Currently

I totally stole this from Kwizgiver. She does this every week and I enjoy reading her answers. I hope you think it's fun, too.

Currently I am...

Reading: I Will Not Fear: My Story of a Lifetime of Building Faith Under Fire
by Melba Pattillo Beals. I just started this on Saturday and I'm two-thirds of the way through. Beals was one of the Little Rock 9, the black students escorted into all white Central High back in 1957, and this is her story. It is fascinating to read the story of one of the students in her own words with her point of view and insights.

Listening to: some show about WWII that my husband put on then fell asleep to. I'd change it, but the remote is still clutched in his hand.
 
Loving: Amazon Prime. I've had the membership for a while, but have only started to utilize it more fully in recent weeks.  Just today 2 books and my Deva Curl gel arrived. Books tend to be about $1 less than on Barnes & Noble and the gel was half the price I pay at the salon or Ulta. That's a big deal when it's $23 at the salon. And no shipping costs.  Wait till the Poodle sees the anti-bark collar that's coming Wednesday....it uses vibration and ultrasonic sound that increases with each bark to discourage the behavior. No electric shock so it's safe and it won't do its thing more than 7 times in a minute, anyway.

Thinking: about the snow that is moving in overnight and wondering if there will be a delay in the morning.

Feeling: tired. It's 8:47 p.m. and I've been up since 3:45 a.m.

Celebrating: that Saturday's runny nose must have been allergies or the world's most short-lived virus because that's all that hit me. So glad, as the flu is running rampant around here.

Grateful for: my husband's new commitment to eating healthier. It makes it a lot easier for me...even though he is currently showing me up. Big time. We had chicken/quinoa/kale ravioli for supper and he LIKED it! Just a few weeks ago I wouldn't even have been able to get him to try it.

Weather: in the 20s, but getting cooler with plenty of clouds as the snow storm moves in.

Enjoying: the new stack of vintage, flea market, country, and farmhouse decorating magazines stacked by my favorite chair.  Fun to start thinking about what I want to do once Spring gets here.

A quote I want to share: 

Sunday Stealing: Life Reflections

Well, we had a couple days of milder weather, but winter is back and I might be coming down with a cold (hopefully, it's not the flu...that's scary stuff these days), so I am holed up inside under a blanket with my dog, a good book, and a stack of magazines (the hubs is working all weekend). Under those conditions what's a girl to do but welcome you to Sunday Stealing, the coolest meme on the block. 

As always, a big thank you goes to our hostess, Bev, for coming up with the questions each week. Click the link above to visit the Sunday Stealing site. There you will find links to the other players' posts and the rules of the game if you'd like to join in the fun.

From Jennifer Whitton-Trujillo from Facebook

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?  Cable. It is so ridiculously expensive. I would gladly do without it, but my husband insists we have to have cable so he can watch the news before work. Other than that, he never watches anything but old classic shows and reruns. I'd be happy with Netflix, Hulu, and my Amazon Prime account, but when we tried doing that a couple of years ago all he did was whine about wanting to watch the news. I pointed out he could watch it on line, but it just wasn't the same (or so he said).

2. What do you really want to be doing right now? Lying on a beach soaking up some sun would be good, but then I wouldn't mind if you found me counting my lottery winnings.

3. Why did you choose the shirt you have on now?  It matches the leggings I wore for pajamas.

4. Thoughts on gas prices?  I'm just so thrilled they are on the rise again and let's not forget that Pennsylvania has one of the highest gas taxes in the country. 

5. First thought when the alarm goes off in the morning.  Is it actually a work day or is it the weekend when my husband still gets up, but I can sleep in?  

6. Last thought you have before you go to sleep?  I really don't know. I am usually asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

7. Do you miss being a child?  I miss that sense of being protected and taken care of, of not being responsible for everything, and not having all the cares of the adult world.

8. What errand/chore do you despise the most?  The older I get the less I like running errands in general. I'd rather be doing something I enjoy. As for chores, I hate folding laundry more than any other chore.

9. Up early or sleep in?  I'm a night person by nature so I'd love to sleep in at least on the weekends, but my mind and body just don't cooperate. I rarely sleep longer than 5-6 hours a night and on the rare occasions that I do I wake up feeling like I've been run over by a truck.

