Saturday, January 31st, 2009
1:50 A.M.


Join Here
PHOTO HUNT 2009 THEMES

FURRY


I'm sure y'all are thinking to yourselves: "Anni is gonna post photos of her cats!" Well....surprise, it's more than just cat furries!!


Coyote hide on fireplace hearth - - - Kachina Doll 'mucklucks'



Stuffed Tiger Face [macro setting] - - -Winston's Tail? Yessiree!!

Friday, January 30th, 2009
4:15 A.M.


Join Here


I did it! I did it!!!
I'm so pleased. For ten years...TEN long years, I've diligently added to my collection. And this past week, tho the last one was issued in November of 2008, I have completed two whole sets of it! Two each! One set for Clint [our oldest grandson] and the other set for Dillon [our youngest grandson]. Plus two [one for each folder] special gold ones!! And, this is my show n tell this week....

It all started in the year 1999. The United States Mint began printing out commemorative quarters to represent each state of our country. They began with the first states, the first of the states [part of the original 13 colonies] that were admitted to the union. Each successive year, five quarters would be minted and issued as they became states. Beginning with Delaware [the first ratified state of USA] up to and including the 50th state of America, Hawai'i. After I got two quarters of the same, I would add them to the folders made especially for the coins. Each state on the map shows the year they joined, becoming a state. Each year was color coded on the map according to the sequence. It was fun. I admit tho, there were a couple of times I was beginning to think I'd never find that quarter! The ones I collected are NOT uncirculated as coin collectors search for for their personal collections. None the less, the two are now complete. Hawai'i's coin was the last, and as I said, they were minted in November of 2008. By the time they appeared here in our town in the cash drawers at the banks, it was mid January 2009!

This photo displays the two folders, completed! I added a little bone china Bald Eagle, the country's national bird, in the show n tell exhibit for my blog today. I remember we were on our way TO Texas on vacation at the time --we were seriously thinking of relocating to Texas for our home by the sea, traveling from Tucson to Houston and we stopped in NEW MEXICO for gasoline...and I went in to the little country store next to the station and bought me a sandwich and chips while Bud took over the driving...my change? TWO shiny Texas Quarters. I took this as an omen and we moved to Texas shortly afterward. hehehehe

As aforementioned, there are also two special coins! We had to ask for these. We were walking the boardwalk, shopping, and saw a man come out holding and looking intently at a coin...I stopped, knowing just what it was, and asked him: "Where did you get that?" He smiled, and turned around toward the swinging bar doors and answered, "In there." We went in for a beer, sat down and ordered our Coors Light, and asked for gold dollars for our change. At the Crystal Palace in Tombstone of all places! They are gold dollars! The Sacagawea dollar, along with the Presidential Dollar series, is one of the two that were 'current' United States dollar coins at the time. This coin was first minted in 2000 and depicts the Shoshone woman Sacagawea, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, carrying her son Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. These coins were made to replace the unpopular Susan B. Anthony dollar coins which were often confused with quarters because of their similar size, similar reeded edge, and identical color. To remedy this problem, Sacagawea dollars were given a smooth outside edge (similar to the Nickel) and distinctive gold color which made it the only gold-colored coin in the United States that was circulating at the time. The back side of the gold dollar has an eagle soaring. In 2002, the printing/stamping of this coinage was halted. No longer minted. The coin is part of the two folders I have here, placed in it's special area...in the Gulf of Mexico..near Florida as you can see in the 2nd photo.

Ten long years....uhhhhh, Houston? Mission Accomplished. We're have a touch down.

Thursday, January 29th, 2009
5:46 A.M.


First off today, let me tell you about a blogger I enjoy visiting. I love her quick wit, her sense of humor and her complete honesty and demeanor. She's a lot of fun...I also must tell you I enjoy Arthur and all her other furbabies' antics. But...now this is something...her online signature is Gattina. And she always signs the comments as such. Her profile name for her blog is Gattina. The other day, as you know about Blogger's security word on some blogs that some have for spam and keeping the robotic comments at bay...let me say some of the words are difficult to decipher and I've had to redo a few because I couldn't tell an "i" from an "l" sometimes. Anyway, here I am, sitting, typing away at composing a comment for someone [I can't remember who it was], but there in front of my face, the security word....



