tagged by lea

I’ve been tagged by Lea Lea, so here goes.
1. Respond and rework. Answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your own invention; add a question of your own.
2. Tag eight other un-tagged people.

What is your current obsession? Afghanistan
Good fika (coffee) place? Blue Bottle kiosk
Do you nap? Not often - but a well-timed Sunday afternoon nap is just about perfect
Who was the last person you hugged? Sad - I'm not sure of the answer...oh wait...friends at rehearsal on Wednesday.
What’s for dinner? Thai food with the gals
What was the last thing you bought? Dinner for Sibling last night
What are you listening to right now? Thumping music from the noon aerobics class at the gym below our office. Every week we can hear it - and sometimes even feel it.
What is your favourite weather? Crisp and sunny
What’s on your bedside table? Clock, coins, lots of books, pens, a few small stuffed animals and mail. I need to clean it off.
What are you currently reading? Inside the Jihad: My Life with Al Qaeda
Say something to the person/s who tagged you: Hi, LeaLea!! Thanks for giving me something to blog today! hahahah :)
If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be? Paris
Favourite vacation spot? Rocky Mountain National Park
Name the things you can’t live without. THINGS? Does music count as a thing? Cellphone, keys, burt's bees chapstick
What would you like to have in your hands right now? hmm. Someone else's hand.
What is your favourite tea flavour? Probably Mighty Leaf's Marrakesh Mint
What would you like to get rid of? Lots of "stuff". Working on it.
What did you want to become as a child? A ballerina. And then a Marine Biologist.
What do you like better, e-mail or telephone calls? Either is fine. Email is usually the easiest way to track me down, though.
Why do you blog? I started due to peer pressure from AZ, and continued as a way to keep in touch with friends all over the place.

Traditions

Describe what goes on for you and your house and your family for Christmas:

My typical Christmas morning begins with my dad waking up everyone else - bringing us all coffee in bed - and scratching our backs. This has been the M.O. in our house for as long as I can remember on *any* morning when I am at home - not just Christmas. Mom usually starts a pot of grits, and we open stockings together (we all play Santa these days for one another). After stockings we eat breakfast, and then head downstairs to the basement where the Christmas tree is and open the wrapped packages. Peppered throughout the morning are phone calls from friends and family scattered across the globe. And music - we definitely listen to Christmas music.

The best thing about Christmas is being with my family and close friends. Truly, I have been blessed with an amazing community back home - and I relish the time I get to spend among my 'tribe' of folks. And the snow - I love a white Christmas, I have to say.

The worst thing about Christmas is some of the stress leading up to the actual holiday. Have you noticed? People get crazy; work gets crazy; traffic gets bad; the end-of-the-year madness sets in.

My gift giving philosophy is that I unabashedly give gifst. Little ones, big ones, random ones. Even anonymously. It is one of my love languages - how I express my love for people. I might go over the top some times - but it's not because I expect a gift in return. Just a "thank you" would suffice. Some folks don't really know how to react to that - but I think it is just a function of how I was raised: my father is like that. He is a shy man, so his words are few, but his expression of love is manifested through giving and his generosity. Both my brother and I picked that up, I think.

Shopping destinations: internet, Borders, cost plus, random stores as I come across them, walgreens.

Budget: Um...I don't really have one. I have folks I get Christmas packages for every year, and I try to get an even number of things for the family...but usually, I get something I think a person will really like.

Receiving gifts is not something I expect. It's not why I give. But hey, it's always nice to get gifts, hahah!

Decorations at my house are not up this year. We don't have a tree, but then, I'm not here really during the holidays. My folks' house will be all decked out.

Theme - n/a

The tree was fake. And was taken over by a mouse in the outside storage bin. And is now in the trash.

My decorating wish is to not have a mouse-eaten tree. Next year!

The menu will be traditional and potluck. As usual!

The vibe is loving!

Your best timesaver tips...uh. Can't answer on that one.

The wow factor could be having a white Christmas!

Preparing for guests over New Year's, actually, will entail decrapping the living room.

On the day after Christmas I'll be helping to throw an engagement party for Sibling and his fiancee. Yay!

borrowing a post

...from Buck today, since it is late and I cannot string more than one sentence together...ha!

100 Things I've done/not done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (lived there)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (Only if Louisiana counts!)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (I guess?...odd question)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (Snorkeling)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (assuming fish count)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (George Burns)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cellphone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

iTunes survey

Just a fun thing I've not done in a while...since I put iTunes on my new computer...feel free to fill out your own!