10. Favorite lunch meat?  Turkey with cracked black pepper.

11. What do you get every time at Trader Joe’s?  There are no Trader Joe's near us.

12. Beach or lake?  I would be happy with either one.  I like to be near the water even if I don't particularly like to be in it.

13. Ever crashed your vehicle?  I guess that would depend on what you mean by "crash."  I've been hit from behind hard enough to total my car (and it was a big old 1989 Grand Marquis...an ocean liner of a car) and I've slid off the road a few times in my vehicle and in the bus, but I've never crashed into something or rolled a vehicle or anything.

14. Strangest place you've brushed your teeth?  In a dental assisting class at the community college. We all had to brush and then swish with stuff that turned a color everywhere you didn't brush well. It was supposed to show that no matter how well you think you brush, you miss plenty of spots.

15. Somewhere you've never been but want to go?  Australia, Hawaii, the Florida Keys, Montana, Washington (the state), Plymouth, Salem, and if the world was different, Israel and Egypt.

16. At this point in your life would you want to start a new career?  Yes, please.

17. Do you own your own house?  Yes.

18. Do you have a go-to person?  I pray about just about everything, so I guess Jesus is my go-to person, but after that it depends on what I'm going to them for, whether it would be my husband or my friend, Fran.

19. Are you where you want to be in life?  I'm not where I thought I'd be, but this is an okay place, too.

20. Growing up, what were your favorite cartoons?  Scooby-Doo, Bugs Bunny and his gang, Bullwinkle, and Peanuts.

21. What has changed since you were a child?  Good grief, what hasn't changed???

22. Looking back at high school, were they the best years of your life?  No. They weren't the worst, but I still wouldn't want to go back.

23. Are there times you still feel like a kid?  Yeah, lots of things will trigger that feeling...especially being around older people I've known most of my life.

24. Did you have a pager?  No, but my husband went through a few of them.

25. Were you the type of kid you want your kids to hang out with?  Yes in some ways and no in others. 

Down at the End of Lonely Street

Saturday 9: Heartbreak Hotel (1956) 

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Elvis checked in to the hotel at the end of Lonely Street. Where was the last hotel or motel you stayed at?

Erie, PA. My hubby and I went there for a long weekend in November...a bit of a getaway for our anniversary, but mostly because I hadn't been anywhere else last year due to pouring every penny into our daughter's wedding and I needed a break in the worst way.

2) He sings that Heartbreak Hotel is always crowded. The fear of crowds is so prevalent that it has four names (enochlophobia, ochlophobia, demophobia and agoraphobia). Are you comfortable in a crowd?

I'm not afraid of being in a crowd (unless you ask me to stand up in front of them and give a speech or presentation), but I wouldn't say I'm comfortable, either.  I'm fine with crowds at an event, but crowds at a party are a different story unless I know a lot of people.  I'm not good at small talk and that's kind of a required skill at parties so it's pretty awkward for me. I'd rather just not go.

3) The desk clerk at Heartbreak Hotel is dressed black. Do you often wear all black?

I often wear black pants or a black shirt, but rarely do I dress in all black.  That said, I am, oddly enough, wearing leggings and a t-shirt that are, you guessed it, all black. My fuzzy socks, however, are striped in varying shades of bright pink to match the graphics on the t-shirt.

4) The song was written by Mae Boren Axton, who said it was inspired by the story of an anonymous young man's suicide in a hotel. She said she read in The Miami Herald that the John Doe left behind a note that said, "I walk a lonely street." What's the last note you handwrote? (Hopefully it was more upbeat.)

It wasn't a suicide note, but other than that, I'm not sure what it would have been. Maybe a note in a Christmas card?

5) When Elvis was 11, his parents bought him a guitar. He had asked for a rifle, but his mama convinced him a guitar was a better idea. Tell us about a time one of your parents was right about something. 

My dad was definitely right when he said I should stay away from parties and drinking in college and focus on my classes.  Too bad I didn't listen to him.

6) Not long before "Heartbreak Hotel" was recorded, Elvis' father recommended he give up the guitar and become a truck driver. Tell us about a time one of your parents was wrong about something.

I believe my dad was wrong to be so strict with me when I was growing up. He grounded me constantly for the smallest infractions and I was never allowed to do a lot of the things my friends were doing. I get that he wanted to protect me from the pitfalls so many teens fall into, but I really think had he been just a bit more flexible I wouldn't have been so hellbent on enjoying all of my freedom once I gained it.

