JIM'S CRAZY BUSY MI-5

Jim says: "This has been a really crazy week for me. Work has been busy. I am planning a wedding. I have tons of stuff to do. I have tons of appointments to make and keep."

1. How do you deal with being really busy?

I just plow head-first into it. Sometimes I make a list and just check the items off as I go. Somehow, it all manages to get done. (Except housecleaning, of course.)

2. What do you do to relax when you are very stressed?

Facebook has become very relaxing to me, and I love to play Match-3 games on the computer. I also like Time Management games, but they are often stressful in and of themselves.

3. Tell us about your wedding or a wedding you attended that was memorable in some way?

When I got married, I was absolutely bent on having a confetti bell for the first dance. During the first dance, the bridesmaids pull a string, and confetti is supposed to rain down on the bride and groom. One (or maybe a couple) of my bridesmaids got a little rambunctions with the ribbon strings, and pulled the whole bell down right on top of us. They then just tore it open and threw the confetti at us.

4. Do you have any summer travel plans or special plans?

Not at this point. We've talked (for about 2 minutes) about going camping--maybe in New Hampshire to go to StoryLand. Eben hasn't been since he was 3 or 4, and Caleb has never been. I think busy-ness and finances may keep us from even getting that little trip in.

5. What are you going to do after finishing this blog post?

Start some laundry, take a shower, get some lunch started.

FRIDAY FILL-IN

1. It's cold and WET OUTSIDE (AGAIN!).

2. I NOW EAT THE TOMATOES IN "MACARONI, HAMBURG AND tomatoes".

3. My favorite health and beauty product is AN INTUTITION RAZOR.

4. MOM AND I WILL BE GOING ON a nice long ride TODAY. WE NEED TO GO TO A FUNERAL IN PORTLAND.

5. Well, first of all I NEED TO TAKE A SHOWER.

6. JESSE, MELANIE, AND MA; those were the cast of characters in a recent dream and it was PRETTY STUPID. (AT MA'S HOUSE, I WAS TELLING MELANIE THAT JESSE TRULY LOVED HER. IRL, THEY'VE NEVER EVEN MET.)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to GETTING HOME FROM PORTLAND, tomorrow my plans include TRYING TO THINK OF SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS TO DO TO KEEP THE FIGHTING TO A MINIMUM (DWANE HAS TO WORK ALL DAY) and Sunday, I want to SEE HOW MUCH WEIGHT I LOST (FIRST WEEK OF TRYING TO "DIET" AGAIN)!

FRIDAY FILL-IN

1 Moving AND GROOVING IS WHAT I LIKE TO DO FOR EXERICSE.

2. I LOVE IT WHEN I CAN GET SOMETHING FOR free. I LOVE "HAND-ME-DOWN" CLOTHING. ANYONE GOT SOME THEY WANT TO GET RID OF?????

3. My best quality is NOT MY PATIENCE.

4. IT'S IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE details.

5. In nearly 10 years, I HAVE SEEN NIKKI ONLY ONCE. NOT GOOD.

6. A PASSION FOR CLEANING AND GARDENING is what I need right now!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to FINISHING UP MY "BELLA" SCRAPBOOK PAGE, tomorrow my plans include GROCERY SHOPPING and Sunday, I want to SEE BOBBY WIN THE COKE 600 (A GIRL CAN DREAM)!

BILLY RHYTHM'S QUICKY-ROO MI-5

Assuming you must pick one:

1) Motorcycle or Jet Ski? Why?

I guess I'll pick a motorcycle. I think it's more practical. And, since we already have one, I won't have to buy yet another "toy" for Dwane. (If I was going to drive, and money was no object, I'd pick the jet ski.)

2) Fruit pie or cream pie? Which kind? Why?

Definitely cream pie. If I am going to have dessert, I dont' want fruit. That's healthy. Bring on my mom's chocolate cream (with not too much cream). I like a dark heavy chocolate pudding, not a light and fluffy light chocolate.

3) Book or magazine? How come?

A magazine. Since I don't seem to find the time to sit and read, I like magazines, as you can read them in short spurts. Plus, a lot of magazines have a little fiction, a little advice, a little food, etc. Good variety. My favorte is "All You", especially since it has tons of coupons. (Last month it had a coupon for a FREE mascara.) I really loved "Quick & Simple", but Good Housekeeping is no longer publishing it.

4) Hot beverage or cool drink? What's your fav?

Generally speaking, a cool drink. I'm still into Crystal Light Peach Tea and Diet Cherry Pepsi. Hot Chocolate is good, but the kind I like (Ghiradelli made wih milk) is wicked high in calories. Coffee is ok occasionally, but since I can't find my chocolate raspberry creamer anymore, I've lost interest.