Open iTunes, Winamp or Windows Media Player to answer the following. Go to your library. Answer, no matter how embarrassing it is.

Number of songs: 378
Sort by song -
First Song: Adios (Jennifer Lopez)
Last Song: Your Love Oh Lord (Third Day)

Sort by time-
Shortest song: 0:53 seconds (Janine 2 by Camille)
Longest Song: 18:19 excerpt from The Merry Wives of Windsor (Nicolai)

Sort by artist-
First Artist: Aaron Goldberg
Last Artist: 1 Voice

Sort by album-
First Album: African Salsa
Last Album: The 50 Greatest Love Songs

Search the key word and see how many songs appear:
"Sex": 0
"Death": 0
"Love": 12
"You": 48
"Me": 88
"Drugs": 0
"Hate": 2
Search for your own name, how many?: 1

Do The Shuffle!
Shuffle your library and list the first five songs. No padding your playlist you hipster, you. Be honest!
1) La llave - Eddie Palmieri
2) Pas D'Histoires - Eddie Palmieri
3) Once Again - Matt Redman
4) Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) - Marvin Gaye
5) Feedback - Ojos de Brujo

Finish-the-Sentence meme

1. My uncle once: lost his pants dancing at a formal event (suspenders came undone...)
2. Never in my life: will I smoke a cigarette.
3. When I was five: my brother threw a rock at my eye and I had to wear an eyepatch to kindergarrrrten.
4. High school was: great!
5. I will never forget: my grandparents.
6. Once I met: George Burns, at the DFW airport Crown Room.
7. There’s this girl I know: who writes amazing poetry.
8. Once, at a bar: I was on the winning pub trivia team.
9. By noon, I’m usually: drinking tea.
10. Last night: I cooked and had a lively discussion on James.
11. If only I had: perfect vision!
12. Next time I go to church: will be on Sunday.
13. What worries me most: my parents.
14. When I turn my head left I see: my kitchen.
15. When I turn my head right I see: my door.
16. You know I’m lying when: you look at my face - I'm a horrible liar.
17. What I miss most about the Eighties is: side pony-tails.
18. If I were a character in Shakespeare I’d be: the comic relief.
19. By this time next year: anything could happen!
20. A better name for me would be: Grace - ironically, of course.
21. I have a hard time understanding: extremism.
22. If I ever go back to school: it will be for an M.A.T.
23. You know I like you if: I laugh with you.
24. If I ever won an award, the first person(s) I would thank would be: my family.
25. Take my advice: get enough fiber.
26. My ideal breakfast is: cereal or oatmeal with soy milk, and coffee.
27. A song I love but do not have is: Delicate.
28. If you visit my hometown, I suggest you: drink lots of water.
29. Why won’t people: listen to one another?
30. If you spend a night at my house: you will feel welcome.
31. I’d stop my wedding: if it were the wrong person.
32. The world could do without: IED's.
33. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: watch E.T.
34. My favourite blonde(s): Baby Clark-o in Italy, Addie in FL.
35. Paper clips are more useful than: push pins.
36. If I do anything well it’s: being hospitible.
37. I can’t help but: gush about my sibling.
38. I usually cry: at weddings.
39. My advice to my child/nephew/niece: do your homework.
40. And by the way: don't let anyone tell you you can't pursue your dreams.

The Food Meme

(Stolen from Blackbird)

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you have eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at Very Good Taste linking to your results.

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding - does boudin noir count? If so, then yes.
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese (never again, I might add...)
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill (maybe...not knowingly, anyways...ha)
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

what else would you use a search engine for, anyway?

aka "Life according to google" as shamelessly borrowed from Wyld.

Using Google, type in the following and choose the first result to pop up.
(I used my real first name in the search).

1. [your name] needs:
MezzoSF needs rescue to get out alive.

2. [your name] looks like:
MezzoSF looks like Shania twain there.

3. [your name] does:
MezzoSF does it while baking a cake.

4. [your name] hates:
MezzoSF hates her life.

5. [your name] goes:
MezzoSF goes air guitar on the vaccuum.

6. [your name] loves:
MezzoSF loves it radio.

7. [your name] eats:
MezzoSF eats spinach, peas & basil!

8. [your name] has:
MezzoSF has talent and will grow into the woman and artist God intends her to be.

9. [your name] won't:
MezzoSF won't be immune to something like this.

