Sunday Stealing Archives - Page 39 of 41

Sunday Stealing: Firsts

Twilight Zone

I’m been feeling blog unfocused. Maybe it’s after hitting my 17th anniversary of blogging, doing it every day another year felt a bit daunting.

I’ve missed doing ABC Wednesday, which I participated in for over a decade. It helped create my weekly blogging structure. So I’m going to do a bit of Sunday Stealing, which I’ve done as early as 2011 and as recently as 2021.

I may do it every week if the prompt strikes my fancy. Perhaps I’ll even do it on a Sunday!

This week are things that are firsts.

First Job: Newspaper delivery of the Evening and Sunday Press (Binghamton, NY) or library page (Binghamton Public Library)

First Favorite Politician: CLean Gene McCarthy

First Record/CD: Beatles VI (US album from Capitol Record Club

First Sport Played: kickball in the backyard, softball at school

First Concert: lots of local concerts that I don’t specifically recall. Seals and Crofts my first year of college

First Foreign Country Visited: Canada (Niagara Falls, ON)

First Favorite TV Show: Twilight Zone

First Favorite Actor: Bill Bixby of My Favorite Martian

First Favorite Actress: Annette Funicello of the Mickey Mouse Club

First Girlfriend/Boyfriend: probably Martha

First Encounter with a Famous Person: Nelson Rockefeller (briefly), or Rod Serling

First House/Condo Owned: my current one

First Film Seen: 101 Dalmatians

First Favorite Radio Station: WEWNE, Endicott, NY

First Book I Remember Reading: Play The Game, a sports anthology book from the 1930s that I STILL OWN, and in fact, is in the room I’m sitting in

Sunday Stealing, March 2020

Music. Always music.

Banana split For the reasons discussed below, I’m taking some questions from Sunday Stealing for March 2020. But only the ones I feel like answering. The first group’s from March 28.

1. If there’s a personal god, what quality would you most like that person to have (and why)?

I suppose I could do worse than the attributes noted in the song Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode: “Someone to hear your prayers. Someone who cares. Someone who’s there.” Why? Because to quote the Rolling Stones, in another context: “Well, we all need someone we can lean on.”

2. What’s your death-row meal?

Steak. Bacon. Banana split.

4. Whom do you find yourself missing more than you would’ve predicted?

Keith Barber.

5. What brings you the most joy? Not happiness, not contentment — JOY.

Music. Always music.

6. Do you find yourself regretting anything you’ve said or done on social media?

Surprisingly infrequently. It’s because I write a blog and then post that. So I’ve thought about it BEFORE I post it. I highly recommend that strategy. Except for news stories, I don’t post anything else.

7. What are your favorite and least favorite things about your body and face?

Least favorite (body): my feet, subject to arthritis, among other ailments, going back to getting frostbite when I was 16
Least favorite (face): the vitiligo, because I don’t want to burn
Favorite (body)): my ears
Favorite (face): my eyes, I suppose

10. Which three places in the physical universe would you most like to visit?

Paris, Tahiti, County Cork in Ireland.

12. How have your religious views changed since you were in high school?

I was pretty rigid then.

March 14

3.Is there a carpet or hardwood floor in your bedroom?

Carpeting, which my wife hates.

10. Have you ever found yourself talking to an inanimate object?

Of course. I mean, is that a BAD thing?

18. Have you ever thrown a surprise party for someone? Who for?

I used to be involved with several surprise parties. Haven’t done one this century, I don’t think.

21. Do you know how to play pool? Are you any good at it?

Yes. No, I’m quite terrible.

22. The most painful medical procedure you’ve ever had?

First root canal.

23. Are you someone who tends to take a whole lot of naps?

Only lately.

March 7

06 What is your least favorite color?

I don’t think I have one. But I do hate poor contrast on signs. So yellow on white is virtually unreadable for me.

08 What is/was your grandfathers’ names?

Maternal grandfather was Clarence Williams. I didn’t know him. He died when I was five, and I THINK I went to his funeral. When went to my maternal grandmother’s funeral in 1982, some folks in the Williams clan came up to me and said, “I bet you don’t remember me.” They were correct.
Paternal grandfather (functional): McKinley Green.
Paternal grandfather (biological): Rev. Raymond Cone.

13 What position do you sleep in at night?

Horizontal

15 Who is your favorite fictional character?

Spider-Man

16 What food do you hate most in the world?

Canned beets.

17 When was the last time you were ill?

Right now, actually, which is why I’m doing this meme. I feel like crap, to use a term my wife hates. I can’t focus on much of anything. More on this later this week.

18 If you were transformed into a wild creature, what would it be?

That presupposes I’m not already one.

19 What was your favorite toy as a child, and whatever happened to it?

Teddy bear, left at my grandmother’s house. A neighbor took possession of stuff from the home temporarily for a time. Then the stuff disappeared.

Sunday Stealing: COVID edition

Yo-yo

Back in 2008-2011, I used to purloin quizzes for this blog from something called Sunday Stealing. I recently discovered that the site still exists.