5) What's on the grill on Monday--beef, pork, or fowl? What's the specifics?

On most Memorial Days, we have the family over for a cookout. At this point, the family cookout is up in the air. If it should happen, we are just having cheapo hot dogs, only for economics sake. If it turns out to be just the four of us, I'm not sure.

BILLY RHYTHM'S PHONE MI-5

Billy Rhythm says: "We got a new phone system at my office this week. This MI-5 is inspired by that event."

1) When you answer the phone, do you say anything special?

No. Just the typical hello. If I should receive an office call at home (which is rare), I just say "This is Lisa. May I help you?"

2) Other than "Bye" or "Bye-Bye," do you say anything else when you end a conversation? Do you ever use any other closing?

I think I might say "see ya". I almost always say "I love you" before saying "bye" when I'm speaking to Dwane, the boys, Ma, or Mom.

3) How about your cell phone... Do you use a lot of minutes, or do you hoard them? Love your cell, or just a necessity/tool?

I love the convenience of my cell phone, but I rarely use it. I just have a Tracfone, and it's there in case I break down. (With all of our 100K+ mile cares, a break down is always a possibility.) I turn it on only when I'm away from the house, in case the school needs to get me while I'm gone.

4) Is your answering machine message funny? Cute? Straight ahead, all business?

"You've reached the home of Dwane, Lisa, Eben & Caleb. Please leave a message, and we'll get back to you as soon as we can." If I know that my boss is going to need me, I might put on a special message, just so she'll know where I am and when I'll be back.

5) What phone habit do you find annoying? People who return calls based on their caller ID? ("Someone from there called me.") People who talk on their cell in the car? People without answering machines? What?

Hmmm. Nothing really jumps out at me. Eben doesn't talk on the phone a lot (at least not yet), but his friends will often call early in the AM. They haven't learned yet that he sleeps late. I'll tell them that he'll call when he wakes up, and then they'll still call back before he's awake. That kind of bugs me I guess.

FRIDAY FILL-INS

1. If we had no winter I'D REALLY MISS THE PINE TREES WHEN THEY LOOK LIKE ICED OATMEAL COOKIES.

2. EBEN'S KNOWLEDGE IS a perpetual astonishment.

3. If I had my life to live over THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS I'D CHANGE.

4. I CAN'T GET ENOUGH SLEEP inside of four and twenty hours.

5. If you've never been thrilled YOU NEED TO RIDE THE COASTERS AT BUSCH GARDENS.

6. To be interested in the changing seasons IS A GOOD THING.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to HOPING CALEB ISN'T SICK, tomorrow my plans include HOPING CALEB ISN'T SICK (AND WATCHING THE ALLSTAR RACE) and Sunday, I want to TAKE A MUCH NEEDED NAP!

SCRAPBOOKING MI-5

This week’s questions have to do with scrapbooking---well, not really, but kindda. I sell scrapbooking stuff, and three times a year, Close to My Heart creates five new paper themes. Today’s questions have evolved from those five themes.

1. BACK COUNTRY – Tell us about your furthest excursion from “civilization”. How far away into the Back Country did you go? What did you miss most about civilization? Can you give us a tip about survival?

My first thought was going to Jonesport with Larry & Alice and Cappy & Donna. I don't think Jonesport even has a McDonalds, and we were down in the back woods at a hunting camp. No electricity. No running water. I think I stayed a couple of nights. There was an outhouse, and I just don't do well with outhouses. I tried to just go outside by "squatting", and I ended up peeing in my shoe. We still laugh about it.

2. MOON DOGGIE – This is a kind of a Hawaii/Surfing/Being Carefree/Relaxing kind of theme. Tell us about Hawaii, surfing, being carefree, or relaxing.

I've never been to Hawaii. I've never been surfing. I'm not too carefree. So, I guess that leaves me with relaxing. I really like to play games on the computer or DS to relax, and of course, scrapbooking provides a great deal of relaxation. Dwane is telling me quite a bit to "just relax", so I guess relaxation is not my strong suit either.

3. ANIMAL COOKIES – Tell us about your favorite snack food as a child. Is it still around to buy today?

I'm not sure you'd call it a snack, but just this week when I went to get groceries, I tried to find those little Freezer Queen turkey/gravy in a bag thingies. Remember?? You'd just put the pouch in boiling water, and then I would eat it on toast. I also loved the frozen Morton Jelly Doughnuts. Can't find those anymore either. As far as true snacking goes, I used to love to go to my grandmother's and raid her refrigerator of the previous night's leftovers. Cold cube steak. Cold meatloaf. Whatever I could find. I'm sure my grandmother will still let me raid her refrigerator.

