at your favorite restaurant, the most recent amount you paid to fill up your gas tank, or your biggest single contribution to a single charity in 2005?
that would be the contribution to a single charity. actually two charities got more than any of those other things...not that that's saying much!

2. What drink -- alcoholic or not -- do you drink entirely too much of?
iced tea. it's a vice. but at least I've switched to decaf

3. Did you receive a Christmas card from anyone you didn't send one to? Did you send them a belated card in return?
yes. but Scott and I sent all of our Christmas cards this year to wounded soldiers at Walter Reed. all of our family got a link to an e-card. I also got a ton at work that I wasn't expecting...and those I actually feel bad for not returning. people there probably think I'm a total Scrooge!

4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): What is most important in your life?
Family is most important in your life. (25%) Having a high focus on family indicates that you are a loving and nurturing person. You want to have a nice big family of your own, and you are very close with your siblings and parents. Other categories: Health (20%), Career (15%), Love (15%), Fun (15%), Money (10%)

5. Before taking the quiz, which of its categories (career, love, money, health, family or fun) would you have said would be your answer?
Probably love. I think my "love" score went down because I said I wouldn't be heartbroken if a fortune teller said I'd never find true love. But that's because I don't believe in fortune tellers!

6. Do you believe in soulmates? Do you think that there are at least one out there for every person, that there is a single "true" soulmate for every person, or that there aren't soulmates for everyone?
I don't really believe in soulmates at all. I do think that there's someone for everyone (believe me...I know some real doozies who are happily married), but I think it's more of a conscious decision to be happy together than a Cupid's-arrow-to-the-heart thing.

Twelve Days of Christmas - Theme Park Edition

2005-12-20T23:31:00.000-05:00

Tis the season for families to descend upon Central Florida like a plague of locusts seeking visions of sugar plums. Those of us in the hospitality industry view this time of year with a combination of excitement and dread. It's one of the busiest times of the year, so the overtime abounds. And even though most of us have to work on Christmas day, we do still find ways to celebrate with our loved ones. People also really force themselves to make perfect memories, and when something goes wrong, we get yelled at. A lot. People drink more, they eat more, they buy more - it's a retailer's dream. It's just not a retail worker's dream. Or a hotel worker's dream. Or a theme park worker's dream.

Anyway, last year I came up with a song to spread Busy Season's Greetings to my friends and fellow soldiers in the trenches of comfort and joy. I would now like to share it with all of you. (and may it not rain on Christmas again this year)

The 12 Days of Christmas

** theme park edition **

On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me a park guest in a bad mood

On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me two transients and a park guest in a bad mood

<in the interest of time and my own sanity, I will now fast-forward to the final verse>

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me:

Twelve suckers spending,
Eleven crazies ranting,
Ten moms-a-yelling,
Nine babies crying,
Eight drunks-a-drinking,
Seven drinks-a-spilling,
Six thieves-a-taking,
F i v e . . . m i s s i n g . . . r i n g s ,
Four calling jerks,
Three bad checks,
Two transients,
and a park guest in a bad mood

Two Memes for the Price of One!

2005-12-19T02:37:00.000-05:00

Saturday Six and Sunday Seven in the same entry? Well, since Patrick put them both out on the same day, I'd call it appropriate! I'm also doing them in redro esrever!

Sunday Seven for 12/18
What are your all-time favorite television commercials? If "favorite" isn't the right word for you, then what are the seven that tend to stand out the most in your mind? You can use the TV Guide list for some ideas if you're drawing a blank.

Ahh...commercials...the lettuce in the sandwich that is television. As a kid, I could recite almost every commercial on TV. Now that I'm married (to a man...you know how they get with the remote!) I don't really see a lot of commercials anymore. So here's my list of classics, without using the TV Guide list:

1. "Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun..." I must confess that I don't even really like the Big Mac, but every now and then I get one and sing this song to myself as I drip "special sauce" all over the place!
2. "Where's the beef?"

Walt Disney World commercials could easily make up my whole Top Seven, but here are my two absolute favorites:

3. Happiest Celebration on Earth commercial where all of the Disney characters are headed to Disneyland. Watching Stitch on a motorcycle, Cinderella running through NYC, Genie and Iago on camel trekking through the desert, and Mickey driving Herbie always makes me laugh.
4. WDW commercial starring a little boy meeting all the Disney characters, but somehow misses Mickey Mouse. At the end of his vacation, he sees Mickey and runs up to him and says, "I've been waiting my whole life to meet you!"

5. "This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?" There was a t-shirt mocking the commercial that I begged my mom for. It had a picture of a plate of bacon & eggs and said "this is your brain on drugs with bacon and toast." I never got the shirt.