10. [your name] can't:
MezzoSF can't rock just yet because she's a raw talent and not yet coherent in theme.

11. [your name] wants:
MezzoSF wants to become a successful and talented singer, songwriter, and performer.

12. [your name] makes:
MezzoSF makes something most foul, yet she thinks it's sooooo funny!

13. [your name] killed:
MezzoSF killed her dad and then committed suicide, so why bother to watch?

Soundtrack Meme

After that last post, I needed something less intense. I stumbled upon this meme somwhere in my blog-wanders (can't remember where...ack!) and thought it was a fun twist on the classic music-shuffle meme. I'm tagging all of you. HA!

If my life were a movie, this would be my soundtrack.
(Place MP3 player on shuffle, press play, and for every section list whichever song comes up next)

Opening Credits: Freedom for my people – U2

Waking up: Tiempo de vals – Chayanne (“waltz time”)

Falling in love: Like I love You – Justin Timberlake featuring Clipse

Fight song: Bébert – Baguette Quartette

Break up song: Virtual Reality – Rusted Root

Making Up: What A Difference A Day Made – Jaime Cullum version

Life’s Okay: Viviendo ("Living") – Marc Anthony

Mental Breakdown: Hasta Que Vuelvas Conmigo ("Until you come back to me") - Marc Anthony

Driving: Runaway Love – En Vogue

Flashbacks: 9 de Julio - Baguette Quartette

Happy Dance: El cuarto de Tula - Buena Vista Social Club

Regret: Mon Coeur s’oeuvre a ta voix – from Samson & Dahlila by Saint-Saens

Final Battle: Red Hill Mining Town – U2

Death Scene: I Feel Fine – The Beatles

Final Credits: All Along The Watchtower – U2 version

Picture meme!

1. What is your current relationship status?

2. What is your current mood?

3. Who is your favorite band/singer?

4. What is your favorite movie?


5. What kind of pets do you have?

6. Where do you live?

7. Where do you work?


8. What do you drive?

9. What did you do on Saturday?

10. What will you do on Sunday?

11. What is your favorite network tv show?

12. Describe yourself?

13. What is your favorite candy?

14. Favorite sport?

(Taken from Bag Blog)

The story thus far . . .

Wyld tagged me with this today...it's a story meme, with different folks adding the next phase to the story.

So here it goes:
- - - - - - - - - -

(Splotchy): I had been shuffling around the house for a few hours and already felt tired. The doorbell rang. I opened the front door and saw a figure striding away from the house, quickly and purposefully. I looked down and saw a bulky envelope. I picked it up. The handwriting was smudged and cramped, and I could only make out a few words.

(FranIam): Despite the throbbing pain in my knees and the dull ache in my lower back, I bent down slowly and picked up the envelope...
Oh no. It did not say this, did it?
Oh yes, it did. It did.
The handwriting was familiar in a way that inspired a cold sweat and a bout of nausea. It was the penmanship of my former husband. You know - the one that was presumed dead.
He disappeared in a suspicious blogging related accident a number of years ago and was never heard from again. I was devastated. I had hated the blog, loathed the thing. What began as a hobby that took but a few minutes a day had morphed into an addiction, the proportions of which could not be measured. It was pure evil.
The blog turned into a cruel and demanding mistress and her siren song was more than I could compete with. One day he left for an evening event, never to return again.
All fingers pointed to one blogger, but I could never get the charges to stick. That one is slick- slick, slick, slick. He can talk a good game and write like nobody's business. But there is something about him, it just is not right.
So my husband was gone, that other one kept blogging and I had to rebuild my life, which I did.
So I finally had the bastard declared dead.
And now this.

(Wyldth1ng): Suddenly the phone rang, and I felt like I was ten inches tall and eerie music was playing in the background.
I went to pick up the phone and the music stopped.
"Hello?"
Dial tone, no one was there. I glanced back to the door, and there he was. He rushed me and rose his hand and...

Suddenly the phone rang and I just had that "black cat, Friday the 13th" kind of feeling.
I looked out into the world. No one, no one was about. I closed and locked the door and went to answer the phone.
"Hello?"
Dial tone, no one was there. I glanced back at the door and it was locked.
I directed my attention to the envelope; abruptly, I heard a knock at the door.