...altho it lacks a 2nd 't' it was just too darned close to not get a screenshot of if and share it. Especially with Gattina. I do hope she drops by today. That one was more fun than a barrel of monkeys! You don't think our dear blogger is trying to take possession of our psyche do you? Where IS SHE, anyway? [insert me looking over my shoulder] Is she here?


- - -

Then, I thought I'd share a little tidbit about how to go about the character map you may not know of having on your computer. It's been posted on my sidebar for many months now, but I don't know how often anyone would actually take time to read my tidbits. So, try this; nifty!! Following the pink arrows

1] Go to the "Start" icon, click on it.


2] Find "Programs" and click on it


3] Find "Accessories", click on it


4] Find "System Tools", click on it


5] Find "Character Map", click on it


6]This will load...the Character Map--


7] Use scroll bar to the right, and find the character you wish to use, DOUBLE CLICK ON IT...you'll then notice that it shows in the bar below:




<——scroll bar on map, not your browser







8] Once the character is chosen by double clicking it, you then submit to copy by clicking on the "Copy" button to the right of the map.


9] The last step...where you want the character to be in your blog post or document....Say I want the copyright symbol to show at the end of this text...I'd go through the steps above and then "PASTE" by right clicking my mouse at this post as follows: ©




YOU'RE DONE! Publish your blog post, or save document. The copyright character [or any you choose] remains in the text.


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Storyteller sent me an award in the email. One I had missed from her blog. She writes: "5. Hootin' Anni - always keeps me thinking and entertained with her well written posts ... amazed at her wonderful graphics!" Wow...thank you so much for the great compliments...AND for the wonderful award. Much appreciated.

- - -



And, Toni Lee...she sent me to pick up an award from her too. She posted in my comments that it was healthy for me. I found this: Blogger Toni Lee said...

"I have something for you and it's not fattening...0cal...0carb..0fat.
Stop by and pick it up."

It's delicious!! And yes...healthy and oh "so sweet of you" to share it with me. Thank you so much.


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And last but not least, Jen @ Jen's Chronicles has awarded me with a couple of wonderful accolades!! I thank you so much dear lady for thinking of me. You always bring some sunshine my way. And for that, I am very grateful.



Jen also tagged me:
Here are the rules of the game:

Link to the person who tagged you.

Share six random things about yourself.

Tag six people and let them know they are tagged on their own blog.

Feel free to play the way you want.


Here are my six things:
1] I love deviled eggs
2] I secretly feed a neighborhood cat
3] I love fast cars
4] My popcorn MUST have butter! [I think I've posted this before]
5] I love tea...hot tea, and ICED tea.
6] For the first six years of my life I was hospitalized ---off and on, like two or three times a year...A LOT!!

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009
4:51 A.M.


Join -Wordful Wednesday
AND the Natural Alphabet Photo Challenge.


My WORDFUL WEDNESDAY is two parts cat and one part a photo challenge....so, fasten your seat belts, it's a whirlwind, spine twisting, adventure today...filled with baskets, mice, tools and what-have-yous---




Big'o Tahoe...weighing in at 10 pounds gets into a small basket. Watching her try and 'fit herself in' is just plain..."a hoot"!! Then, to top it off, it's like she can't believe she actually did it and checks to see if she left any body parts outside the cavity! "By golly world...I'm all in!! No spare parts outside. Hmmm, yay, me!"




Then, my Winnie. Winston that is...He was so busy with his new mouse Santa left him...he just tuckered himself out and had to stop and lay down and rest under the Christmas tree...of course, not letting his new toy out of sight, tho!!





If'n you wanna skip the alphabet challenge photos I've posted below, you can go directly to the comment box....HERE!!

Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
12:01 A.M. [posted early on Monday]


Join Here

LOUD

You can either use the word itself or post about something that IS loud.



First....y'all know the 'term' LOL. laughing out loud: Something that is loud? Laughter!!! Go ahead, read this, and remember...no one is watching you, you can laugh loud!!

John gets a distressed phone call from his very blonde girlfriend Buffy.

"I've got a problem," says Buffy.

"What's the matter?" asks John.

"Well, I bought this jigsaw puzzle, but it's too hard. None of the pieces fit together and I can't find any edges."