7) There are many stories about Elvis' manager, Col. Tom Parker. One anecdote, about his career before Elvis, has the Colonel painting sparrows yellow so he could sell them as canaries. Have you ever been ripped off?

I'm sure I have been, but I can't think of anything right now. I'm usually very careful about checking things out and reading all the fine print before signing on the dotted line.

8) Speaking of birds, Elvis once owned a peacock. It damaged his cars, so he gave it to the Memphis Zoo. In earlier days, it might have been dinner, for peacock was considered a medieval delicacy. What's the last poultry you prepared?

Chicken nuggets, which are poultry only in theory (I think they are gross...too many unidentified "things" have been found in nuggets), for our grandson. Now that he's eating "real" food, he's turning up his nose at everything but nuggets, fries, and yogurt.  I will be glad when this phase is over.

9)  Random question: You and a friend have dinner at a restaurant. Your friend left her wallet at home, so you pick up the entire tab of $62, including tip. A few weeks later, you two meet for lunch and when the bill comes, she puts down half. Do you remind her that she still owes you $31 from the last time you dined together?

Probably not, especially not at the restaurant. That wouldn't be the right time or place. If it was the first time she'd done something like that I wouldn't see it as a big deal.  If it becomes a habit, I'd probably say something...or I'd just avoid going out for meals with her.

Thanks to Sam for another great song and fun questions.  Visit the Saturday 9 site for links to posts from other players or to find the rules to join in the fun yourself.  Now, get out there and enjoy your Saturday!

A Positive Hodgepodge

Winter is back and so is the Wednesday Hodgepodge...one is more welcome than the other. Can you guess which one? Ha!

Thanks, as always, goes to Joyce @ From This Side of the Pond for coming up with the questions week after week and hosting all the Hodgepodgers. Pay her a visit to find the rules to play along as well as links to the other players.

1. January 24th is National Compliment Day. Is it easy or not so easy for you to accept a compliment? Share a recent compliment you've given or received.  

It's not so easy for me to accept compliments. I always want to say why I don't deserve it, but I am learning to simply say "thank you" and let it go at that.  The most recent compliment I can think of came from my husband. I've been trying out some new recipes and he mentioned that he was really enjoying the great meals I've been making.

2. Ten little things you are loving right now.  

Let me think (insert Jeopardy music).... 1. There's a lot of extra room in all of my clothes these days.  2.The bible study I'm using as a devotional on hearing God's voice.  3. The thick fleece sheets I found at Kmart after Christmas. We love them so much I went back and bought another set.  4. The new Merrell clogs I got. Pretty, but so warm and comfy and they have a lot of support for my arches and special soles that correct a woman's tendency to have ankles that lean in.  5. How snuggly my Poodle is through this cold weather.  6. The warmth of the pellet stove.  7. The stack of books waiting to be read.  8. Colton's emerging personality...he's such a happy little guy.  9. The skin cream left over from when my husband got burned at work. It's working miracles on my dry skin.  10. It's not 10 below zero degrees outside (or 15, or 20, or even 25 below). Today's 32 with snow is plenty cold, thank you.

3. Would people describe you as a positive person? Do you see yourself that way? I read here  a list/description of eight things positive people do differently-

Positive people find something to look forward to every day, they celebrate the small stuff, they're kind, they stay busy, accept responsibility for their actions, forgive themselves, know when to move on, and resist comparisons

Which action on the list would you say you do regularly? Which action could you add to your life to give you a more positive outlook? If you're a positive person, what's something you do regularly that's not on the list?

How about I'm getting there. It wasn't all that long ago that I was stuck in a pattern of negative thinking, but God has really been working on me the last couple of years. I also watched a video on Facebook that showed how science has proved that negative thinking is a habit. Once you start, you actually train your brain to use that as its go-to response. You can change it by making yourself think positively. Eventually, your brain will learn the new response and make that the go-to.  It's pretty much what the Bible has been telling us all along...to focus on God, on what is good, true, and pure.

As for that list, I do some of that and some I don't. Some I am still working on. I'm trying to learn to be intentionally kind all the time so that's probably the one I do the most. The one I need more of is staying busy.

4. Homemade chicken soup, beef stew, or a bowl of chili...what's your pleasure on a cold winter's day?

Chicken noodle soup is the best when it's cold.