(MezzoSF): Or what I *thought* was a knock at the door. But somewhere back in the reaches of my brain, I realized something was . . . amiss.
All at once the world snapped back into focus – colors, noises, sounds, images - coming together into a sensory overload.
The knocking grew louder and louder…and as I got my bearings, I realized that it was the clanging of a heavy steel padlock against the doors of a barren van. Well, barren except for me, a semi-dried pool of blood, and the as yet unopened envelope that started this whole thing. Based on the road noise, we seemed to be on a highway - the kaCHUNK kaCHUNK kaCHUNK of the seams in the road kept lopsided time with the knocking of the padlock.
Wincing with pain against an unknown violation throbbing at the back of my skull, I struggled to keep my brain focused…eventually realizing that after that first phone ring, the man rushed up behind me and must have given me a good, old-fashioned pistol-whipping. Unbeknownst to me, my subconscious had been reliving that moment over and over again – attempting to wake me up through a jolt of fear. And when it finally did . . . well . . . here I am.

I tried in vain to recall the man’s features…labored to see through the adrenaline and pain and relive my last-remembered 10 seconds of consciousness . . . but the fog remained.
Struggling against the duct tape around my wrists, I reached for the envelope, hoping that its contents would provide me with a clue as to the situation at hand…
- - - - - - - - - - -

I'm tagging the following folks to take up some more of the story - and don't tell me you guys don't like to write...!
La Vie en Route
The Sour and the Sweet
Grace Shattered
Things People Say That Please Me
The Opera Singer

filling in the, ahem, blanks

I can't remember where I got this list . . . maybe [insert social networking site here] or someone's blog...so...sorry if I took it without giving credit where it's due...!

1. Who did you last shoot a dirty look at [sic]? Hmmm...a taxi driver cutting me off.
2 .What kind of car do you drive?
Volvo (how stereotypically SF, right? But that car has saved my life more than once.)
3. Have you ever had a garage sale? Many, but not at my current address.
4. What color is your iPod? Black & Red U2 iPod
5. What kind of dog do you have? n/a. I have a fish.
6. What's for dinner tonight? Had dinner with AZ at Pasta P.
7. What is the last drink you drank? Water
8. Last time you were sick? Last week due to allergies.
9. How long is your hair? Long right now - past my shoulders.
10. Are you happy right now? Pretty happy, yes.
11. What did you say last? I laughed with S at Futurama.
12. Who came over last? Haven't been home much myself, but I think it was the folks who came over for game night a weekish ago.
13. Do you drink beer? Yes, but not regularly
14. Have your brothers or sisters ever told you that you were adopted? nope
15. What is your favorite key chain on your keys? handy dandy carabiner
16. What is in your pocket? chapstick and change
17. Who is the last person you had a phone conversation with? S
18. What DVD is in your DVD player? Not sure...
19. What's something fun you did today? Got to catch up w/AZ
20. What do you think of when you hear the word "meow"? I start itching
21. What are you listening to right now? Family Guy
22. What have you had to drink so far today? Coffee, tea, water
23. When is your birthday? 7/11
24. What's the area code for your cell phone? I still have a CO cell phone. I haven't lived in CO since 1997.
25. Where did you buy the shirt you're wearing now? haha...it's a Denver Bronco tshirt my mom sent me...lol
26. Is there anything hanging from your rear view mirror? nope
27. How many states in the U.S. have you been to? I don't feel like counting...but well over half of them. I've lived in four.
28. What are you going to do after this? probably try to go to bed soon
29. What is something you need to go shopping for? groceries
30. Do you like pickles? yes
31. How about olives? yes
32. What is your favorite kind of gum? peppermint
33. Do you have any tan lines? on my shoulders (ha - from getting burned a week ago)
34. Do you remember the name of your kindergarten teacher? ms. lessig
35. Who was the last person to call you baby? prolly CPT, actually.
36.When you're at the grocery store do you use the self checkout? sometimes
37. Has anyone ever sang to you? oh yes
38. Has anyone ever given you roses? yes
39. If you were abandoned in the wilderness, would you survive? Maybe. I have a decent sense of direction, and have eaten bugs before....so I got that going for me.
40. What is your favorite color? blue, pink, black, red
41. What color are your eyes? blue
42. What is a compliment you receive way too often? way too often? really? um..how about "wow, you're tall"...lol
43. How tall are you? 5'11.5"
44. Who was the last person to say they loved you and when? my momma on the phone today :)
45. Do you like your parents? I do.
46. Why did your last relationship end? We are on different paths.
47. Who was the last person you said you loved on the phone? my momma
48. Where is the furthest place you've traveled? Croatia, I believe
49. Which do you prefer, to eat or sleep? hmmm right now, sleep
50. Do you look more like your mom or your dad? I'm a pretty good mix
51. How long does it take you to shower? 10 minutes on your average morning. Longer if I don't have to rush off to work.
52. Can you do splits? no
53. Can you use the grill? sure
54. Are you flexible? fairly
55. What did you on New Years Eve 2007? helped cook a 6-course meal for a kickass party 56. Was your mom a cheerleader? nope
57. What is the last letter of your middle name? n
58. How many hours of sleep did you get last night? 6.5
59. Do you wear your seatbelt in the car? yes
60. Are you scared of flying? no
61. What do you sleep in? pj's
62.Do you have any tattoos? hahah...not really...excepting the fake one I won playing skee-ball a few weeks ago...it's bugs bunny.
63. Have you ever been to Los Angeles? yes
64. What jewelry do you wear all the time? earrings, usually a ring or two
65. What is your favorite song at the moment? too many to list...
66. What song do you HATE? anything by natalie merchant
67. Do you like chocolate? dark chocolate is best
68. Are you easy to get along with? generally
69. Any upcoming events you're excited about? my current show!