6. California raisins: "I Heard it Through the Grapevine." I once went to a kid's birthday party and little plastic figurines of the raisin dudes were in our goody bags. That's how you know a commercial is good - it spawns its own merchandising!

And a current commercial to round-off the list:

7. Levi's commercial in which a guy fabricates a knock-off of his favorite jeans with stains and holes to give to his girlfriend when he goes away. As soon as the bus drives off, leaving her cuddling her man's pants, he pulls off his sweatpants, revealing the actual jeans underneath. ha!

Saturday Six for 12/17
1. How much of your Christmas shopping and holiday card mailing do you have left to accomplish? When do you expect to finish it if you haven't already?
I still have to buy Scott's stocking stuffers. I plan to go Thursday before work and wrap Friday before work. We still haven't sent the pile of cards to Walter Reed...really need to get on that tomorrow morning!

2. When giving gifts to co-workers or casual friends, how much importance do you place on the value of the gift you're giving them versus the value of the gift you imagine they're giving you?
Call me Scrooge, but I don't give gifts to co-workers or casual friends. Except my Secret Santa, who is getting $20-$25 worth of gifts as outlined in the rules.

3. What are you secretly hoping someone will give you for Christmas that you haven't specifically asked for?
I've asked for everything under $100. That leaves the stand mixer, the cruise (although at this point I'll settle for any vacation), and the $700 digital camera with optional manual focus. I'm not really holding out hope that I'll get any of these!

4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): Which Jones Holiday Soda Flavor are you?
I am pecan pie soda - sweet but totally nuts

5. Would you actually try that flavor?
I hate pecans, but I'll try almost anything once. I doubt I'd ask for seconds though!

6. If you could step into the life of any fictional Christmas character -- Scrooge, Rudolph, Frost, etc. -- and live that part, which character would you choose and why?
Rudolph! He's the original saver of Christmas! Even better than Ernest! Besides, I love stories where the little guy triumphs.

Tuesday Two for 12/13

2005-12-14T11:16:00.000-05:00

Play along at Patrick's Weekender

The last time I tackled the Songs question, I went with Question A. This time around, I guess I'll answer Question B:

What was the last song you heard on the radio that really hit a nerve with you? What about it made you really feel like it was written about you?

The only one I can think of is Kelly Clarkson's Because of You. I don't really feel it was written about me, but they play it so much on the local pop station that it's been permanently embedded in my psyche.

Of course, if we expand the list to include songs not necessarily heard on the radio, my answer would change to "Someone Like You" from the musical Jekyll & Hyde. It touched my heart the minute I heard it, and I've been lucky enough to perform it a couple of times, including my mom's church, and my wedding.

Sunday Seven for 12/11

2005-12-11T18:26:00.000-05:00

Wow! I'm actually playing on the correct day for a change. Amazing what bronchitis does for your non-work productivity! Play along at Patrick's Weekender.

What are your top seven favorite Christmas songs? Use ASCAP's list for an idea starter, but you need not pull your seven only from that list. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, list up to seven holiday songs you like to hear this time of year.

My favorite Christmas/winter songs are ones that show emotion. The holidays are wonderful when you're with loved ones, and can be pretty terrible when you're not. Not all holiday emotions are sugar-sweet, laced with chocolate chips and egg nog. I think my list reflects that.

Hallelujah - Handel's Messiah: a favorite to sing
O Holy Night: although she's not my personal favorite, Celine Dion has a nice version
I'll Be Home for Christmas: being in hospitality and working on Christmas day makes this one especially poignant for me. And every time I hear it and think of the kids in the Armed Forces overseas I get choked up
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Meet Me in St. Louis: Judy Garland kicked @$$ every time she sang
Hard Candy Christmas - Best Little Whorehouse in Texas: not actually a Christmas song, but I still love it
Baby It's Cold Outside: because Christmas needed a little 'sexy'
The Christmas Song: Nat King Cole's version is still my favorite

Saturday Six for 12/10

2005-12-11T02:32:00.000-05:00

Play along with the Saturday Six either here or at Patrick's Weekender!

1. You're producing a school program for the holidays and you learn that there will be major objections if you include in your musical selections the traditional Christmas hymns that reference the "true meaning of Christmas." Assuming that there are secular tunes (like "Frosty the Snowman") already included in the program, what do you do with the hymns? Do you allow them to go as is, do you use the melody and rewrite the words, do you include as many pieces of music from other religions as possible, or do you remove all but the secular songs? When they write a piece of secular music half as moving as O Holy Night or half as spectacular as Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, I'll consider substituting them for the Christmas classics. Until then, let people complain. The songs are classics. As is.

2. What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done at this point? When do you expect to have it finished if you haven't already finished? gee...I think I'm about 75% done. Of course, I've ordered some things online that haven't yet arrived, but I trust that they're coming. When I finish depends a lot on whether or not I get a bonus at work (which I find out on Monday) and when Scott and I can put our heads together to iron out some "from both of us" gifts. I'm aiming for next Saturday.

