Meme stolen (sorry, recycled) from somewhere

1. Four years ago — where were you?
Going to see Alison Krauss in concert with my wife. I was pretty convinced by that point that she would never become pregnant. Three months later, she did.

2. What bores you to tears?
Repetitive stuff such as collating groups of paper. assembly line work, which I’d done years ago. Tax preparation.

3. Do you have rhythm?
AND blues.

4. What do you dream about?
Nothing I aspire to.

5. What makes you tremble in fear?
War.

6. Tell us something you’ve destroyed.
The front lock on the door of my childhood, trying unassemble, then reassemble it.

7. Do you feel in control over your life?
I have a three-year old.

8. How are you feeling?
Tired.

9. When is the last time you went to the doctor?
Yeah, I’ll tell you about that sometime.

10. Ever broken a bone?
No.

11. Ever had surgery?
On my right knee.

12. When is the la st time you were in a hospital?
For myself? Car accident when I was 19.

13. Do like Daylight Savings Time, or should it be gotten rid of?
Sometimes.

14. Do you wear a wristwatch?
When I remember.

15. Analog or Digital?
Analog.

16. What’s your favorite game show to watch?
Besides JEOPARDY!? Not watching any currently.

17. What game show would you like to be on?
Pyramid.

18. Do you know anyone who has been on a game show?
Well, not personally.

19. What do you think the worst game show is?
As a GAME of skill, it has to be the Mandel show.

20. Bob Barker, Howie Mandel or Alex Trebek?
I always liked Bob Barker, going back to Truth or Consequences.

21. What do you try to stay away from?
Conflict.

22. Are you clumsy or graceful?
Yes.

23. What is it too late for?
My major league baseball career.

24. What/who was your first love?
Baseball cards.

25. What would you like to take back?
Certain things said.

26. American football: good times or couldn’t care less?
Probably the best TV sport.

27. Do you have a favorite sports team?
Varies, though I grew up a NY Giants fan.

28. What’s your favorite junk food?
Pizza.

29. What is your fondest memory?
Probably had some musical tie.

30. Does time always kill pain?
No.

31. Are you more likely to yell or give the silent treatment?
Silent, though I’ve gotten better at just saying it.

32. First kiss?
A girl named Mary, under mistletoe, when I was 13.

33. Underwater swimming or skydiving?
Mediocre swimmmer.

34. Careful as you cross the street or never look both ways?
Always looking, because the drivers aren’t.

35. What have you quit?
Organizations that take up too much time.

36. Are you complicated?
Am I?

37. Do you retaliate?
Generally not.

ROG

My Mind Is Very Balanced, But a Little Cluttered

Brain Lateralization Test Results
Right Brain (52%) The right hemisphere is the visual, figurative, artistic, and intuitive side of the brain.
Left Brain (50%) The left hemisphere is the logical, articulate, assertive, and practical side of the brain

Are You Right or Left Brained?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Your Mind is 58% Cluttered

Your mind is starting to get cluttered, and as a result, it’s a little harder for you to keep focused.
Try to let go of your pettiest worries and concerns. The worrying is worse than the actual problems!

And speaking of a cluttered mind, Fred Hembeck told me last week that he remembers the first FantaCon, a comic book convention run by the store I eventually worked at in the ’80’s, coincided with the death of Vivian Vance, Lucille Ball’s sidekick in three TV shows, in August 1979.

Maybe Fred’s just excited about getting a call from SpongeBob SquarePants! REALLY! Read all about it here. I wish someone had captured the conversation in a podcast.

Speaking of podcasts, I listened to my very first one just last week, when Gordon answered a bunch of questions, one or two of which were asked by me. I’m sure I’ll be doing one soon – maybe by 2011.

Here’s something I didn’t know until recently: Kurt Vonnegut worked at GE in Schenectady years ago. Here’s a news story and an editorial in the local paper on that point. The former begins: “When Kurt Vonnegut’s mercurial recurring character and alter ego, Kilgore Trout, took his own life in 2004 by drinking Drano, the character did it in Cohoes.”