Movie meme

I stole this from Say la vee, because I needed a Thursday meme!

Bold the movies you've seen; italicize the ones you've seen part of:

1. The Godfather (1972)
2. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
3. The Godfather: Part II (1974)
4. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)
5. Pulp Fiction (1994)
6. Schindler’s List (1993)
7. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
8.The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
9. Casablanca (1942)
10. Seven Samurai (1954)
11. Star Wars (1977)
12. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
13. 12 Angry Men (1957)
14. Rear Window (1954)
15. Goodfellas (1990)
16. Cidade de Deus (2002) [City of God]
17. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
18. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
19. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
20. The Usual Suspects (1995)
21. Psycho (1960)
22. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) 23. Fight Club (1999)
24. Citizen Kane (1941)
25. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
26. North by Northwest (1959)
27. Memento (2000)
28. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
29. Sunset Blvd. (1950)
30. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
31. The Matrix (1999)
32. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
33. There Will Be Blood (2007)
34. Se7en (1995)
35. Apocalypse Now (1979)
36. Taxi Driver (1976)
37. American Beauty (1999)
38. Léon (1994)
39. Vertigo (1958)
40. Amelie (2001)
41. American History X (1998)
42. No Country for Old Men (2007)
43. The Departed (2006)
44. Paths of Glory (1957)
45. M (1931)
46. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
47. Chinatown (1974)
48. The Third Man (1949)
49. Leben der Anderen, Das (2006) [The Lives of Others]
50. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
51. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
52. Alien (1979)
53. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
54. Laberinto del fauno, El (2006) [Pan's Labyrinth]
55. The Shining (1980)
56. Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001) Spirited Away
57. The Pianist (2002)
58. Double Indemnity (1944)
59. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
60. Forrest Gump (1994)
61. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
62. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
63. L.A. Confidential (1997)
64. Boot, Das (1981)
65. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
66. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
67. Untergang, Der (2004)
68. Aliens (1986)
69. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
70. Raging Bull (1980)
71. Metropolis (1927)
72. Rashômon (1950)
73. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
74. Modern Times (1936)
75. Hotel Rwanda (2004)
76. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
77. Sin City (2005)
78. Rebecca (1940)
79. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
80. Sjunde inseglet, Det (1957)
81. All About Eve (1950)
82. Some Like It Hot (1959)
83. City Lights (1931)
84. Amadeus (1984)
85. Vita è bella, La (1997)
86. On the Waterfront (1954)
87. The Great Escape (1963)
88. Touch of Evil (1958)
89. The Prestige (2006)
90. The Elephant Man (1980)
91. Jaws (1975)
92. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
93. The Sting (1973)
94. Nuovo cinema Paradiso (1988)
95. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
96. The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
97. The Apartment (1960)
98. Braveheart (1995)
99. Blade Runner (1982)
100. The Great Dictator (1940)
101. Strangers on a Train (1951)
102. Batman Begins (2005)
103. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
104. Ladri di biciclette (1948) Bicycle Thieves
105. Salaire de la peur, Le (1953) Wages of Fear
106. High Noon (1952)
107. Ran (1985)
108. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
109. The Big Sleep (1946)
110. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
111. Notorious (1946)
112. Back to the Future (1985)
113. Fargo (1996)
114. Oldboy (2003)
115. Unforgiven (1992)
116. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
117. Donnie Darko (2001)
118. Ratatouille (2007)
119. Mononoke-hime (1997)
120. Cool Hand Luke (1967)
121. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
122. Yojimbo (1961)
123. Per qualche dollaro in più (1965)
124. The Green Mile (1999)
125. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
126. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
127. Notti di Cabiria, Le (1957)
128. Gladiator (2000)
129. Battaglia di Algeri, La (1966) The Battle of Algiers.
