In lieu of actual content.

1. What year was the best year of your life? - 2005. The year my daughter was born.
2. One animal or insect that Noah should have left off the ark? - Bees. I hate getting stung.
3. Do you make a wish before blowing out your birthday candles? - Of course, but I don't think very many have come true.
4. Do you generally open your bills on the day that you receive them? - Always.
5. How many pillows are on your bed? 4. 2 for me, 2 for him.
6. Favorite ice cream flavor? Rocky Road.
7. What is the most dominate color in your wardrobe? Black.
8. Have you ever seen a ghost? Nope. But I've heard those sneaky suckers.
9. Would you rather go to a carnival or circus? Carnival. There are more things to do.
10. Favorite meal: breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Dinner. Everyone is together.
11. Your favorite fictional animal? Tweety Bird. I have a tweety bird tattoo on my right arm.
12. Have you ever flown first-class? Nope. I've never flown at all.
13. Would you go on a reality show? Nah. I have to admit that reality shows will be the downfall of our society. But they can be fun to watch at times.
14. Are you more optimistic or pessimistic about the future? Optimistic. My glass isn't just half full, it's half full of the good stuff.
15. Pancakes or waffles? Pancakes. But I hate to cook them.
16. If you could own a home anywhere in the world, where would it be? Right where I am, actually. I love it here. But I will take a second home in New Zealand.
17. Your favorite Soup of the Day? I really do not like soup.
18. What site is a must see for all visitors to your city? Umm... I live in one of the smallest cities of all time so there really isn't anything to see except the view from my backyard in the fall when the leaves change colors. It's beautiful.
19. Can you recommend a good restaurant in your city? Papa John's.
20. You go to the zoo; What is the one animal that you want to see? Gorilla.
21. Potatoes, rice, or pasta; Which is your favorite? Potatoes. Mashed, fried, boiled, baked, Potato chips, French fries. Man, I'm hungry.
22. What is the best movie that you’ve seen this year? Hmm. I haven't watched many this year. 'The Mist', I guess, even though it disturbed me.
23. One of your favorite books when you were a child? Green Eggs and Ham.
24. What in your life are you most grateful for? My family.
25. You are home alone and use the bathroom; do you close the door? No, I don't even close the door when I'm not alone.
26. What is your favorite small appliance? Can opener. I hate manual ones.
27. Salty snacks or sweet treats? Salty. Potato chips over candy every time.
28. Are you usually a little early, a little late, or right on time? Always late. It's a permanent flaw in my personality.
29. What is the most daring thing that you have ever done? Tattoo at 16. No wait... Having a child.
30. Have you ever met someone famous? No one THAT famous. A few country singers and ... CAPTAIN KANGAROO.
31. What was one of your favorite games as a child? Monopoly.
32. At what age have you looked your best? Probably my early 20's.
33. One person that never fails to make you laugh? My daughter.
34. What was the first music that you ever bought? Michael Jackson, and Prince.
35. If you could change one thing about your family life when you were a child, what would it be? More stability. More love.
36. What is the one thing that you cook that always receives compliments? Meatloaf, or Stromboli.
37. From what news source do you receive the bulk of your news? WTAP, local station.
38. In the last calendar year, how many people have you told that you love them? At least 5.
39. Who received your first kiss? A guy named Charles.
40. The single most important quality in a mate? Trust is key for any relationship to work. So, honesty.
41. What do you value most in a relationship? Trust.
42. Do you believe that you have a soul mate? If yes, have you already met? I do, and I have.
43. Do you consider yourself well organized? Absolutely not, I am a mess. Literally and figuratively.
44. On average, how many times a day do you look at yourself in the mirror? Maybe twice. Since I had a child, looks are not a top priority.
45. Did you ever make a prank phone call? Of course, hundreds of them when I was a kid.
46. What one quality do you seek in a friend? Loyalty.
47. Have you ever killed an animal? Never. Not even by accident. But I have killed hundreds of bugs. On purpose.
48. When you were twelve years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? A singer.
49. Do you believe in an afterlife? Not really.
50. What would you like to accomplish with the remaining years of your life? I want to raise a healthy, happy, wonderful girl. And just spend time with my family. As much as possible.

I dropped the f bomb.