3. What was your favorite board game to play as a kid? Is it still your favorite now? Chutes & Ladders! It's not still my favorite. The only ones I played as a kid that I still play are Parcheesi and Sorry...and the occasional Pay Day or Life...and Clue... I just love board games!!

4. Take this quiz What famous artist should paint your portrait?

Salvador Dali should paint your portrait. You love to think about the world in a different way then everyone else. You are very ambitious, and you like strange things. You are curious about everything and love to learn.

5. How accurate is this quiz's description of you? First I'd like to say that Dali creeps me the heck out! He is, however, Scott's artist of choice. So if I were going to commission a great (dead) artist to paint me, he'd be the one. And I totally agree with the description of me.

6. If you could go back in time and have one more picture taken with a deceased loved one, who would you select and why? Wow...that's a no-brainer. It would be Muggy, my great-grandmother on my dad's side. In the last two pictures I have of me and her, I'm sticking out my tongue in one, and holding up a MAD Magazine in the other. In my defense, I was 12ish...that's what adolescents do.

Everyone Loves an E-mail Quiz!

2005-12-09T02:39:00.000-05:00

I received this quiz today three times! Scott started it, and then Janette and Cathi replied. Here are my answers:

1. What time is it? 2:40 am
2. Name: Jamie
3. Nickname: Harmermer, Jamilyn
4. What is the most recent movie you've seen in the theatre? Harry Potter 4
5. Eye color: Blue
6. Birth place: Philly
7. Favorite foods: enchiladas, banana bread, pumpkin cheesecake
8. Ever been to Africa? no
9. Ever been t.p.-ing? no
10. Love someone so much it made you cry? oui
11. Ever been in a car accident? yes - four car accidents and a bus accident that sent 100+ people to the hospital
12. Croutons or bacon bits: croutons
13. Favorite day of the week: Monday - not only is it "my friday," but I watch my Sunday night TV shows on Monday morning!
14. Favorite restaurants: Carrabbas, Tony's Town Square
15. Favorite flower: cala lillies
16. Fave sport to watch: Penn State Football
17. Favorite drink: iced tea
18. Favorite ice cream: cookie dough
19. Disney or Warner Brothers: Disney
20. Favorite fast food restaurant: Wendy's - where else can you get a jr. bacon cheeseburger and a caesar side salad for $2.50?
21. What is the color of the carpet under your bed? tan berber
22. Have you failed your driver's test? once - parallel parking sealed my fate
23. How many tickets have you gotten in your driving career? zero - knocking serious wood right now!
24. Before this one, from whom did you get your last e-mail? Tom Tamburello, thanking me for the Christmas e-card
25. At which stores would you choose to max out your credit card this week? E-bay
26. What do you do most often when you are bored? Sleep, blog
27. Bedtime: between 1am and 3am
28. Who will respond to this e-mail the quickest? n/a, but my mom might comment
29. Favorite TV shows: Desperate Housewives, Gray's Anatomy, American Idol, The Apprentice, and of course The Daily Show
30. Last person you went to dinner with: Mr. McPooter, for our anniversary
31. Ford or Chevy: Saturn
32. What are you listening to right now? Good Eats - Scott is watching it
33. What is your favorite color? Blue
34. How many tattoos do you have? None
35. How many pets do you have? 2 evil kitties
36. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? the egg.
37. How many people are you sending this e-mail to? n/a
38. Who is going to spend the most time on this to make sure they are answering each question with a witty and appropriate answer? n/a

Tuesday Two for 12/6

2005-12-07T19:30:00.000-05:00

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC:

THE FUTURE

QUESTION A:You are given the chance to open one of three
envelopes. The first, labelled "WHEN," will reveal the exact date and time of your death; the second, labelled "HOW," will reveal the method of your demise, and the third, marked "VALUE," would reveal how much or how little you will be remembered after you're gone. If you had to select and read the contents of one of the envelopes, which would you choose and why?

or

QUESTION B:You receive an email that is sent to you from
yourself 10 years in the future. After reading the first paragraph, you
recognize your distinctive style and there are enough authenticating details to eliminate any doubt but that the letter is -- somehow -- from your future self. The second paragraph indicates that there are three critical dates coming in the next ten years that you need to be aware of, so that you can make "better decisions" than the ones this future self made. If the scenarios described did NOT contain the actual decision this alternate you already made, but only focused on what conflict you'd be faced with so that you could have advance notice to think about how you might react, would you be willing to read about those three events?