"What's the picture of?" asks John.

"It's of a big rooster," replies Buffy.

"All right," says John. "I'll come over and have a look."

So he goes over to Buffy's house and she greets him by saying, "Thanks for coming over." Buffy leads John into her kitchen and shows him the jigsaw puzzle on the kitchen table.

John looks at the puzzle and then turns to her and says, "For heaven's sake, Buffy, put the cornflakes back in the box."


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In the world of romance, one single rule applies:
Make the woman happy.
Do something she likes, and you get points.
Do something she dislikes, and points are subtracted.
You don't get any points for doing something she expects...Sorry, that's the way the game is played.

Here's a guide to the point system.

Simple Duties:

You make the bed (+1)
You make the bed, but forget to add the decorative pillows (0)
You throw the bedspread over rumpled sheets(-1)
You leave the toilet seat up (-5)
You replace the toilet-paper roll when it's empty (0)
When the toilet-paper roll is barren, you resort to Kleenex (-1)
When the Kleenex runs out you shuffle slowly to the next bathroom (-2)
You go out to buy her spring-fresh extra-light panty liners with wings (+5)
But return with beer (-5)
You check out a suspicious noise at night (0)
You check out a suspicious noise and it's nothing (0)
You check out a suspicious noise and it's something (+5)
You pummel it with a six iron (+10)
It's her father (-20)


- - -

Your Physique

You develop a noticeable potbelly (-15)
You develop a noticeable potbelly and exercise to get rid of it (+10)
You develop a noticeable potbelly and resort to loose jeans and baggy Hawaiian shirts (-30)
You say "I don't give a damn because you have one too" (-800)

- - -

The Big Question

She asks, "Do I look fat?"
You hesitate in responding (-10)
You reply, "Where?" (-35)

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I've changed the curtains. I've finished! Let me speak, loud and clear! I LOVE PURPLES!! And the purple plum colors I've chosen for the new drapery touch is not a soft, pastel, quiet color...it's LOUD during the daytime hours, speaks volumes when you step into the room, and quite refreshing. At night, the blending of the drapes and the color of the wall is very calming and subtle; soothing.





BEFORE
Blazé and quiet -and downright "yucky"

This past week, I finally got my order for some material to redo the window treatment in the master bedroom. Thing is, the walls are painted a rich, deep plum color. [the photo on the right really needs to be embiggened to see the measuring I did for hemming--it's a dark color. The color on the bolt was "Petit Noir" that's a kind of dark wine that we've sipped a few now and then. hehehe I had to use the livingroom for my working space since the one panel was 138 inches long!! And my table was the blue carpeting, so it's difficult to decipher much in the photo as it shows up on the blog right now.] To find any material that has the exact shade of plum is nigh on to impossible. When we moved here four years ago, our walls throughout the home were all the same...white. Then, I visited blogs and 'watched' other online friends do some redecorating of rooms and thought to myself, "Hey, I need more color in my home too"!!! So being that the rich, dark colors are more to my liking, I did the master bedroom in plum. And then wallpapered the master bathroom in copper and plum and a sprinkling of forest green in the brocade work. It all turned out nice, but I couldn't find anything in 'drapery' material that had plum! Not in this town anyway. I took the lace curtains that I had from long ago and saved, and bought some RIT™...purple plum was the color. I did it all per directions on the package and the off white lace turned purple all right, but not the correct purple -plus, each time I washed them, the purple faded more and more. Since I had the dickens of a time finding the true color in material...I went to specialty shops and searched for the same shade as my walls. Nothing. While doing the Spring Cleaning this past couple of weeks, I asked Bud if he thought maybe if I went to a material shop and asked to go through their ordering catalog, if I would be lucky enough to find something. I did...I went to Joann Fabrics first,......again, nothing. [It's a hard color to describe]. I then drove over the other side of the freeway and stopped in Hancock Fabrics. There, I found the perfect match. And a solid color to boot! Which I really wanted 'cause the bedspread is flowered. That is enough pattern for me in one room. I ordered 12 yards!! Yes, twelve yards. The windows in the master bedroom are huge!! The ceiling is 16 feet high. The windows cover about, from floor to celing, covers about 12 feet of the space going up and down. There are two rows of three windows that are about 5' by 3' each. That's a lot of area to cover. They called Thursday and said my order had arrived. I went and picked it up in the afternoon that day, and then come Friday I worked from sun-up to early evening to get them done. It looks terrific. At least for my tastes. Now, I've been waiting for the sun to shine through the shutters onto the purple...but for the last three days...cloudy as all get out. Go figure. I can't wait to see the purple hues come through the new window treatment!!! In the photos the room looks very dark, but it isn't. If you look to the right in the 'evening photo', where the blinds are closed, you can see a part of my "Gone With the Wind" Music box [the orange square]...that is the wall color...the draperies are just to the left of it...see what a great match I found? Super!!!