I had an appointment with my daughter's Service Coordinator for the Birth to Three program on Thursday. We were discussing Chloe's transition from the program to the school system. The school system has a speech therapy class that is 4 days a week for 3 hours a day. She would ride a bus there and back, all by herself. (There is an aide that rides the bus with them.) There is also a limit of 10 kids per class, with 2 teachers per class. Which seems to be a good ratio that would ensure each child has plenty of attention and gets the maximum amount of help that they can get, but I'm still finding it hard to agree to let her go. I just cannot imagine sending my child to school ALONE 4 days a week on a bus when she cannot even communicate with me very much at all yet.

In the middle of our conversation, I let the dreaded f word fly.I think I said something like... "I just want to do what's best for my daughter, but I'm having a hard time figuring out what the fuck that is." She looked at me like I just killed her cat. I tried to think of an appropriate way to apologize for what I had just done. (While fighting the urge to say "Yeah lady, that's how I roll." The urge quickly passed.) But before I could say another word, she continued on with the conversation. As did I, all the while feeling like a kid who had just disappointed their mother.

After another 30 minutes, the meeting was over and I walked her to the door. We said our goodbyes. Then she turned and said, "Hey Misty, we all slip up sometimes and curse when we don't mean to. I just dropped the f bomb myself yesterday. See you next week." And then she was gone.

Friday's Feast.

Feast One Hundred & Eighty Nine.

Appetizer
What was your favorite cartoon when you were a child?
The Smurfs. But I also liked the Snorks, the Gummi bears, and anything Disney.

Soup
Pretend you are about to get a new pet. Which animal would you pick, and what would you name it?
I'd like to have a horse. And I'd name it George.

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy getting all dressed up for a special occasion?
2. I only enjoy it maybe 2 times out of 10. I usually hate it.

Main Course
What kind of music do you listen to while you drive?
Usually a mix CD I made of Alicia Keys, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Otis Redding, Jay-Z, Nelly, Etta James, and a few others.

Dessert
When was the last time you bought a clock? And in which room did you put it?
A couple of months ago. We bought an alarm clock that tells you the temp. outside and inside... for our bedroom.

Thursday Thirteen (6th Edition).

13 words to describe me that start with the letter M. ( Letter chosen randomly here. )

1. Motherly.


2. Mischievous.


3. Mellow.


4. Messy.


5. Mysterious.


6. Moody.


7. Maddening.


8. Multi-talented.


9. Magnanimous.


10. Mercurial.


11. Mushy.


12. Mindful (of).


13. Musical.

To you, my Father.

*I tried to stick to my rule of never blogging about family members or friends because they do not read my blog, and I hate to feel like I am doing something behind their backs, or without permission. But I do tell them that I blog, so I feel like they do know that they pop up from time to time. With that being said, I will not post their photos without permission and so far, I do not have it. Now ...on to my post...



My father is a retired, disabled Vietnam Vet. He loves to spend time with his grand kids, and build things (he was a carpenter.) He's had quite a few issues that evolved from being in the Vietnam War which I choose not to discuss out of respect for his privacy. He recently got divorced from my mother after being together for almost 35 years. He worries me to no end, let me tell ya. My father is an old fashioned kind of guy. He believes emotions are something to be kept in check. He does not want to talk about his feeling or worries. But if I call him up crying once a week because I am losing my mind, he is always there to listen and to pick me right back up.
My father is a hippie at heart and has had long hair and a beard for all of my life. The two nicknames he is most often called are "Jesus", and "Willie" strictly for his appearance. I love my father without question or condition. I just want to tell him one time... that I wish he was at peace. Not just with himself but with the world. With everything. I wish he could find that peace that has eluded him for so long.
We all have certain songs that remind us of people or moments in time. There is one song that fits my father. Not just a few lyrics. But every word of this song, (except for the age part. he's 55. )is my father. So... here's to you dad.