Frankly, Question B reminds me way too much of the book From Time to Time by Jack Finney. So I'm going with Question A. And my answer is VALUE. Honestly, I'm not famous. And I doubt I'll ever be famous. If I vanished off the face of the earth today, I think only a handful of people would remember me next week. I don't want to know when I'm going to die, and I don't want to know how I'm going to die, but I think I could handle knowing how much I'll be remembered.

Play along with the Tuesday Two at Patrick's Weekender.

Sunday Seven for 12/4/05

2005-12-04T11:52:00.000-05:00

What holiday movies or television specials are a regular part of your family's holiday rituals? Are there certain movies or shows that you really like to watch year after year? List up to seven productions that really help get you in the spirit of the season.

Ya know, I'm really not all that excited about most holiday movies and TV, but here's a list of my favorites:

Walt Disney World Christmas Parade, which I have watched since I was very little. Mickey and Santa in the same parade...what could be better???
Home Alone - nothing says 'happy holidays' like a hot iron to the face!
Scrooged - no one says "God bless us, every one" better than Mary Lou Retton
A Christmas Story - although I must admit the evil santa and elves in the department store really freaked me out as a kid!
Bad Santa - ok, there's no holiday spirit in this one...it's pure BAD. It really is funny though.
Macy's Thanksgiving Parade - which steps off the holiday season on the right foot.
New Years Day Mummers Parade - if you don't know what a Mummer is, you obviously aren't from Philly or the surrounding area.

Saturday Six for 12/3/05

2005-12-04T00:42:00.000-05:00

1. Is it a "Christmas Tree" or a "Holiday Tree?"
In my house, it's a Christmas tree.

2. When you purchase a DVD, what of the following are you most interested in watching first: the movie itself, the director's commentary, the deleted scenes, the bloopers or the behind-the-scenes documentary, and why?
I generally watch the movie first, but if it's something I've seen recently I may go straight for the special features. I *love* commentaries, but sometimes I get bored and turn them off halfway through. Deleted scenes are my least favorite. Really, they were cut for a reason...why resurrect them?!?

3. What would you most like to accomplish before the year is over?
You're not giving me much time here! I'd like to buy some Christmas presents, get a tree, decorate said tree, spend some time with family and friends, bring home some paychecks... I'm not making any grand plans!

4. Take this quiz: After you enter your birthday, you'll be given a lot of facts about your age and astrology: How old are you in dog years?
3.82504892367906 years old. (Life's just a big chewy bone for me!)

5. From the same quiz, what does it say your "Life Path Number" is, and do you agree with its description? I'm a 5. I hi-lighted what I agree with in green, and what I disagree with in red...
A Life Path 5 person is usually very versatile, adventurous, and progressive. With a 5 life path, you are one of those people who is always striving to find answers to the many questions that life poses. You want to be totally unrestrained, as this is
the sign of freedom and independence. You abhor routine and boring work, and you are not very good at staying with everyday tasks that must be finished on time. You are, however, a good communicator, and you know how to motivate
people around you, perhaps inclining you to be a teacher of some sort. A love of adventure may dominate your life. This may take the form of mental or physical manifestation, but in either case, you thrill to the chance for exploration and blazing new trails. You are apt to be multi-talented, but just as likely to suffer from some lack of direction, and there is often some confusion surrounding your ambition. On the average, the number 5 personality is rather happy-go-lucky; living for today, and not worrying too much about tomorrow.
It is important for you to mix with people of a like mind, and try to avoid
those that are too serious and demanding. It is also important for you to find a job that provides thought-provoking tasks rather than routine and redundant responsibilities. You do best dealing with people, but the important thing is that you have the freedom to express yourself at all times. You have an innate ability to think through complex matters and analyze them quickly, but then be off to something new.
In the most negative application or use of the 5 energies, you could become very
irresponsible in tasks and decisions concerning your home and business life. The
total pursuit of sensation and adventure can result in your becoming
self-indulgent and totally unaware of the feelings of those around you. In the
worse case situations negative 5's are very undependable and self-serving.

6. Do you have a piece of jewelry with your birthstone in it? If so, how often do you wear it?
My birthstone is aquamarine, and I'm not really all that fond of it. I have one ring that belonged to my great grandmother, and have had some pendants over time, but I rarely wear any jewelry at all except my wedding set. And there's definitely no aquamarines there!

Tuesday Two for 11/29

2005-11-30T22:13:00.000-05:00

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC: CHARITY

QUESTION A: Many charities are concerned about "donor fatigue," a phenomenon that occurs when there are a series of natural disasters that increase the need for donations (and thereby increase the number of appeals from charities for help). Do you think "donor fatigue" really exists, or do you believe that only a small percentage will give no matter what, or do you believe something in between?

QUESTION B: Are there any charities that you regularly donate to, and if so, did this past year's disasters change how much you gave to which organizations?