AFTER - daylight [no, the sun isn't shining in this photo...cloudy!] and then, evening photos:
LOUD AND BOLD-Daytime... [yet, peaceful and relaxing at night]

Sunday, January 25th, 2009
5:55 A.M.



Play along with your subconscious; Sunday's Word Association.
Join here.

I say ... and you think ... ?


1. Unwanted :: pregnancy [that's the 1st thing that came to my mind!]
2. You’d better :: watch out, you'd better not pout!
3. Woman :: izer
4. Weighed :: in
5. Upright :: piano
6. I feel :: pretty, oh so pretty.
7. Ill :: sick
8. It’s like ::, y'know? [I sound like a Valley Girl!]
9. Poor man :: Rich man...actually it's Rich Man Poor Man [book]
10. Great :: balls of fire!



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We're back. We didn't get home 'til early this morning. Neither one of us wanted to stay overnight, so we drove home from Houston just before 10 PM and it takes about 3 hours to drive the distance. And being that it was dark, and neither one of us likes to drive at night, well, you get the picture. LOL You know the scenario...a couple of old geezers driving like we didn't belong on the highway, and all are passing us and flipping us off? Ya, that was the two of us last night. By the time we got home, I just dropped everything on the kitchen counter, fed the cats and fell into bed! Clothes and all.

It was a good day. We had breakfast when we got there, and then when the art gallery opened, I believe it was called William Reaves Art Center, [there are a gazillion art centers and museums in Houston, I had my choice and I liked the sound of 'western Texas artists' ---but the names of all that I had to choose from, I am not sure this is the right name...LOL---besides, I'm still not fully awake]...we perused all the exhibits of the Texan Local artists from the early 1900s up to more modern Texan artists. I think my favorite was Moonlight Caller 'cause it has always been the way I pictured Texas when I was a small girl...the old adobe construction and the Mexican flair before 'civilization' took over the state and you have cities like Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antoinio. LOL All in all the gallery was a great way to spend a Saturday.

We went to a late lunch at Carrabba's Italian...but, I had grilled salmon...DEEEEEElish!!!! We played a newer version of Trivial Pursuit..."The Americana" version, which was something different. I learned something with the brown category when I landed on it...the category PLACES....did y'all know about the lake called
Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg?
Ya, you read that right!! Well, that was one of the questions I got stuck with. And I was supposed to actually KNOW[?] where this was? Ya right...and I can't even remember where I put my eyeglasses from one step to the next? I think not!!

First thing this morning I had to look it all up. By the way, it was --or IS-- in Massachusetts. And today, they call it Lake Webster. Well, dang...if I'da known that was THE lake, I coulda answered Massachusetts! I knew that!!! [insert wink here] But the part of the game that made me...all of us....laugh so hard our sides ached, was where Bud had to pronounce the lake!! You shoulda been there. Why, lordy, I am good at spelling, but....hey...I couldn't even begin to spell it, and I was given the card and tried to spell it--and I was READING it off the card...too funny. You had to be there with us sitting at the table. Trust me. It was a natural high...we laughed and laughed so hard. I'm wondering just why the locals changed the name to Webster?!! hehehehehe

We had pizza delivered while all the chatting was going on in the evening...we waited to get the beer that we consumed with the pizza to get 'peed' out of our system and left late. All in all it was a very fun day. [For Erik, it was to be my February birthday celebration, early]

I received these from him---

A hardcover edition of Ayn Rand's "Fountainhead" and also "Capitalism" by the same author and a pink glass candy dish. It was filled with hard candies, but they disappeared during the game of pursuit! I love the rose lid!!!