And while there were some repetitive questions in the day, I obviously never did any COVID-related ones. Until now. There were actually three quizzes in 2020. While some are going to be dated, I thought I’d answer some of them. The first few are from March 2020.

2. How are you feeling about the Coronavirus?
As though God has a warped sense of humor.

5. Have you changed any of your personal habits due to the pandemic?
Until recently, I saw almost no one.

7. Do you think our politicians are doing enough to curb the crisis?
While I think the current ones are trying, the mixed results of the recent mask mandate rules are oddly unsatisfying. I’m good at being outdoors without a mask, but I’m not feeling comfortable in stores, even if the stores don’t require them.

8. Have you stockpiled anything because of the crisis?
No, and other people’s hoarding made me rather… grumpy.

13. Have any of your plans been upset by the outbreak?
Most of them.

16. Has the Coronavirus upset your mental health in any way?
Undoubtedly, in almost every way. I’m still not singing in the choir, e.g.

April 2020

1 – What is something you are doing due to the pandemic that you normally don’t do? After the pandemic will you continue to do this?
Possibly ZOOM with my sisters. They’re in NC and CA.

3- What is one of the first things you will do when the pandemic is over?
Even before it was all over, I went out to eat on April 6, after my second shot, with my friends Carol, Karen, Bill, and Michael. The former three I’ve known since kindergarten. And in a restaurant rather than takeout. I mean it was technically outdoors, but it had an overhang, so it FELT like indoors.

December 2020

1. Day 1 of serious isolation behavior.
Not going to church was huge.

2. First trip you had to cancel.
I was about to meet my friend, the aforementioned Carol (not to be confused with my spouse) in Binghamton in late March 2020. She was going to visit her mom. I was going to do research on my grandmother Agatha. That blew up. I’m planning to try again in September 2021.

3. Other trips canceled.
Uthaclena and I were going to see a concert with members of Jefferson Airplane and other related groups.

4. Last trip out of town before isolation.
Is Schenectady out of town? Then going to Proctors, but then staying overnight in January 2020.

5. Farthest from home since isolation.
Oneonta, my MIL’s house, about 70 miles.

6. Last Meal sitting in a restaurant before Isolation.
Almost certainly on Valentine’s Day, Sam’s Italian Restaurant?

7. How many books have you read?
Not many. A couple of graphic novels, We Return Fighting. Lots of magazines that had been accumulating.

8. First event you didn’t attend due to virus.
See above.

9. Date and event of last over 200-person event.
See next.

10. Last live music event. Cheap Trick, February 7. Unless you count the kids doing Once on this Island on March 8.

11. Things you are eating more of since isolation.
Wheat Thins.

12. Things you are eating less of since isolation.
Nothing.

13. What restaurants have you gotten take-out meals from?
Subway, all of the restaurants on the last block of Madison Ave, mostly pizza, Indian food, and bar food. Also Sam’s Italian, Caffe Italia.

Also

14. Have you found yourself bored in isolation?
Not bored. Never bored. But frustrated and depressed.

15. Have you gained or lost weight?
Yes. Yo-yo.

16. Do you drink alcohol?
Occasionally.

17. If so, more or less in isolation?
Although the IDEA of getting a little (or a lot) drunk was appealing in theory, it just didn’t happen. Some breakers in the psyche are still working.

18. What entertainments have you explored?
Movies online. Inferior to in-person, but that was the option at the time.

19. Gotten into anything new?
Not really.

20. Have you done crosswords? Board games? Jigsaw puzzles?
No, yes, no. But this was true pre-COVID.

21. Have you cleaned out some cabinet, drawer, closet, etc. thoroughly?
A few.

22. Are you spending about the same amount of money?
Generally less.

23. Done Zoom, Facetime, etc. meetups?
WAY too often.

24. Had a social occasion with a small group of people you consider safe?
There were a couple of people on my front porch last fall, distanced and usually masked.

25. Did you vote? In-Person? On Election Day?
Always. Yes. No, early.

Blue Memory Meme

“La-dee-dah, la-dee-dah.”

The great thing about doing these memes is that when my access to the computer is limited, which has been the case a LOT of late, they are much easier to start and stop than an essay. As always, I may answer a question, or I may not. From a two-part Sunday Stealing: Part 1 and Part 2.

1) If the whole world were listening to you right now, what would you say?

That greed is NOT good, that it comes back and bites you in places you don’t want to be bitten.

2) If you could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?

Nelson Mandela

3) You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go?

Tahiti, because it’d be expensive.

4) What do you think about most?

Injustice. Stuff such as this: THIS is what extreme usury looks like.

6) You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?

Sure it would involve affairs of the heart.

7) What’s your strangest talent?

To stay friends with most of the people I’ve dated.

8) What would be a question you’d be afraid to tell the truth on?

I’m sure there is one, but it’s not coming to me. Maybe I’m suppressing it.

9) Ever had a poem or song written about you?