The Bellamy Brothers - He's An Old Hippie



He turned 35 last Sunday. In his hair he found some gray. But he still ain't changed his lifestyle. He likes it better the old way. So he grows a little garden. In the backyard by the fence. He's consuming what he's growing. Nowadays in self defense. He gets out there in the twilight zone. Sometimes when it just don't make no sense. He gets off on country music'. Cause disco left him cold. And he's got young friends and a new way. But he's just to frickin old. And he dreams at night of Woodstock. And the day John Lennon died. How the music made him happy. And the silence made him cry. Yeah, he thinks of John sometimes. And he has to wonder why. Chorus:'Cause he's an old hippie And he don't know what to do Should he hang on to the old Should he grab on to the new. He's and old hippie This new life is just a bust He ain't trying to change nobody He's just trying real hard to adjust. He was sure back in the sixties That everyone was hip Then they sent him off to Vietnam On his senior trip. And they forced him to become a man While he was still a boy And behind each wave of tragedy He waited for the joy Now this world may change around him But he just can't change no more. Chorus:'Cause he's an old hippie And he don't know what to do Should he hang on to the old Should he grab on to the new. He's and old hippie This new life is just a bust He ain't trying to change nobody He's just trying real hard to adjust. Well, he stays away a lot now From the parties and the clubs And he's thinking while he's jogging round Sure is glad he quit the hard drugs.'Cause him and his kind Get more endangered everyday And pretty soon the species Will just up and fade away Like the smoke from that torpedo Just up and fade away. Chorus:'Cause he's an old hippie And he don't know what to do Should he hang on to the old. Should he grab on to the new. He's an old hippie This new life is just a bust He ain't trying to change nobody He's just trying real hard to adjust.Yeah, he ain't trying to change nobody He's just trying real hard to adjust...

The moment I realized that I would never be the same.

There is a contest over at 5 Minutes for Mom. It is a Mother's Day photo contest. You post or send them a photo that tells a story of what motherhood means to you. It can be a photo of your child, your mother, both of them, whatever you want it to be. The winner gets $1000.oo via an American Express gift card. So, without further ado... here is my picture...

This is my daughter Chloe, at around 5 months old. She even let me pose her little hands. I chose this photo because when I took this picture, I think it finally hit me that my life would never be the same. That I would never be the same. That I now have this tiny little person in my life, who comes before me. Who I think about every second of every day. Who I love unconditionally. Who makes me cry, not because I am sad, but because I am so happy that she is finally in my life.

At that moment, I honestly felt like my one purpose for being put on this earth was to be her mommy. I still feel that way, and I always will feel that way.

Friday's Feast.

Feast One Hundred & Eighty Eight.

Appetizer
Name something you would categorize as weird.
Plastic surgery. I just think it's kind of weird to cut up your body to fit society's version of what is beautiful.

Soup
What color was the last piece of food you ate?
Golden brown. Toast.

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy being alone?
10. I rarely get alone time and I miss it.

Main Course
Fill in the blank: I will _________ vote for ___________ in _______.
I will have trouble deciding who to vote for in this election in the fall.

Dessert
Describe your sleeping habits.
I usually get to sleep around 2AM, and I get up around 6AM. I have trouble sleeping. I always have. I have to have 2 pillows. And I usually sleep on my side, with one of my arms under the pillow.

Thursday Thirteen (5th Edition).

13 movies I could watch over and over again.

1. Dirty Dancing.


2. 28 days.


3. St. Elmo's Fire.


4. Steel Magnolias.


5. Labyrinth.


6. The Little Mermaid.


7. Beauty and the Beast.


8. Tombstone.


9. Harry Potter ( all of them ).


10. Lord of the Rings Trilogy.


11. The Stand.


12. Dazed & Confused.


13. The Wizard of Oz & Return to Oz.

15 Random Questions.

And now... in my week of memes... here is number 2.

1. What is the “theme” on your calendar this year?
Classic cars.


2. Do you read the newspaper every day?
No. I rarely ever read it. I usually get my news from the internet.


3. What kind of shoes are you wearing right now?
None.


4. What magazines do you subscribe to?
People.

5. What is your favorite condiment?
Steak sauce. It's good on any meat. And on Doritos. (Shut up, it is.)


6. What was the first occupation you remember wanting to have?
I've always wanted to be a singer.

7. Are you a green thumb?
Not at all. I have bad luck with plants. My boyfriend cares for all of our plants and flower beds.

8. Did you have an imaginary friend when you were little?
I don't think so.

9. Do you floss regularly?
I try to. But I don't always remember to.

10. If you could still hang posters of celebrities on your walls and get away with it like when you were 12, who would be on your walls right now?
Vin Diesel, I'm a sucker for a bald head.

11. Do you keep shoe boxes or throw them away?
Usually I throw them away, I've saved a few for receipts or something.


12. Would you be embarrassed if someone looked under your bed?
No. There's absolutely nothing under there.

13. If you could be one character in a book, who would you be?
Probably Harry Potter. I just loved the books. And it would be cool to do magic.


14. What do you sleep in?
Whatever is comfy and clean.


15. What is your favorite word?
Dude.

10 things you may not have known.

This week is going to be very busy for me. I have an appointment at 10 AM today with my daughter's Service Coordinator for her therapy. She also has 5 therapy appointments this week. And I have a meeting with the School Board on Wednesday. Wednesday night I have to attend a dinner for my boyfriend's brother (it's his birthday). So, I will probably be posting a lot of memes this week that I had previously saved as drafts. So here is one from a few weeks ago... I forgot where I found it. So, I am sorry to whomever I stole this from...