130. Annie Hall (1977)
131. Die Hard (1988)
132. Into the Wild (2007)
133. Ben-Hur (1959)
134. The Deer Hunter (1978)
135. The Sixth Sense (1999)
136. It Happened One Night (1934)
137. The General (1927)
138. Platoon (1986)
139. Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
140. Life of Brian (1979)
141. The Killing (1956)
142. Smultronstället (1957) Wild Strawberries
143. Amores perros (2000) Love's a B'tch
144. Finding Nemo (2003)
145. Diaboliques, Les (1955)
146. The Incredibles (2004)
147. V for Vendetta (2005)
148. The Wild Bunch (1969)
149. Heat (1995)
150. Children of Men (2006)
151. Brief Encounter (1945)
152. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
153. Juno (2007)
154. The Princess Bride (1987)
155. 8½ (1963)
156. The Graduate (1967)
157. Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
158. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
159. The Night of the Hunter (1955)
160. The Big Lebowski (1998) Dude.
161. Crash (2004)
162. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
163. Stand by Me (1986)
164. Gandhi (1982)
165. Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
166. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
167. Snatch. (2000)
168. Harvey (1950)
169. Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
170. The African Queen (1951)
171. Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
172. The Thing (1982)
173. Trainspotting (1996)
174. Gone with the Wind (1939)
175. The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
176. Wo hu cang long (2000) Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
177. Belle et la bête, La (1946)
178. The Gold Rush (1925)
179. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
180. Groundhog Day (1993)
181. The Conversation (1974)
182. American Gangster (2007)
183. Scarface (1983)
184. Patton (1970)
185. Duck Soup (1933)
186. Toy Story (1995)
187. Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)
188. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
189. Twelve Monkeys (1995)
190. The Terminator (1984)
191. Cabinet des Dr. Caligari., Das (1920)
192. Sleuth (1972)
193. The Hustler (1961)
194. Umberto D. (1952)
195. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
196. Stalker (1979)
197. Glory (1989)
198. Ed Wood (1994)
199. King Kong (1933)
200. Grindhouse (2007)
201. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
202. The Exorcist (1973)
203. The Lion King (1994)
204. Hotaru no haka (1988)
205. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
206. Spartacus (1960)
207. All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
208. The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)
209. The Lost Weekend (1945)
210. Stalag 17 (1953)
211. Magnolia (1999)
212. The Lady Vanishes (1938)
213. Lola rennt (1998) Run Lola Run
214. In the Heat of the Night (1967)
215. The Philadelphia Story (1940)
216. Frankenstein (1931)
217. Out of the Past (1947)
218. Big Fish (2003)
219. Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)
220. Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
221. Casino (1995)
222. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
223. Toy Story 2 (1999)
224. Mystic River (2003)
225. Du rififi chez les hommes (1955)
226. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
227. 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
228. Hot Fuzz (2007)
229. A Christmas Story (1983)
230. Ikiru (1952)
231. Mou gaan dou (2002)
232. Manhattan (1979)
233. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
234. Young Frankenstein (1974)
235. Dial M for Murder (1954)
236. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
237. Rope (1948)
238. Once (2006)
239. Roman Holiday (1953)
240. Quatre cents coups, Les (1959) The 400 Blows
241. The Searchers (1956)
242. In Cold Blood (1967)
243. Ying xiong (2002)
244. His Girl Friday (1940)
245. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
246. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
247. Samouraï, Le (1967)
248. Strada, La (1954)
249. Harold and Maude (1971)
250. Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes (1972) Aguire, The Wrath of God

middle name meme

1. You have to post the rules before you give your answers.

2. You must list one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name.

3. At the end of your blog post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name.

E - Enjoys globetrotting
L - Loves music
L - Loves languages
E - Entertainer
N - Needs time to "just be"


(More thanks to Wyld for letting me steal yet another meme...)

(No...not tagging anyone for this one, because there are so many memes this week...but if you want to do it, please go ahead!)