I'm going with B. I donate a small amount out of my paycheck each week to the Central Florida United Way. They support a lot of positive programs in the community, and everything I donate STAYS in Central Florida...which makes me feel like a real part of the community. After hurricane Katrina, Scott and I evaluated our funds and did make a donation to the Red Cross. A drop in the bucket? Sure. But since neither of us is Bill Gates, I'm proud that we tried to help. (and I'm still giving the same amount to the United Way that I gave last year)

I also look forward to doing my part for the Girl Scouts every February...during cookie season. ;o)

Life Quiz

2005-11-29T02:48:00.000-05:00

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:	7.4
Mind:	6.5
Body:	6.1
Spirit:	6
Friends/Family:	5
Love:	9.1
Finance:	7.5
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

Your Life Analysis:

Life: Your life rating is a score of the sum total of your life, and accounts for how satisfied, successful, balanced, capable, valuable, and happy you are. The quiz attempts to put a number on the summation of all of these things, based on your answers. Your life score is reasonably high. This means that you are on a good path. Continue doing what is working and set about to improve in areas which continue to lag. Do this starting today and you will begin to reap the benefits immediately.

Mind: Your mind rating is a score of your mind's clarity, ability, and health. Higher scores indicate an advancement in knowledge, clear and capable thinking, high mental health, and pure thought free of interference. Your mind score is not bad, but could be improved upon. Your mental health is not weak, but you are not achieving full mental clarity and function. Learn how to unclutter your mind. Keep learning, keep improving, continue moving forward.

Body: Your body rating measures your body's health, fitness, and general wellness. A healthy body contributes to a happy life, however many of us are lacking in this area. Your body score is fairly average, which means there is room for improvement. Keep a focus on your physical health. Protect your body as it is your most valuable physical asset. Nutrition, stress reduction, and exercise are key.

Spirit: Your spirit rating seeks to capture in a number that elusive quality which is found in your faith, your attitude, and your philosophy on life. A higher score indicates a greater sense of inner peace and balance. Your spirit score leaves room for improvement. Consider making a concerted effort to redefine your attitudes and focus your beliefs. Boosting your spirit will lead to greater life satisfaction.

Friends/Family: Your friends and family rating measures your relationships with those around you, and is based on how large, healthy, and dependable your social network is. Your friends and family score is not bad but can be improved. Maintain your current social net, while you try to expand it. Try new things and form new friendships. You will be rewarded greatly.

Love: Your love rating is a measure of your current romantic situation. Sharing your heart with another person is one of life's most glorious, terrifying, rewarding experiences. Your love score is very high, which means you are in a very happy situation right now. Do all you can to keep it strong.

Finance: Your finance rating is a score that rates your current financial health and stability. You have a rather good financial score, which is not all that common these days. Keep doing what works. Avoid common pitfalls and save for the future. You will be glad you did.

Goin' BACK Down to South Park

2005-11-29T02:35:00.000-05:00

Scott wanted to create his own South Park Jamie and South Park Scott. Enjoy version 2.0!

Goin' Down to South Park...

2005-11-29T02:07:00.000-05:00

Oh the joy I have had creating South Park Jamie and South Park Scott. Really, I think I hit both of our animated personas right on the head! Interested in making your own? Just visit here! (found at by the way...)

Sunday Seven for 11/27

2005-11-28T12:19:00.000-05:00

Here's your chance to suggest great gift ideas. Take a quick inventory around your home and select up to seven things that you'd hate to be without or that have made your life easier. They can be technological gadgets or unique spins on old mainstays, but they should be things that might just make good gift suggestions for people trying to come up with just the right idea. (You'd probably want to avoid ultra-common things like "computers" and "televisions," which most people would already have, although if there is a specific kind or something unique about the version you have, then it might make a good response.)

Really, my list isn't all that technological. Why? Because technology is expensive! Oh yeah - and because I don't have a lot of electronics to recommend! But here's my list of gift ideas based on stuff I have in my house:

Netflix subscription - perfect for the movie lover...even better for the movie lover with a DVD burner (not me...don't send the Feds to my door!)
Digital camera
Coffee maker with timer
Personalized coffee table book from MyPublisher.com
Digital thermometer with probe (one of Scott's favorite kitchen gadgets)
Sink-based water filtration system - ours is pur, but the filters are more expensive than the new version so we don't actually use it anymore.
GameFly subscription - Scott's contribution to the list - for the man who wants to quit his job and play video games all the time!

Granted, this isn't my wish list. Aside from GameFly, I stuck with the rules of the game and came up with things that are in the house already. And I really do think that if you know your audience that any of these would make a pretty decent gift.

By Popular Demand...