1. If you were to attend a costume party tonight, as what or whom would you go?
Considering that I'd have to be ready tonight, probably a witch. I still have a witch's hat from years ago. I have lots of black clothing. And I own a broom.

2. What are your choice of toppings on a hamburger? And do you prefer gas or charcoal grilling? Usually the only thing I put on my burger is steak sauce. Sometimes, I will use ketchup, mustard, mayo, and pickles, but only when I am out of steak sauce. I really don't have a preference between the charcoal or gas.


3. You are chosen to have lunch with the President. The condition is you only get to ask one question. What do you ask?
What IS your first priority?

4. It’s your first day of vacation, what are you doing?
RELAXING.


5. What is your concession stand must-have at the movies?
Chocolate-covered raisins.


6. How long was it from ‘the first date’ until the proposal of marriage? How long until the wedding?
There was an initial proposal of marriage about 5 years after we started dating. But in the end, we both agreed that we were not going to get married. We just both agree that it is something we do not want to do. At least not at this time. I do have other issues with marriage, but I choose not to rant about it because everyone has their own opinion and I do not necessarily DISAGREE with them, I just have my own view on the subject.


7. What is one quality that you really appreciate in a person?
Sense of humor.

8. Everyone hears discussions that they consider boring. What topic can put you to sleep quicker than any other?
Anything to do with vehicles.


9. If you had to have the same topping on your vanilla ice cream for the rest of your life, what topping would you choose?
Caramel.

10. What food item would need to be removed from the market altogether in order for you to live a healthier, longer life?
Pizza.

Friday's Feast.

Feast One Hundred & Eighty Seven.

Appetizer
Name a color you find soothing.
Pink.

Soup
Using 20 or less words, describe your first driving experience.
Terrifying, for me and my father.

Salad
What material is your favorite item of clothing made out of?
Cotton.

Main Course
Who is a great singer or musician who, if they were to come to your town for a concert, you would spend the night outside waiting for tickets to see?
John Prine.

Dessert
What is the most frequent letter of the alphabet in your whole name (first, middle, maiden, last, etc.)?
It's a tie, 2 i's, 2 t's, and 2 w's.

Thursday Thirteen (4th Edition).

13 websites that I visit regularly.

1. People's Bank. (To pay bills, balance my check book, etc.)



2. Blogger. (To post to my blog.)



3. Twitter. (To tweet.)



4. Netflix. (To watch movies.)



5. Ebay. (To browse, it's like an online garage sale.)



6. PostSecret. (To read. It's very interesting.)



7. WM3.org. (To keep up with the case.)



8. WTAP. (To read local news stories, and such.)



9. The Weather Channel. (To know what the day will be like.)



10. Birth to Three. (To keep up with Chloe's therapy and improvements.)



11. Mountaineer Sports Network. (To keep up with the 'Eers.)



12. Reuters. (To read all the news stories.)



13. Papa John's. (Because I have a pizza addiction problem.)

The Mist.

Stephen King's The Mist.

This movie was disturbing on quite a few levels. Don't get me wrong, I liked the movie. But there were several aspects of the movie that were disturbing to me. But isn't that the basis of a good movie? To make you feel? To make you think? This movie made me do both. I haven't rated this movie on a scale of 1 to 10 because I still haven't decided how much I liked the movie. On one hand, I really liked it because of how much it made me think and feel. On the other hand, I didn't like it because what it made me think and feel was quite disturbing. I also dislike the practice of putting children in horror movies.

I am also in the process of reading the trilogy of 'His Dark Materials' by Philip Pullman. And I'm not sure if it is because of this fact that I found several similarities in this movie and those books. For instance, the window to another world. Also, the religious aspect. (which I understand is prevalent in a lot of movies, and books.) But also, the mist that surrounds the dead, and the diamond shaped legs of the beasts. But maybe it's just me. Did anyone else see a similarity?

So basically I'm really not telling you whether I liked the movie or not. I can't at this point. But if you really like movies that make you think, this is a movie you should watch.

I have watched every SpongeBob SquarePants episode ever made.

Twice.

Without my daughter.

Bee Movie.

7/10 on the Misty Scale.