Hey, Tosy, the guest critic on Ebert and Roeper this week is John Mellencamp!

ROG

So I’m a Tree Hugger: Wanna Make Somethin’ Of It?

This is one of those things I got from Jaquandor who was practically apologetic about posting it, even though he thought it was pretty accurate. Well, I think this one’s pretty reflective of me, too.

What Be Your Nerd Type?

Your Result: Social Nerd

You’re interested in things such as politics, psychology, child care, and peace. I wouldn’t go so far as to call you a hippie, but some of you may be tree-huggers. You’re the type of people who are interested in bettering the world. You’re possible the least nerdy of them all; unless you participate in other activities that paled your nerdiness compared to your involvement in social activities. Whatever the case, we could still use more of you around. ^_^

Drama Nerd
Science/Math Nerd
Literature Nerd
Musician
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Artistic Nerd
Anime Nerd
What Be Your Nerd Type?
Quizzes for MySpace

***
Johnny Hart died this weekend, apparently having a stroke while at his drawing board. I’ve long had mixed feelings about him. On one hand, growing up in Binghamton, Broome County, NY, not only did I read the strips B.C. and later The Wizard of Id for years, but I knew that Johnny Hart was from the area, a source of parochial local pride. The B.C. Open golf tournament, named for both the strip and the county, was aided by Hart, a big deal for the region. To this day, the early Wizard of Id joke, “The peasants are revolting!”/”They certainly are” produces an embarrassed chuckle; I always heard the king’s line in the voice of Henny Youngman or Rodney Dangerfield.
Eventually, though, I seemed to outgrow the strip at a point when Hart’s overt, and occasionally controversial, religiosity would creep into the strip.

Was this panel offensive to Islam? Was it supposed to be? To the latter point, I don’t know, and my homer mentally says I hope not.
Mark Evanier’s observations about Hart.

ROG

Yet Another Attempt at Minimal Self-Revelation through Answering a Series of Seemingly Unrelated Questions

1. Your name spelled backwards.
Neerg Newo Regor.

2. Where were your parents born?
My mother in Binghamton, NY. My father, I’m not sure – somewhere around there.

3. What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer?
Undoubtedly a picture for the blog.

4. What’s your favorite restaurant?
Depends. But Carol & I always go to a restaurant called Justin’s in January (or so), because that’s where I proposed and she accepted.

5. Last time you swam in a pool?
At Fred Hembeck’s house, summer of 2006. But I would call it swimming, it was more like hanging out.

6. Have you ever been in a school play?
Several, actually, in small roles. The largest was playing the fire chief in Ionesco’s “The Bald Soprano”.

7. How many kids do you want?
At this point, one.

8. Type of music you dislike most?
Tough question.

9. Are you registered to vote?
Always.

10. Do you have cable?
Yes, and a DVR to eventually watch the shows I record, eventually.

11. Have you ever ridden on a moped?
If I had, I’d never admit it.

12. Ever prank call anybody?
Not to my recollection.

13. Ever get a parking ticket?
In the 1980s, when I worked at FantaCo, every time Tom and I went to a show in NYC, we’d read the conflicting signs, decide it was OK to park there and end up getting a ticket.

14. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving?
Well, I haven’t yet.

15. Furthest place you ever traveled?
Barbados. That’s practically in South America.

16. Do you have a garden?
My wife does-flowers.

17. What’s your favorite comic strip?
Probably For Better or Worse, even though it’s going into its “wrap everything up neatly” phase, much to the annoyance of some. Also, much to my surprise, Luann.

18. Do you really know all the words to your national anthem?
Well, I know the first verse, kind of spotty on the second and third. But the fourth I know by heart. “Then conquer we must when our cause it is just, and this be our motto: “In God is our Trust.”

19. Bath or Shower, morning or night?
When I’m in a hotel with a tub, I bathe at night. Normally, I shower in the morning.