2005-11-28T01:52:00.000-05:00

Jamie's 2005 Christmas Wish List

Disney Mix Stix - classic chrome
Penn State t-shirt (like this one - nothing tacky with big graphics!)
Rosie the Riveter lunch box
Chronicles of Narnia (Special Edition hardcover, with color illustrations - it's an heirloom thing - I'm not interested in paperbacks)
Phantom of the Opera DVD
Batman Begins DVD
Wicked Soundtrack CD (I think there's only one edition -- key names to look for: Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel)
RENT soundtrack CD (movie preferred, but original Broadway cast is ok too)
CD storage that attaches to the sun visor in my car

Jamie's 2005 Necessities List

knee-high stockings in nude
unmentionables (sizes available to non-creepy people upon request)
things I can wear to work, especially cardigans or 3/4-sleeve sweaters (solids or stripes only - refer to dislike of tacky above), size XL or 2X depending on tightness
hair dryer with more than two settings, preferably of better quality than the $8.50 Wal Mart model I bought myself

Scott's Wish List

Pocket Knife-Gerber Assisted Opening, number 58 on the big list o' knives at Wal-mart
The Matrix, Path of Neo-Playstation 2 game
Small Bar-b-que grill - leaning towards charcoal

Saturday Six for 11/26

2005-11-27T11:37:00.000-05:00

1. Have you ever had a dream that you felt was a message from some "higher power?" Do you think it's possible to receive such messages through dreams?
Nope...I also don't have dreams forecasting the future. I don't believe you're any more likely to get a message from a "higher power" in a dream than in any other state.

2. How much does a person's musical preference tell you about them?
I think mine tells you quite a bit - I don't want to listen to anything I can't sing along with. I never want to be left out of anything...unless I choose to be left out.

3. What time did you get up Friday morning? Were you part of the shopping madness?
I got up around 11:30. Sounds late, I know, but I didn't get to sleep until about 3am. And I'm sick. As for shopping - HECK NO!!! I hate crowds, I hate aggressive people arguing over the last XBox, and most of those stores were offering the same prices online during the crazy-early hours.

4. Take this quiz: What religion do you fit in with?
You fit in with:Spiritualism
Your ideals are mostly spiritual, but in an individualistic way. While spirituality is very important in your life, organized religion itself may not be for you. It is best for you to seek these things on your own terms.
60% spiritual.60% reason-oriented.

5. Is the answer you received the religion you feel you really do fit in with?
This is really a spot-on definition of my beliefs. What irritates me about it is that if you look at the graph (if you don't take the quiz for yourself, it's on Patrick's site), I'm apparently the polar opposite of Christianity. Oh well...at least I was far away from Scientology too!

6. Do you have any special nicknames for your significant other when you're annoyed or irritated with them? If so, give us a few of them (NO PROFANITY, please).
Who says I'm ever annoyed or irritated with my significant other? lol...ok... Usually at that point there are no pet names - just the First-Middle-Last-Name combo reserved for special occasions.

Angel Eyes? Not Quite!

2005-11-27T01:58:00.000-05:00

You have the eyes of an alligator in the water.
It's hard to tell who you are and how you feel.
You could be a crocodile, alligator, or just a
big lizard. You keep certain things hidden
about yourself, and that's what makes people
see you as mysterious. There are some who know
how you really are, but those are the people
you enjoy being around with and who are close
to you. You enjoy alone time, but being with
others is okay to you as well. People don't
really pester you because they really don't
know what you're capable of doing. Hmm...could
be a good thing.

What Animal Eyes Do You Have?
brought to you by Quizilla

I found this over at Patrick's Place. I rather like what it said - I'm cool with being an alligator!

Blogging Quiz

2005-11-25T01:56:00.000-05:00

wow...I guess I don't know Jack! How wrong they were about blogs boring me...I guess I care more about what people write than Internet History 101. (bitter, party of one...)

Well, You Know What a Blog Is...

You got 4/8 correct!

But, truthfully, most blogs probably bore you.

How Much Do You Know About Blogging?

Tuesday Two

2005-11-23T12:19:00.000-05:00

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC: THE COURTROOM

QUESTION A: Do you believe the current "jury of one's peers" system is the right way to go, or should local citizens be elected or appointed to serve as "professional jurors" to hear criminal cases, and why.

QUESTION B: If a simple, painless and foolproof "lie detector" system could be developed that could be applied to the accused in criminal cases, removing the possibility that an innocent person could possibly be convicted, would you be in favor of that system being used universally in all court cases to determine who is telling the truth, and why?

I'm going with Question A here. I think that if "professional jurors" were elected, the jury would be skewed. In my area here, the jury would probably be made up of ultra-conservative retirees. Considering that ultra-conservative retirees aren't really "peers" to those commiting crimes, I can see a big problem right off the bat.