5. The best part of my day is....

Whenever I get to do my devotions and spend time with God. That's the time I really learn things and get my head on straight about life. I absolutely hate it when I have to miss it.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

I'm finishing up just in time. My daughter just called and she is on her way over with Colton because their power went out. Again. Seems to be a regular thing in her area. I think I can count on one hand (and have a finger or two leftover) how many times in the 23 years we've lived here that our power has gone out. Have a wonderful Wednesday! I will have to read all of your answers later tonight after work.

It's Sunday But It Feels Like Friday

It's Saturday night and the husband is snoring over there on the sofa, so that means it's time to have a little fun answering the Sunday Stealing questions. Thank you, Bev, for taking the time to come up with them every week. It's a tough job and you are doing wonderfully well!
 

Kim is a vegan architect and runner from a Chicago suburb.
She posts a question every Friday at ilaxstudio.  I collected a bunch of her Friday questions.

1. Have you ever tried to learn (or re-learn) a foreign language as an adult? Which one? What worked for you?  The last church we attended was multi-cultural, a bit of an oddity in this area. It started as a service for Filipinos started by friends of ours and took off from there. Because of that I tried to pick up a few words here and there and also some Spanish from a Mexican family that attended. I didn't seriously try to master either language, just had fun learning some words. As for what worked...wanting to know how to say something and then using it, over and over.

2. Do you donate blood? Do you know your blood type? I haven't donated in quite a few years. It takes them so long to get enough out of me that the last time I went they kind of suggested it might not be for me. Oh, I do know my blood type. It's A+.

3. Have you ever been in a play or musical?  I've never been in a musical. Good grief, that would clear the theater! I don't have a lick of musical ability. I was in several plays in elementary school. One year my class did two plays in order to have enough parts for everyone and my teacher gave me a part in both because she thought I was the only one up to it.

4. Do you use certain text or ring tones for specific people? Who gets their own? Or do you just use the default on your phone?  I used to do that, but one, I can't figure out how to do it on my current phone and two, hardly anyone actually lets their phone ring so when mine does I don't want it to be too obnoxious. I use the whistled theme song from the Andy Griffith show for everyone.

5. When did you get your first digital camera? Do you still shoot on actual film, or all digital now?  I guess it's been about 10 years since I got my first digital camera. No, I don't use film these days. Some days I miss that, but not too often. It's so much easier and more fun to be creative with the digital images.

6. What do you think someone else would say the most daring thing you’ve done is? Probably taking a group of teenagers from across the denomination on a mission trip to the Navajo reservation. Being responsible for a bunch of teens who are away from home and in new and unique setting is a bit of a challenge.

7. Do you talk with your hands?  Sometimes. Not as much as I used to.

8. Do you have a lucky number? What is it, and what is the story behind it?  No lucky number. I like the number 9 for some unknown reason, but I don't believe in lucky items. However...

9. What kind of milk did you drink, growing up? And now?  Apparently I was allergic as a baby so I was on a soy formula. I think that shaped my life-long dislike of milk. I've always had to drink it flavored to get it down. When I was really little and lived with my grandparents and later was babysat by my grandmother I drank raw milk from a neighbor's farm. I can remember going with my grandfather to get it in milk cans. I even remember churning butter a few times. At home we drank regular old pasteurized whole milk. As an adult I've always bought 2% until about a year ago when I tried almond milk. I still don't like it plain, but the vanilla and chocolate are delish!

10. What is your favorite kind of pie? Not a big pie eater, but I wouldn't say no to strawberry-rhubarb or cheesecake.

11. Are you a note taker? Oh yes. I should have taken shorthand because I tend to take copious notes.

12. Do you have an eclectic mug collection, or is your stuff all matchy matchy?  No matchy-matchy stuff here. In fact, I gave away the mugs that matched my everyday dishes. 

13. Do you have a junk drawer in your house/garage/at work/wherever?  Do I have a junk drawer? 

I have one in every room!

14. What is the longest amount of time you’ve worked at one job – and what was/is it?  That would be my current job. I've been working for this company for 12 years. The kids who were in 1st grade when I started are now seniors. Man, now I'm sad. And old.

15. How old were you when you took your first commercial flight? To where did you fly?  Well, I flew long before my first commercial flight, which I think I took when I was 20. I would have either been flying from Pittsburgh to Orlando or from Orlando to Pittsburgh.

Have a great Sunday!