4. TINKERIN’ – Do you like to tinker with things? Do you like to take things apart and put them back together again? What has been your biggest tinkerin’ project?

I like to tinker and play with scrapbook stuff, of course, but I don't think I'd consider myself a tinkerer. If something is broken, I'd just let Dwane fix it. (He can fix anything--just like my grandfather.) Both of my boys (especially Caleb) love to tinker. Caleb (who is 6) is currently trying to fix the riding lawn mower.

5. BELLA – This paper is very feminine. Bella is also the main character of the “Twilight” books, which are very popular right now. This question will take us from one extreme to the other---first, tell us about something (or someone) that is very “feminine” and then tell us something about “vampires”. Extra points if you can weave the two themes into one answer.

Obviously, I think of my niece, Miss Julia, when I think of feminine. As my house is full of boys, I get my occasional feminine fix by going up and down the "girly" toy aisle at Wal-Mart, thinking of Julia. Unfortunately, though, she's getting older, so she probably won't be interested in dolls and Barbies for much longer. Then I'll have to start wondering the hair/make-up aisles. (Don't tell Billy Rhythm.) I'm not going to try to connect Julia with vampires. Although, her father is quite obsessed with all things macabre. Is that close enough? (BTW, I'm 1/2-way through the first Twilight book. It's good, but not an obsession.)

FRIDAY FILL IN

1. Apples are to oranges as INTERROGATORIES ARE TO REQUESTS FOR PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS (WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS WEEK).

2. I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THE NEW LAW THAT PASSED THIS WEEK and that's all I have to say about that.

3. I think I hear DWANE GETTING UP---OH, WAIT A MINUTE---HE'S JUST ROLLING OVER.

4. IF THE PHONE RINGS AT 2:00 AM, IT SHOULD PUT UP A RED flag.

5. Do what you want to do, but I'M NOT GOING.

6. CALEB WAS RIDING HIS BIKE and behind him was a Radio Flyer wagon; in the wagon was a bucket filled with FROG EGGS.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to PROBABLY SCRAPBOOKING (DWANE HAS AN EARLY EVENING MRI), tomorrow my plans include PROBABLY SCRAPBOOKING WHILE WATCHING THE DARLINGTON RACE (DWANE HAS TO WORK ALL SATURDAY NIGHT) and Sunday, I want to ENJOY MY CHILDREN AND MY MOM AND MY MA!

YES OR NO?

Have you ever...

Kissed anyone of your Facebook friends? Yes
Kissed MORE than one of your FB friends? Yes
Been arrested? no
Kissed someone you didn't like? No
Slept in until 5 PM? No
Fallen asleep at work/school? No
Held a snake? No
Ran a red light? Yes
Been suspended from school? No
Totaled your car/motorbike in an accident? No
Been fired from a job? No
Sang karaoke? Yes
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? Yes
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? Yes
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes
Kissed in the rain? Yes
Kissed in the snow? Yes
Sang in the shower? Yes
Sat on a rooftop? No
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes? No
Broken a bone? Yes
Shaved your head? No
Blacked out from drinking? No
Played a prank on someone? Yes
Felt like killing someone? No
Made your girlfriend/boyfriend cry? Yes
Had Mexican jumping beans for pets? Yes
Been in a band? Yes
Shot a gun? Yes
Tripped on mushrooms? No
Donated Blood? Yes
Eaten alligator meat? No
Eaten horse meat? No
Eaten snake? No
Eaten raw fish? No
Eaten cheesecake? Yes
Think about the future? Yes
Think about the past? Yes
Believe in love? Yes
Thought you were in love and then realized you weren't? Yes
Believe in love at first sight? Yes
Sleep on a certain side of the bed? Yes
Had to fight for your side of the bed? Yes
Sneezed so hard you peed a little? Yes
Addicted to Facebook? Yes
Glad for Facebook? Yes
Wish you thought of Facebook first? No
Attracted to one of your Facebook friends? Yes
Do they know? Yes
Is anyone going to really read your answers? Yes

A GROWN-UP SURVEY

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
The cable bill. It just seems to be so high.

2. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
Oh, man. I don't know that I remember. Lately, all of the "dates" Dwane and I have had have been going to doctor's appointments. We usually grab fast food. Our last "real" date?? Applebee's for our wedding anniversary in December, 2008.

3. What do you really want to be doing right now?
Paying close attention to Dancing with the Stars while sitting in my comfy chair.