I'll be taking a nap today for sure! We got to sleep around 1 a.m. and only four hours of sleep...that is not good for my system. roflmao

Saturday, January 24th, 2009
12:05 A.M.


Join Here
PHOTO HUNT 2009 THEMES

CHIPPED




This is a very hurried post and really nothing spectacular for the Photo Hunt theme this week. By the time this is posted on the pre-scheduled option for Blogger, I'll be still snoozing. But at the very early dawn, Bud and I are going to hit the road around 4 or 5 a.m. We're going to Houston for the day to be with Erik.

So, I won't be visiting anyone...and may I say now, that if you stop by here, know that I appreciate your visit.....




The photo is of my left index...where I chipped a fingernail, on the right side right down to the near quick, while I was pulling thread from the new curtains I've been making to give the master bedroom a new window treatment. I'll just let it grow out more and then file away. LOLOLOLOL
That's all I could come up with in a hurry before I shut the computer off for the day!!




Have a wonderful Saturday everyone.

Friday, January 23rd, 2009
5:10 A.M.

Join Here

My show n tell is a simple, uncluttered one today. But first, before you scroll down to the item I'm showing off, let me give you a bit of history of how I came to have this in my possession.

One of my favorite old west towns in the states is Tombstone, Arizona. When we lived in Tucson, we'd try to go up to Tombstone for lunch at least once a month. The atmosphere in the tourist town of Tombstone was fabulous. Daily, they have mock shoot-outs for its visitors from around the world. The streets are lined with boardwalks, the main street, Allen Street, was more or less quite a lot like it was back in the 1800's with the historic buildings and history. One place in particular, one of my favorites was an establishment called Big Nosed Kate's Saloon. Back in the days of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday it was The Grand Hotel. Now, the same building is a bar and restaurant, with an original dark walnut bar. The floors are wood slatted, the wall hangings are of the old west decor with nude paintings, lanterns and lots of stuff that makes one feel as if they've stepped back in time.

One time when we had a few too many cool ones with our meal, and it was a cold winter's day, I had a jacket with me that I had taken off and laid on the chair next to me at our table. As we consumed our burger and fries, I accidentally on purpose dropped one of their menus...somehow it slipped ever so gracefully into the opening and hid from view. Hmmmmmm, and somehow, it was in the car when we got back to Tucson in the early evening. Now how did that happen, you wonder?

It's been in our kitchens ever since. Come on over...Kate's is always open, year 'round. Sit a spell, and enjoy the live entertainment of Country Western singers, an old antique, upright piano bar...enjoy the days of yore while dining on a burger, or steak...or perhaps your preference would be authentic Mexican food! Come dine with me, the menu choices are yours.......





The front cover of the menu.
Describing the different parts of the building.
The 'Shaft' is below the ground floor, and it DOES still have a mining shaft that you can visit. Below the restaurant IN THE SHAFT is a small gift shop.











Inside the first page on the left of the menu, you'll be shown the choices of appetizers, the kid's menu, their pizza and sandwiches. I'm sure that by now, the prices have gone up in cost. Hasn't everything?












On the right side on the menu as you open it to view their list of foods prepared, you'll find the Mexican entrees and Combo Plates. Plus more choices for children and a few choices of side orders.







And on the backside of the menu it tells the history of Big Nosed Kate. the first prostitute in Tombstone, Arizona Territory. However, her biggest claim to fame was the fact that she was also Doc Holliday's girlfriend. Kate had saved Holliday from the hangman in Fort Griffin, Texas, by breaking him out of jail. For this, Doc was eternally grateful, and the two traveled the West making money the best they could: Doc with his gambling, and Kate, well, with her, ummmmmm, womanly charms.


I love the history of this town, and I love learning about how women of the old west survived even if their occupation was "shady". Even tho I wouldn't agree with this lifestyle, it's still part of America's history, and you can't turn your back on the fact and pretend it didn't exist and it's still a profession of today. Being a prostitute doesn't make them 'lower' than I am in any way, I'm not better than those women of the times...we're all sisters. More on Big Nosed kate's life HERE

Thursday, January 22nd, 2009
6:00 A.M.


Shadow and Patsy, and books ....Oh my!!!