Besides, I had to do jury duty once and it was an interesting way to spend a day. Even John Kerry enjoyed his day on a jury!

Ugh...Science test!

2005-11-22T01:55:00.000-05:00

I found some typos in the test...which makes me feel smart. I got one wrong though...which makes me feel not-so-smart. Thanks for the link, mom!

You Passed 8th Grade Science

Congratulations, you got 7/8 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Science?

Coffee Talk

2005-11-21T12:33:00.000-05:00

You Are a Frappuccino

At your best, you are: fun loving, sweet, and modern

At your worst, you are: childish and over indulgent

You drink coffee when: you're craving something sweet

Your caffeine addiction level: low

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

found at Patrick's Place

Sunday Seven

2005-11-21T02:05:00.000-05:00

Name the top seven stores where you are most likely to do the majority of your Christmas shopping this year. If you can't name seven, name as many up to seven as you can. You can also include online retailers, too.

This is so hard because at the moment, everyone on my shopping list is getting Frances' $1900 transmission for Christmas. Assuming that I get the December top-out bonus and have money to buy Christmas presents, I'll be doing my shopping at:

Wal Mart - right across the street, and the price is right
World of Disney - and any other shop on Disney property
Barnes & Noble (.com)
DisneyDirect.com
eRollTide.com - for my Bama fan
eBay - the world's junk shop
somewhere I can get a new pocket knife for my crazy redneck husband

But really people...if you're on my gift list, don't be surprised if you get a card with a picture of my car in it. Between that and the wedding anniversary, I'm actually glad we don't have any kids -they'd be awfully disappointed with the lack of toys.

Big Ten Champions!!

2005-11-20T15:25:00.000-05:00

The boys of Happy Valley sealed their fate as Big Ten champs yesterday with a victory over old nemesis Michigan State. And since Miami forgot to show up for their game, PSU has moved up to #4 in the nation. I only wish that Bama hadn't fallen apart...I was starting to enjoy the idea of playing them in a bowl game. And now, please join me in singing Fight on State:

Fight on State
Fight on State
Strike your gait and win,
Victory we predict for thee
We’re ever true to you, dear old White and Blue.
Onward State,
Onward State,
Roar, Lions, roar:
We’ll hit that line, roll up the score,
Fight on to victory ever more,
Fight on, on, on, on, on, Fight on, on, Penn State!

Audio clip courtesy of fightmusic.com, and lyrics courtesy of blueband.com.

Saturday Six

2005-11-20T01:57:00.000-05:00

1. What was the last movie you watched at a theater completely alone? Would you have enjoyed it more or less if you had gone with someone to see it?
I saw Just Like Heaven one afternoon by myself. I don't like seeing comedies alone, because I laugh really loud, but romantic stuff and cry-movies I think I'm better off by myself!

2. What was the last non-sexual thing you did around the house completely naked?
blow-dried my hair

3. How well do you know your neighbors? Would you like to know them better or not know them?
I don't know my neighbors at all. Well, I know that the people across from us leave their garbage bags out in the hall (in all fairness, I do that with the bag-o-cat-poop too), and that the people downstairs had a knock-down-drag-out fight at 4:30 yesterday morning, complete with door slamming. Really, perhaps it's best that none of us knows eachother!

4. Take this quiz: How much of a conspiracy nut are you?

You are 37% Conspiracy Nut

You are a little bit of a conspiracy nut. You know about the big conspiracies - but it doesn't take up too much of your time. You have accepted that people lie, and get away with everything - so you don't dwell on the Loch Ness Monster too often.

5. Of the following "conspiracies" mentioned in that quiz, which single one would you most like the "truth" about and why?
Gee...probably aliens. After all, who did build the pyramids?

6. If you had to create a slogan that defined your life, what would it be?
well, the first thing that popped into my head was, "You aren't the sun. The Earth doesn't revolve around you. And anyone who tells you otherwise is probably your mother." But that's really more of a slogan that defines what I think about everyone else's life. Perhaps a line from Toy Story 2: "I packed your angry eyes...just in case." Again, it doesn't define my life, but I don't like to take myself too seriously.

Right or Wrong?

2005-11-19T11:59:00.000-05:00

You are right. People like you make Richard Nixon proud.

Are You Right Or Wrong?

Quiz stolen from Janette, who is also right.

Baaaaa

2005-11-18T12:25:00.000-05:00

You Are A: Lamb!

Peaceful and gentle, lambs have been used in religious imagery for millennia. Lambs are baby sheep, an animal tended by shephards since the dawn of history. As a lamb, you tend to stay together in a flock and graze on grassy land. Lambs don't mind being led and tend not to go off on their own.

You were almost a: Pony or a Bunny
You are least like a: Squirrel or a Parakeet What Cute Animal Are You?