I just watched Bee Movie for the first time last week. The movie was actually very cute and interesting. The only problem was that I kept picturing Jerry Seinfeld's face. I really don't like animated movies that use celebrity voices because I keep picturing the celebrity and it distracts me from the film. My 2 year old daughter was not interested in the movie at all. It had her attention for about 5 minutes, then she was over it. She did enjoy the toys, though. She has 2 Bee toys from either McDonald's or Burger King. I can't remember which. My mother got them for her.



I could identify with Barry B. Benson's worry of not wanting to do the same thing everyday for the rest of his life.



At one point, I was kind of worried that there would be some inter-species love story going on, but then I remembered that it was a children's movie.



All in all, I really enjoyed the movie, but I would have enjoyed it more if they didn't use celebrity voices.

Friday's Feast.

The chef at Friday's Feast is taking a break this week, so Logtar has made his own feast...

Appetizer
Lets start with a trio sampler of word association… I say,

Tear :: Apart
Hawk :: Bird
Alien :: Invasion

Soup
If you had to pick a body of water that you have visited in your life to build a house next to, which one would it be… describe the scenary.
I'd have a beach house by the ocean in the OBX, North Carolina.

Salad
Everyone is being green now-a-days, what is your favorite green initiative?
Rooftop gardens.

Main Course
Mexican is one of my favorite foods, share the name of your favorite Mexican dish with all of us (and where to find it) … even if it is just a Taco Bell chalupa?
I like tacos, burritos, and apple empanadas. I usually make them myself. I don't make all of it myself, all the time. Sometimes I buy the tortilla shells and other things already made in the international foods aisle.

Dessert
What was the color of your first bicycle, or the oldest toy that you remember and what fruit do you associate with that color?
My first bike was pink. Pink reminds me of watermelon.

Thursday Thirteen (3rd Edition).

13 books I've read more than once.




(We all have a huge list of books that we've read, but what about the books that were so good that you read them a second time. Or a third. Or a fourth...)

1. "Harry Potter" - J.K. Rowling - I've read all 7 Potter books at least three times each.



2. "The Stand" - Stephen King - I've read this book 4 times.



3. "Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three" - Mara Leveritt - I've read this book about 6 times. I have been following this case since 1996.



4. "The Hobbit" - J.R.R. Tolkien - I first read it in highschool and again while I was pregnant.



5. "Anna Karenina" - Leo Tolstoy - I've read this book twice, as well.



6. "Cruel Sacrifice" - Aphrodite Jones - I've read this book 3 times. I warn you now, if you read it, it is very disturbing. It involves very young kids and murder. It was very grotesque, disturbing, and horrific. But, it was also a sad tale of young kids. It made me ill, yet I felt for all involved.



7. "Nineteen Minutes" - Jodi Picoult - A fictional book about a school shooting, teachers use it as an anti-bullying tool. I've read it twice. It's heartbreaking.



8. "The Summer of the Barshinskeys" - Diane Pearson - I really loved this book in highschool. I read it 3 summers in a row.



9. "The Old Man and the Sea" - Ernest Hemingway - Of course, I read it for the 1st time in 7th grade, and I've read it several times since then.



10. "The Lord of the Rings" & "The Children of Húrin" & "The Silmarillion" - J.R.R. Tolkien - I'm a huge Tolkien fan. I've read all of these books numerous times.



11. "The Devil in the White City" - Erik Larson - I've read this book twice. It's not just a book about a serial killer, it's also about the brilliance of the men and women who created the White City for the Chicago World's Fair.



12. "Smashed" - Koren Zailckas - I've read this book at least 10 times. Out of all the books I've ever read, this is the one that I can identify with the most.



13. "Bird by Bird : Some Instructions on Writing and Life" - Anne Lamott - I've read this book so many times that I lost count. It was a lifesaver in my Creative Writing classes in college.

Hi Misty, it's nice to meet you.

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 181 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

I have poop handprints on my refridgerator.

I don't even think I can talk about it. Let the disinfecting begin...

Tuesday Tunes.

Tuesday Tunes - Week 28

What music related tv shows do you or have you watched?
I used to watch American Idol and Don't Forget the Lyrics. I watch Storytellers, Metal Mania, and We are the 80's on VH1 and VH1 Classic. I LOVE the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode "Once More With Feeling".

Have you ever gone to see a movie just for the music?
Back in the day I went to see Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves because I loved the Bryan Adams song (Everything I Do) I Do It For You. And they didn't even play the song during the movie. It played at the end credits. (I was 14.)

What is your favorite music related movie?
Dirty Dancing. I also like Footloose, Grease, and Honeysuckle Rose.