20. Best movie you’ve seen in the past month?
None.

21. Favorite pizza topping?
Mushrooms.

22. Chips or popcorn?
Popcorn.

23. What color lipstick do you usually wear?
Well, I don’t, but if I did, I expect it would be bright red.

24. Have you ever smoked peanut shells?
What?

25. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant?
My life is a beauty pageant.

26. Orange or Apple juice?
40% cranberry, 40% orange, 20% ginger ale. I like my mixed drinks.

27. Who was the last person you went out to dinner with and where did you dine?
With Carol at Justin’s.

28. Favorite type chocolate bar?
Mounds.

29. When was the last time you voted at the polls?
The school/library vote in February.

30. Last time you ate a homegrown tomato?
Last fall.

31. Have you ever won a trophy?
Racquetball, 1989.

32. Are you a good cook?
I think I could be, if I applied myself.

33. Do you know how to pump your own gas?
Well, yeah…

34. Ever order an article from an infomercial?
No, but I was tempted once.

35. Sprite or 7-Up?
Whichever.

36. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to work?
Yes, it’s called a tie, a noose around my neck.

37. Last thing you bought at a pharmacy?
Undoubtedly something for Lydia.

38. Ever throw up in public?
Not lately.

39. Would you prefer being a millionaire or find true love?
Yes.

40. Do you believe in love at first sight?
Lust, maybe.

41. Ever call a 1-900 number?
Those still around? Actually the NYS Department of State has one to find out about corporations. Don’t think I’ve called it, though.

42. Can exes be friends?
Actually, at least four of my exes are friends, and attended my marriage to Carol. Another one didn’t make it, but Carol and I subsequently attended her wedding.

43. Who was the last person you visited in a hospital?
Might have been my friend Donna a few years ago, just before she died.

44. Did you have a lot of hair when you were a baby?
Not especially.

45. What message is on your answering machine?
An intentionally boring one.

46. What’s your all time favorite Saturday Night Live Character?
Mr. Robinson of Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood.

47. What was the name of your first pet?
Peter, the cat. BTW, I read that security folks are now asking questions other than your mother’s maiden name, such as your first pet’s name. Guess I won’t be using THAT one. They’re also asking for your favorite sports team (what if you have two, or none?) and your favorite food (one favorite food? couldn’t even imagine).

48. What is in your purse?
Haven’t used a purse in a few years now.

49. Favorite thing to do before bedtime?
Play Internet backgammon.

50. What is one thing you are grateful for today?
That there is a two-term limit for the Presidency.
***
The passing of Brad Delp, the lead singer for the band “Boston”, who committed suicide last week in his Atkinson, NH, home, made me surprisingly sad. And I wasn’t even that big a fan of the band, though in truth, I do own THE album (LP). Police reports released a few days ago reported that a note was paper-clipped to the neck of Delp’s shirt when police found his body on the bathroom floor, his head on a pillow. The note read, “Mr. Brad Delp. J’ai une ame solitaire. I am a lonely soul.” Such despair…
***
March Madness. I was 25-7 after the first two days. All 8 of my Elite 8 teams are still alive. Huzzah.
***
Happy birthday, Amelia B. and Jon P.

ROG

Look alikes


Not having come across a meme that struck me, I went with this art de computer, via some FOL (Friend of Lefty). Frankly, don’t think any of them REALLY look like me. Do you? (The fifth is Paul Tibbetts.)
***
UAlbany plays Virginia in Columbus this week in men’s basketball’s March Madness. I’ll probably do some pool. Any insights on upsets, such as what #12 is going to beat the #5 seed they’re playing?
***
Today would have been my parents’ 57th wedding anniversary. On their 50th, in 2000, my sisters and I were trying to plan a surprise party for them. However, my father was ALSO trying to plan a surprise party for his wife, and the people my sisters and I called were confused by the fact that TWO parties were planned for the same day at the same place – their church – so, we ended up joining forces in surprising mom. Dad died five months later, so that last party holds a special place in our hearts.

ROG

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