Do you hate more than 3 people? I really don't hate anyone. There are some I dislike with varying intensity, but I can't think of anyone I would use the word "hate" for.

What is your favorite candy bar? My candy tastes change pretty regularly. One day my favorite is Snickers, another it's Reese cups. I used to love to buy the bags of Hershey Miniatures, but I got away from that, finally.

What are your favorite shoes? I wear sneakers a lot because they're comfortable and my job is too casual for anything very dressy, which works just fine for me. I do like boots with jeans, though, but in the last few winters I haven't been able to find a pair that is the style I love.

Have you ever tripped someone? My cat. Seriously. She doesn't just get under my feet and trip me the way cats are so good at doing - sometimes she comes walking along just as I turn around and my foot goes in front of her and she trips. I don't remember ever tripping anyone on purpose though.

Do you own a Britney Spears CD? I have a copy of Toxic. It's great music for walking or dancing in my apartment with my shades drawn.

Have you ever thrown up in public? Yeah, when I was a kid, we went to Disney World, and I wanted to ride the teacups. My parents figured it would be ok to let me go on by myself and they stood by the side and watched. Well, I managed to be put in the cup that had a group of teenagers in it (I was maybe 8 or 10) and they thought it would be fun to spin it around really fast. The centrifugal force was so strong that my head went back and I couldn't sit up, and they wouldn't stop. When the ride was over, I stumbled over to my parents and promptly puked in the nearest trash can. Never went on that ride again and never will.

What is your favorite music genre? I like a variety of types of music. Basically, what makes me like a song is that something about it moves me - either the lyrics or the music.

What is your sign? Gemini.

What time were you born? 12:55 PM. Mom still tells the story of how the doctor peeked under the sheet to see how she was doing, and he was eating lunch at the time. He dropped his sandwich when he saw that she (and I) were way readier than he thought.

Do you like beer? Yes, but I rarely drink it anymore. First, it makes me talk like Chuckie from the Rugrats, and then the next morning I wake up with aching muscles. Evidently I am allergic to something used in the making of beer.

Have you ever made a prank call? When I was a kid, we used to occasionally call someone during a slumber party and ask if their refrigerator is running. Stupid stuff. My friend's mom used to make mean prank calls, calling women out of the phone book and claiming to be having affairs with their husbands. She thought it was funny. I thought it was horrible and often wondered how many murders and divorces she caused. I later wrote a short story for a creative writing course that was based on something like that. In my story, it resulted in a murder-suicide.

What is the most embarrassing CD you own? Either Abba or Culture Club. I still really like the Culture Club CD.

Are you sarcastic? Sometimes.

What are your favorite colors? That neon-electric-aqua blue color that's hard to name, pumpkin orange, purple, and lime green. But I have favorite colors for different things. I would wear a neon-electric-aqua-blue shirt, but wouldn't want to paint my house that color.

How many watches do you own? None that work.

Summer or winter? Winter.

Spring or fall? Fall, absolutely!

What is your favorite color to wear? I wear pretty much all colors, but rarely white. I have a magnetic chest that attracts some of whatever I eat or drink.

Pepsi or Sprite? Neither

What color is your cell phone? Silver with a really pretty blue light in the number pad.

Have you ever slapped someone? I'm sure I must've when I was a kid.

Have you ever had a cavity? Oh, yeah.

How many lamps are in your bedroom? Two.

How many video games do you own? I have some Sims, but that's it.

What was your first pet? A kitten named Muffin. I was three, and Sister saved him when I tried to give him his first bath. Poor Muffin! I treat cats way better now.

Have you ever had braces? No.

Do looks matter? It depends on what one means by "matter". I've never been impressed by what most people term "good looks", or dated someone just because I thought they were good-looking. I have avoided people based on a certain "look" in the eyes, though. And it has turned out to be a very, very good thing I did. I also believe that the way we feel about ourselves and take care of ourselves shows in our looks, and that affects how others treat us, even when they may not be conscious of it.

Do you use Chapstick? Yep.

Name 3 teachers from your high school: Ms. Clark (I had a crush on her, but I had no idea at the time that what I had was a crush), Mr. Walsh (he was young; we had him his first year of teaching), and Mr. Stackle (I had a crush on him, too, and that I recognized as such).

American Eagle or Abercrombie? I'm not familiar enough with either to have an opinion.

Are you too forgiving? Sometimes, but I don't think I am too often.

Do you own something from Hot Topic? I guess I'm fashion-illiterate in addition to being sports-illiterate.