Shadow had posted about a blog game that I thought was fun and I asked her to assign me a letter so I could participate...


The rules of the game are simple. you are assigned a random letter and you should then post 10 things that you love that begin with that letter. if you read this and want to play, leave a comment that says so, and i'll assign you a random letter. and on and on it goes.

So Shadow came by and left my assigned letter in my comments. She posted:

"....and for the game, i'm glad you wanna play. your letter is.... o"

O

1. OLIIVES...I love them. Green ones, stuffed ones, and ripe ones!! I love them so much, I consume too many. Once ---WAY too many and I got sick on them, but that didn't stop my love for olives. [I even love the color...olive green, to wear]

2. OWLS...my favorite of the owl species is the pygmy owl. I was one of many in Tucson that fought the city with construction of a new subdivision against a small mountain range that had sightings of several pygmy owls and their habitat...it's an endangered species.

3. ORANGE JUICE...of all the juices in the world, I still tend to drink this mostly. It's tasty, it's good for me and my heart rate. I also love mandarin oranges!!!

4. ODD NUMBERS....don't laugh. I tend to seek odd numbered items. Either to draw or view or paint or play on the lotto....odd numbers are better for me. LOL My art teachers stressed that when composing a picture or drawing or painting...having an odd number directs the eye to the focal point much better, and I remembered being taught that, and still work with the concept. For instance, having three apples in one bowl for still life is more 'attractive' than two or four...honest, it does seem that way. Either that, or I believed them when they taught that in classes. I've won a few 'small' prizes with playing odd numbers also. Even in Vegas.

5. O'Hara....can I say Scarlet O'Hara? She was one of my favorite characters in literature. Still is. I love her tenacity, her wiles, her love of Tara, her determination, her...need I go on?

6. Oahu...I ♥ the island of Oahu....for many many reasons, that are sentimental to me. The air, the ambiance, the sea, Pearl Harbor, the mountains, the falls, the rainforests...the whole shebang!!

7. Oatmeal...anything made with oatmeal. Hot oatmeal, oatmeal cookies, oatmeal bread, oatmeal pancakes...you name it.

8. Oriental Art....I love the ancient art...the watercolors of geisha girls, the mountains and bridges. Oriental pagodas, the Japanese Gardens...lots o' things having to do with the Orient.

9. "O" movies....Open Range [western I've watched Over and Over!], Old Yeller, Omen, One Hour Photo, Other Boleyn Girl, Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

10. Orchids...especially the most exotic and purple!!! [or pink, LOL]


....Wanna play the game yourself? Leave me a comment and I'll drop by and give you your special letter so you can play along. Thanks to Shadow for coming over and giving me the special letter, 'o'...it was fun and quite a challenge.


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Patsy interviewed me! What fun. She was interviewed too. Her personal interview

She left this for me:
Here are your interview questions.
1. Where is your least favorite place to be?

Hands down!!!....the dentist's chair! If I could I would turn the word dentist into a four letter word and not speak it ever again. It would drop completely from my vocabulary elsewise if spoken, I'd get my mouth washed out with soap!!

2. What person would you like to spend a day shadowing? Why?

This may sound strange, but in today's times? No one. What I'd really like to do is go back in history and spend a day with many historical figures that I didn't study in school. Y'know? Thing is, when in class, you'd be forced to learn about presidents, heads of state, world leaders and such. And I sincerely hated it. After school, I learned that there were so many historical figures, much more to history, than taught. And I've been intrigued by several and researched deeply those lives. I've often said I would like to have had a chance to interview John Wilkes Booth!! Yes. You read that right. I think a chance to go back in time and shadow this man for one day would be an event in my lifetime that would allow me to 'see' his mind and how it worked. [and not necessarily just prior to him assassinating Lincoln either...perhaps his younger days to see what made him be what he was in April of that fateful day...who was he, and why did he do what he did? What made the man a lethal weapon in his own right? What brought on the hate? Did he love so deeply one certain woman that he'd die for her? What was his favorite drink? How did he sleep?] The man has captivated me for decades. I would love a chance to follow him for a day, interview him during that one day and ask those questions, and then write the #1 bestseller of the life and times of John Wilkes Booth. Of course there are others too, but for mentioning just one for the interview, I think I would like to shadow Booth.