I believe so.

10) When is the last time you played the air guitar?

Yesterday.

12) What’s your religion?

Christian. That denomination thing – I was a Methodist, am now a Presbyterian – is rather weird, if you think on it. Oh, and speaking of religion, check out John Cleese commenting on comments that folks have posted about Monty Python videos on YouTube. Note especially, at the 52-second mark, what he has to say about religion. Or this on Jesus, Republicans And The Bible, from back in the days of the Republican primaries, but the overarching theme is still relevant.

14) When you are outside, what are you most likely doing?

Staying out of the sun.

17) What was the last lie you told?

Probably something in this quiz.

18) Do you believe in karma?

Yes.

19) What is a saying you say a lot?

“La-dee-dah, la-dee-dah.” Actually, I don’t, but I did at one time. You’d really need to ask someone else.

20) What is your greatest weakness; your greatest strength?

Irritability; sense of fairness.

21) Who is your celebrity crush?

This week? Emmylou Harris. I blame Eddie.

22) Give me the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word: heart.

Ann Wilson.

23) How do you vent your anger?

Blogging.

24) Do you have a collection of anything?

Hess trucks, Marvel Masterworks books, CDs, LPs.

25) What is your favorite word?

Rendezvous. (It’ll be something else next time I’m asked.)

26) Are you happy with the person you’ve become?

More or less.

27) What’s a sound you hate; sound you love?

Jackhammer; electric fan

28) What’s your biggest “what if”?

Gave them up for Lent, or something.

29) Do you believe in ghosts?

Not particularly, but I could be persuaded.

30) How about aliens?

Ditto.

31) What is the single best decision you have made in your life so far?

Going to library school.

32) What’s the worst place you have ever been to?

Define “worst”. The saddest was in rural Tennessee; extreme poverty.

33) Can insanity bring on more creativity?

You’re asking me because…

35) To you, what is the meaning of life?

Helping each other, in big ways and small.

36) Define “Art”.

Paul’s partner in the 1960s.

37) Do you believe in luck?

Or something like that.

38) In your opinion, what makes a great relationship?

Honesty.

39) What’s a song that always makes you happy when you hear it?

A SONG. There are so many. I’ll pick one: R.E.M. – It’s The End Of The World

41) What’s the worst injury you’ve ever had?

Broken rib.

43) What’s up?

Popular PIXAR movie starring Ed Asner.

44) Ever had a rumor spread about you?

Almost certainly. It might even have been true.

46) Do you ever hold grudges against people who have done you wrong?

Not a real grudge, but more a loss of trust.

47) What’s your favorite (non-pet) animal?

Tiger.

48) What is your secret weapon to get people to like you?

It’s no secret. Monthly bribes.

50) What do you think is Satan’s last name?

Smith. Gotta blend in somehow.

Descent into Madness Meme

If I slept well, I almost never remember my dreams. If I had off-and-on sleep, I remember my dreams.

There was a two-part Madness meme on Sunday Stealing: Part 1 and Part 2. I’ve eliminated questions I didn’t feel like answering, such as “Have you ever licked the back of a CD to try to get it to work?”

2. What’s the largest age difference between yourself and someone you’ve dated?

16.5 years.

3. Ever been in a car wreck?

Two, one that sent me to the hospital.

4. Were you popular in high school?

Not initially. I was in a group of outsiders that opposed the war in Vietnam in 1968. But by 1970, I was student government president, my friend Carol was VP, and the mood of the school, the community, and the country had changed.

5. Have you ever been on a blind date?

No.

7. Do you have any friends that you’ve known for 10 years or more?

I have friends I have known for 50 years, including the aforementioned Carol.

13. Have you ever had a crush on a teacher?

12th grade English.

17. What would your last meal be before getting executed?

Lobster and steak.

20. Beer, wine or hard liquor?

Hardly any at all these days. That said, not beer, because I never acquired a taste for it. White wine over red, because the red gives me wicked headaches. A number of hard liquor items, but NOT Scotch or vermouth.

21. Do you have any phobias?

Yes.

28. What do you do as soon as you walk in the house?

Take off my shoes.

29. Do you like horror or comedy?

There’s enough horror in the world.

31. Where do you want to live when you are old?

In a walkable community, with a grocery store, drug store, and movie theater nearby. Someplace with good mass transit to the educational facilities in the region.

34. What did you dream of last night?

If I slept well, I almost never remember my dreams. If I had off-and-on sleep, I remember my dreams, but it gets so mixed up with my awake consciousness, I quickly forget.

35. What is your favorite sport to watch?

I like watching football, and especially baseball because I can read the newspaper at the same time. Whereas basketball requires far more concentration than I have time for.

36. Are you named after anyone?

No.

40. Do you sing in the shower?

Not consciously. Which is to say: probably.

43. Would you ever get plastic surgery?

Only if I had had a terrible scarring accident or illness. Not for general aging.

Obviously, I need a couple of Madness songs:
Our House
It Must Be Love
One Step Beyond