4. How many colleges did you attend?
2--Husson in Bangor, and the University of Maine at Thomaston.

5. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
It's comfy, lightweight, but has long sleeves. Good for that not quite warm, but not quite cool weather.

6. What are your thoughts on gas prices?
It's certainly better than last summer, but I hate to see it start climbing back up again.

7. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
"Oh, no. Is it really time to get up??? If I could only have 10 more minutes." I guess I need to learn to use the snooze button. Usually, I'm wide awake long before it's time to get up.

8. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
I feel asleep during Desperate Housewives, so it was probably something about the show. Don't remember.

9. Do you miss being a child?
Absolutely. I'd love to be a Senior in high school again. Is that "child" enough?

10. What errand/chore do you despise?
I never dust, so maybe that's what I despise. I also hate trying to clean the kitchen floor. It doesn't seem to matter what I do, it never looks clean. I get tired of putting away things, too. It seems like I get things picked up, and then it's all pulled out again. Seems pointless at times.

11. Get up early or sleep in?
Get up early, although I'd love to be able to sleep in.

12. Have you found real love yet?
Yes.

13. Favorite lunch meat?
Roast Beef

14. What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart?
A couple of gallons of water.

15. Beach or lake?
Well, you can have a beach at a lake or the ocean. I'd rather swim in a lake, but I'd rather live by the ocean.

16. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
No. Absolutely not. However, I am afraid that America is beginning to think it's just a ritual.

17. Sopranos or Desperate Housewives?
Desperate Housewives. I don't have HBO, so the Sopranos aren't even an option. Desperate Housewives is a guilty pleasure for me.

18.What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
Jesus, of course!

19. Have you ever crashed your vehicle?
No, but I have been crashed into 2x - once by a deer, and once by a young man who was parked in front of me in a driveway. He backed up into my parked car.

20. Ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
No.

21. Ring tone?
Just your basic generic ring.

22. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
The kitchen???

23. Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?
Amy's house!!!

23. Do you go to church?
Twice on Sundays, and Ladies Bible Study on Wednesday AMs.

24. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or a new relationship?
A new career. Being a paralegal is not my "dream job", but I'm not really sure what my "dream job" is.

25. How old are you?
40

26. Do you have a go-to person?
Yes. A couple.

27. Are you where you want to be in life?
For the most part. I wish I had a little more financial security, but other than that, ok I guess.

28. Growing up, what were your favorite cartoons?
Superfriends, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Johnny Quest.

29. What about you do you think has changed the most?
My emotions. I am not as soft as I used to be.

30. Looking back at high school were they the best years of your life?
The best years have been being a Mom. I LOVED high school, though.

31. Are there times you still feel like a kid?
I always feel like a kid. I'm still waiting to be a "grown up".

32. Did you ever own troll dolls?
No.

33. Did you have a pager?
I had one for a brief time. Dwane had one for one of his jobs, and when he got a new job, he was assigned a pager. I used the old one until the contract expired.

34. Where was the hang out spot when you were a teenager?
Alice's house.

35. Were you the type of kid you would want your children to hang out with?
Yes.

36.Who do you think impacted your life the most?
My parents. Jesus. Ruth Shive.

37. Was there a teacher or authority figure that stood out for you?
Mr. Borgerson--my 5th & 6th grade teacher. Mr. Andrews, Mr. Ebert, and Miss Curran--high school business teachers. I really loved all of my teachers. I tended to be a teacher's pet.

38. Do you tell stories that start with “when I was your age..."?
Sometimes. Not really to make the kids "feel guilty", but more to just share with them stories of my childhood--especially ones that relate to my Dad, as I want them to remember as much about him as they can.

FRIDAY FILL INS

1. The first rule of working in an office and getting along is THE GOLDEN RULE: DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE DONE TO YOU.

2. I LOVE STEAMED CLAMS AND FRIED clams.

3. When I think of carnivals I think of ALL THE MONEY THAT IS SPENT.

4. I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT IS my favorite spring flower.

5. Things on my desk include A HALF-EATEN CHOCOLATE BUNNY, SCRAPBOOKING RIBBON IN THE COLOR OF CHOCOLATE, AND MY GROCERY LIST (WHICH LISTS BAKING CHOCOLATE ON IT). DO YOU NOTICE A THEME?

6. HEARING PRAISE & WORSHIP MUSIC makes me wanna DANCE, EXERCISE, OR CLEAN HOUSE.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to SCRAPBOOKING (DWANE HAS A MEETING), tomorrow my plans include THE NIGHT RACE AT RICHMOND (DWANE HAS TO WORK DURING THE DAY) and Sunday, I want to MAKE JULIA'S REQUEST FOR SUNDAY DINNER (SPAGHETTI)!