Found at Erika's World, which I found browsing through my new blog community

IQ Test

2005-11-17T14:10:00.000-05:00

Your IQ Is 115

Your Logical Intelligence is Below Average

Your Verbal Intelligence is Exceptional

Your Mathematical Intelligence is Exceptional

Your General Knowledge is Above Average

BELOW average? gee...I'm a little bitter. C'mon Scott...step up to the plate!

A Quick and Dirty IQ Test

Photo Shoot

2005-11-16T21:42:00.000-05:00

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Display a picture you've taken of a famous man-made landmark. Significant buildings, big statues, great walls (particularly in China) -- if people put it together, it counts.

It's probably cheating to use a picture of Cinderella's Castle. If my mom lived closer, I would have been able to scan some pictures of British landmarks from our family vacation when I was 8.

On the bright side, there's probably no one out there who couldn't immediately identify this as a Disney castle...probably even more people than could identify the Tower of London.

I took this picture in May, right at the beginning of the current Disney marketing scheme, The Happiest Celebration on Earth, celebrating the 50th (golden) anniversary of Disneyland in California.

Want to see some other people's landmark photos? Visit Scalzi at By The Way...

The Move

2005-11-16T15:51:00.000-05:00

I, along with most other AOL journalers I regularly read, have left my AOL Journals space and am starting fresh here. Hopefully I'll have something fun and interesting to post soon. :o)

Journal Jar #5

2005-07-03T17:22:00.000-04:00

Question 5 - scouts anyone? Did you belong to girl/boy scouts? Tell something about that.

I was in Girl Scouts for a good chunk of my childhood. In second grade when I lived in Lauder Hill, my mom was the cookie mom. We had cookie boxes piled up sooo high. Our cathedral ceiling made that so much more impressive.

When we moved to Marlton, I met a lot of my friends through scouting. Of course, most of the girls from my early GS memories became teen mothers, alcoholics, pathological liars, smokers, drop-outs...but we sure had fun roasting marshmallows and singing camp songs.

Oh I don't wanna go to Girl Scout Camp
Gee mom I wanna go...
But they won't let me go...
Please mom I wanna go home!

Journal Jar #4

2005-07-02T17:21:00.000-04:00

Question 4 - Between the age of 5 & 10, what was your favorite activity?

When we lived in Marlton, we used to take afternoon/evening walks with Lynne and her mom and sister Katie to the playground. There was the close playground with one of those squeaky carousel things, and the far playground, which was all the way up Carlton Ave, which had newer equipment, including a tire swing.

It seemed to take forever to walk there and back, but we loved the swings and the slides. When Lynne and I were allowed to ride our bikes around without adults during the summer, we would go to the close park and stay there for ages, riding our bikes along the bumpy dirt trail that ran the length of the field. We really thought we were world class dirt bikers, out there on our pink and purple bikes!

Journal Jar #3

2005-07-02T17:19:00.000-04:00

Question 3 - flowers - If you could be a flower, what would you be and why?

Gee...I'd probably be a marigold or a dandelion -- something hearty and useful yet unappreciated. Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying I'm unappreciated. But I'm certainly not some delicate froo froo flower that people go ga ga over.

Journal Jar #2

2005-07-01T17:17:00.000-04:00

Question 2 - Games children play - What games did you play in your house or neighborhood?

Gee...I don't really know. I remember playing wedding a lot, which sometimes morphed into house. Mom taught me almost every board game under the sun when I was little. Really - Risk? Come on! We'd get together with Lynne's family and play Michigan Rummy, which is one of my fondest card game memories. I wish I could get my hands on a board and teach Scott to play...for pennies...just like we did then.

Of course, I probably also played the games that Hunter and Conner used to force me to play when I was babysitting - hide 'n seek, make a stack of anything and then knock it over, torture the babysitter, etc. :o)

Of course, now that I'm a big kid, Scott and I play rummy or gin, and sometimes get together with our friends for a few games of Texas Hold 'Em.

Journal Jar #1

2005-07-01T17:15:00.000-04:00

Journal Jar #1: Describe your first job. What did it pay? What were your duties? What was your boss like?

I was just thinking about this the other day. My first job was when I was a junior in high school. My mom was working in a Securities office and one of the guys in there needed a little help. I was calling people who had signed up for more information from a retirement seminar, typing, copying, and so on. It was all under the table, and I seem to remember working some full days before school went back, and going over occasionally for a couple hours after school. I have no idea what they paid me, but I think it was like $6/hour or something. At the time it seemed like a LOT of money.

The most fun memory I have of this job though is that my boss Michael looked really young (and was hot), and drove a very expensive-looking red sports car. And whenever he'd come and pick me up from schoool I'd get all sorts of crazy looks from the other kids outside the school.