3. What is your least favorite meal that you have to play nice and eat?

I'm not sure if this pertains to 'consuming the worst meal' or 'attending the worst meal and playing nice'....Me? Play Nice? Always!! Manners? Why, I'm the epitome of Ms. Manners! Okay, okay...seriously now, I am truly not a socialite, so having a meal is just an ordinary, daily thing in my life. When I was working outside the home and played hostess to many dinners with the Chamber of Commerce, I was at the top...the best hostess around. [insert a wink here...kidding!! So, I can't be serious I guess!] And I truly enjoyed being the 'emcee' to many state dinners. But now? I don't do 'special meals' outside the home other than going out to eat at a restaurant...so I'm more or less...just Anni!!! I do as I damn well please most of the time. Hey, at my age I can get by with more than you know. It's the gray hair! Trust me. Some could see me have a giggling fit at the dining table and pass it up with the consideration of "She's an old lady...let it pass."

If it's the worst meal to consume and actually eat it for the sake of not hurting the cook's feelings it'd have to be oysters! In fact, I don't think I COULD consume them. I've tried several times and spit them out.

4. What annoys you most about your spouse?

Sometimes, Bud can be very pouty! It's not only just annoying, I hate a man that pouts. 'Nough said!!

5. What is your greatest talent?

See number 4. Like I said, I can be best just being me! I have no 'greatest' talents. I love art. In many forms. So, if you consider that a talent, I guess that would be it. Design, painting, decorating, crafting, putting a special plate of crackers on a dish with 'form'...even viewing art of many aspects, I enjoy it. I love to just look at my surroundings [I can spend a whole DAY looking at one piece of art in a museum and feel satisfied] I can see the green on a leaf and pick out many shades of green; just to see if I can find ten shades or if I can't. I watch and pay attention to all the different shapes and bubbles of a wave. I can pick out purples in the sky that some can't see...or find the golden flecks of sun's rays. I've taken many years and classes of art in my lifetime and have learned to train my eye of seeing things that others wouldn't take time to even notice. This reads a bit egotistical...but honestly, I'm just answering the question.

T-t-t-t-th-th-that's all folks!!!

RULES:

Be sure to include.
Follow these instructions:

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me." if you'd like to have questions asked.
2. I, the interviewer, get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. Five Questions, only.
5. Link to my interview post...this one.


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Speaking of books....
When I go to Barnes n Noble, which is more than likely at least once a week, I love to just peruse the bookshelves and take note of the newly published books. For future reference. I have found a neat trick these days...so often I would go to a bookstore and see the cover of a book on a subject that interests me, and open up the cover and read the synopsis and the book critics' reviews on the back cover and say to myself "Hmmmm, this sounds like a great read!" Then, I'd get home and forget the title. So, now I take out my handy dandy cellphone and snap the cover of the book. When I get home I can then go online and read what other readers have under the B n N book reviews and make a decision on which book I buy next.

Or, if the price of the book is a bit more than I think it's worth, I still have the book cover and title on my computer so when I go to the Half Price Books, I can then search for it there. I mean, a certain book, that sells for retail at $30.00, if I have the patience for it to show up at Half Price, I can get it there for $15!! It may take a few months for it to show up there, but it saves me money. And no, I normally don't set foot in a library unless it's for research only. I like to have my own book and then read it in my own time, with no 'check out time limit'.

And besides, if the book is worth keeping, it goes on our bookroom shelves here at home to re-read someday. I truly LOVE to collect first editions!! And then, if the book was good to read, but not worth keeping, we trade them in...yep, you guessed it...at Half Price Books!!! We get a 'return' on the books we bought brand new and that way the original price we paid is not such a hefty cost once we trade it in and get money back.

Recently, I went through the shelves and found some that I thought may be of interest. I'm gonna share my newest additions to my ever-growing list of 'readables'. A couple of my favorite historical novelists are in this list, Erickson and Weir. With mousover captions. Most of these are 'hot off the presses'....



And this last book caught my interest because it was half "chewed"! And I had to read the back of it...it's a comic debut novel about a runt of a rat in Boston---hopelessly becoming devoted to books!!! Sometimes eating the pages, yet reads them from cover to cover, literally eating the words as he goes, learning sign language even...sounds like a fun read!!!