Living Memoir

Yet another meme - perhaps that will be my theme for the week...hmmmm....

This one comes from Wyld's Q&A:

1. Write your own six-word memoir
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you'd like
3. Link to the person that tagged you in the post
4. Tag five more blogs with links (and don't forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!)
----

Always singing, learning, laughing, and loving

Tagging: AZ, Rona, Sandra, Tiff, and Lea Ann

Meme from AZ

A) FOUR PLACES I GO OVER AND OVER:
1. Colorado
2. The Embarcadero
3. Oakland
4. Rehearsal

B) FOUR OF MY FAVORITE PLACES TO EAT:
1. Boulange de....(Polk, Hayes, Cole..etc)
2. Mykonos Greek restaurant
3. Boulevard (um…but only when my parents are in town haha)
4. Askew

C) FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW:
1. France
2. The Rocky Mountains
3. New Orleans
4. In a hammock on a beach somewhere

D) TV SHOWS I WATCH OVER AND OVER:
1. CSI: Las Vegas
2. LOST
3. The Amazing Race
4. Law & Order

E) FOUR CAUSES ABOUT WHICH I AM PASSIONATE
(note from KD: this sounds like an "SF" question, does it not? lol)
1. Supporting our troops through organizations such as Soldiers' Angels
2. Hospitality, making people feel at ease (my own *personal* cause)
3. Recycling (I have lived in CA for almost 7 years, now…go figure!)
4. The Arts...keep them in schools!

F) FOUR BOOKS (or authors) I REALLY ENJOYED READING
1. Isabelle Allende’s books (She’s an amazing storyteller.)
2. The Alchemist (clichéd, perhaps, but true)
3. Doonesbury’s The Sandbox
4. A recent read...Steve Martin's stand-up memoire...very interesting

G) FOUR THINGS THAT REALLY ANNOY ME
1. Dirty dishes in the sink. Especially when the dishwasher is empty.
2. Lack of turn-signaling from other vehicles
3. Manipulation
4. Micro-managers

H) FOUR THINGS I LOVE TO DO ON A WARM, SUNNY DAY
1. Go explore the park or a new 'hood
2. Walk down to the beach
3. People watch the tourists downtown
4. BBQ with friends

I) FOUR COLORS I LOVE
1. Dark aqua
2. Purple
3. Red
4. Pink

J) FOUR TASTES I LOVE
1. Dark chocolate
2. Coffee
3. Peppermint
4. Green figs

K) FOUR SOUNDS I LOVE
1. Sibling's laugh (he totally giggles)
2. Music - esp. the kind that gives you goosebumps
3. My family's southern accents
4. French, Itallian, Spanish - any of the romance languages - being spoken


Tag...you're it!

I've come to realize

1. I've come to realize that me and my last ex:
are on different life paths.

2. I've come to realize that when I talk:
I say "dude" and "awesome" a lot.

3. I've come to realize that I love:
having family in the city.

4. I've come to realize that I have:
many books to read.

5. I've come to realize that I've lost:
my mind.

6. I've come to realize that I hate:
very little.

7. I've come to realize that marriage is:
something to look forward to, but that it's not easy.

8. I've come to realize that, somewhere, someone is thinking about me and:
probably laughing? hahaha - or at least smiling. I hope.

9. I've come to realize that I'll always have:
wine on the wine rack.

11. I've come to realize that the last time I truly cried:
was last week.

12. I've come to realize that my cell phone:
has caused me to lose the ability to memorize phone numbers.

13. I've come to realize that when I wake up in the morning:
I did not go to sleep early enough the previous night.

14. I've come to realize that before I go to sleep at night:
I have to set my alarm clock.

15. I've come to realize that right now I am thinking about:
The Amazing Race finale.

16. I've come to realize that babies:
are squishy in the best way.

17. I've come to realize that I get on myspace:
not very often.

18. I've come to realize that today:
turned out not too shabby.

19. I've come to realize that tonight I will:
go to bed by midnight. Hopefully.

20. I've come to realize that highschool is:
11 years behind me.

21. I've come to realize that tomorrow I will:
get up and go to work.

22. I've come to realize that I really want:
to travel more.

23. I've come to realize that my last kiss:
was almost exactly a year ago.

24. I've come to realize the last stupid thing I did was because:
I was delirious.

25. I've come to realize that my true friends:
are amazing people.

Meme from Blackbird

In the kitchen with...MezzoSF

Variety is the spice of life.
In my cupboard, I have this many spices: too many, for sure
Rack or no rack? a couple of small racks on two shelves
Alphabetize? They used to be at one point, yes.
Which spice do you use most often? Peppercorns (multicolored, and ground)
Which recipe? Hmmm. Well, the LAST recipe I used was for pesto

It's like the pot calling the kettle black.
Coffee or tea? Both.
Do you make coffee at home? Occasionally...but Sibling tells me my coffee making has declined (I make it too strong for him).
If you make tea, loose or in bags? I have a ton of loose leaf and some Traditional Medicinals tea bags. Sibling likes Stash...I'm not a big fan.
How many kinds of tea do you have? A bunch. At least 10.

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
I use my stovetop: Yes....
I use my oven: not that often

Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?
Soy or cow? unsweetened soy
Skim or whole? Sibling drinks skim milk
How many gallons a week? Nowhere near a full gallon/week

Three items in my freezer (right now):

1. Frozen peas (for icepack usage)
2. Ice cream
3. Lean Cuisine


Three things in my fridge (right now):

1. Feta cheese
2. Cilantro
3. Artichokes


Item I am most chagrined about: Mystery tuppaware container - not mine...

Item I bet no one else has: the world's biggest bag of spinach. Seriously, it's huge.

because 'I' said so

So, here's a fun new survey from Math Jedi. Basically, he gave me a letter, and I have to list my 10 favorite songs beginning with that letter. My letter is "I". (If you'd like a letter, just leave me a comment, and I'll send one your way!)

Here they are, in random order (well, except for the first one, it really is my favorite song ever):

1. "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel. I fell in love with this song as a Freshman in high school - there was a travelling a cappella band from some East coast college who performed this for us during choir class one day. I was hoooooked. Shortly thereafter, I finally rented "Say Anything"...and heck, John Cusack? In the rain? Holding a boombox blasting this song? Yes, yes and yes, please!

2. "I Will Survive" as covered by Cake. I LOVE this song - it's so funky, and singer John McCrae speaks/sings his way through it with so much attitude. I swear this song got me through my sophomore year in college. I listened to it constantly.

3. "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2. Brilliant song by my favorite band ever. No other explanation needed.

4. "I've Got You Under My Skin" sung by Frank Sinatra. I love to sing this song!

5. "I Walk the Line" by Johnny Cash. ooooh the Man In Black. Because you're mine...I walk the line! I love me some Johnny Cash, and I would LOVE somebody to tell me that someday.

6. "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye. This song reminds me of family. Well, and the California Raisins. Anyways, my cousin, my brother and I dreamed up an entire lip-sync and dance to this song to perform for our grandmother this one time. I will never forget that!

7. "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady. Another song I enjoy singing and being silly with at any given moment, if there is a piano and people who love musical theater anywhere near me.

8. "In a Little While" by U2. What can I say? I love this band! This is a very chill song...sweet and romantic.

9. "I Need Thee Every Hour" traditional hymn. Just a reminder that, indeed, I need Thee every hour of every day...can't do a darn thing by myself. And when I do, I tend to walk into poles and the like.

10. "In The Mood" by Glen Miller. Big band rocks my world. Again, this reminds me of a few things: dancing around to my grandmother's big band record collection; swing dancing; playing jazz trombone. I have enjoyed swing and big band for a long time, and probably will continue to love it indefinitely!

Stolen from AZ - hours of fun!!

Songs in the key of . . . meme

Reply and I'll give you a letter, and you have to find five songs that start with that letter and post them to your journal. (taken from mathjedi)


1. "Pa' Bravo Yo" (Pupy Santiago): This song is on the first salsa CD I ever owned - bought my junior year of high school (I had to buy a replacement last year). That CD was a big milestone for me...my introduction to what is now some of my favorite music and dance styles.

2. Pink Panther theme (Henry Mancini): What can I say? . . . that sexy, fun saxophone theme is just contagious. And who doesn't love the Pink Panther??

3. PYT (Michael Jackson): Pretty Young Thing! It's a great dance and karaoke song...classic MJ!

4. Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison): Great song and flick. Just a feel good song, always a crowd pleaser. Makes me happy! I love hearing this song when I'm driving.

5. Put Your Head on my Shoulder (Paul Anka): I went through a huge oldies phase growing up - I had this whole set of cassettes I wore down - and I've just always loved this song. It's so sweet and romantic and good for dancing. The recent cover by Michael Buble' is fun, too.