What is your favorite breakfast? Eggs over-medium, rye toast, fried potatoes.

Do you own a gun? No, but I plan to get one in the next few years.

When was the last time you cried? Ummm . . . probably a week or so ago. It's been awhile since I have boo-hoo cried, though. Mostly I just get teary-eyed.

What did you do 3 nights ago? That would be Saturday, and I spent most of the weekend in bed, either sleeping or reading.

When was the last time you went to Olive Garden? Before my parents' anniversary, which was in August. I was with them the last time I went there. Wait - I think we went there when my aunts were here, which would have been in late August.

Have you ever called your teacher mom? Yes, I actually did do that once, in high school.

Have you ever been in a castle? Not a real one.

What are your nicknames? D calls me Rhoda. All of her friends do, too. Today I called her at work and heard her boss saying something like, "Rho-ho-ho". I hope he was imitating a pirate and not calling me names . . .

Do you know anyone named Bertha? Nope, I sure don't.

Have you ever been to Hawaii? No, but Frank is Hawaiian, so I may get to see it some day.

Do you own something from Banana Republic? There's that fashion thing again. Nope.

Are you happy with your life right now? Parts of it, yes. And I have some plans to correct the parts I'm not happy with yet.

Does anyone like you? What a sad question. I hope there isn't anyone out there who would answer it with a "no".

What were you doing May of 1994? Turning 30. Being laid-off from my job at the newspaper. Living in the duplex I rented the first time Jane and I broke up.

McDonald's or Wendy's? McDonald's sandwiches, Wendy's fries.

Do you like yourself? Sometimes. I like myself better when I'm doing things that are positive for myself and my growth as a person. Or learning something difficult on the computer.

Favorite feature of the opposite sex? Besides the obvious, I like men's hands, and that part of the back of their jaw, right below their ear.

Are you afraid of the dark? Only if I hear a noise I can't identify.

Have you ever eaten paste? I don't remember, but I'm sure I must have tried it as a kid.

Do you have a webcam? Yes. Not a really good one, but I have one.

Have you ever stripped? Only in private for a partner.

What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Wow . . . it's been a long time. I don't remember. Probably Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

What are your favorite TV shows? All My Children, Ghost Whisperer, John Edward Cross Country, Ghost Hunters, Whose Line is it Anyway, Bewitched

What did you have for breakfast? Today, I didn't have breakfast.

What is your middle name? Ann. Vibing Ann High. lol.

What foods do you dislike? Okra and brussels sprouts.

What is your favorite CD at the moment? I have one in my CD player that is a mixture of music that is good to walk to, or dance to.

Favorite sandwich? Crispy chicken with mayo and lettuce.

What are your favorite clothes? I'm pathetically into the casual and inexpensive, and of course large, at least for awhile longer. I buy most of my clothes at WalMart or Target. Yeah, I know. I'm really low-maintenance.

What color is your bathroom? One is a mixture of neon-electric-aqua-blue, red, and lime green. The colors come from the shower curtain, which has a sailboat theme. The other is a flower theme with accents in purples, blues, pinks, and yellows. I've been buying towels in butter-yellow and they look great.

Favorite brand of clothing? I was going to say Just My Size, to be funny, but actually I do like them, among others.

Where would you want to retire to? I don't know, actually.

Favorite time of day? Mornings, especially on non-working days.

What did you want to be when you were little? A mom, and a novelist.

What is your best childhood memory? It's hard to pick just one . . . I have a great family and my sweetest childhood memories are about them.

Eye Color? Green with gold sunbursts coming out from the pupil.

Ever been toilet papering? Nope.

Favorite day of the week? Saturday.

Comments that originally accompanied this entry:

Thanks for joining my ring! I just read your long meme, and I had to laugh at what I thought I read about your eye color. I thought you said "coming out of the pulpit" instead of "out of the pupil." I thought....hmmmm....holy eyes. Either that or somebody really likes church! Anyway....a fun read! Poolie | Homepage | 09.27.06 - 12:44 am |

I have maybe 4 watches...and all the bateries are dead!! So I have ones but none that work either! I love these. I think I might copy it Melissa | Homepage | 09.27.06 - 10:36 am |

Four vacations you have taken:
1. Went to NC for penpal's wedding in the late 80's
2. Took a cruise to San Juan, Ocho Rios, and Grand Cayman
3. Went to Michigan with my family to meet Dad's birth family
4. Went to Disney with Sister a couple years ago

Four songs you get stuck in your head frequently:
1. Yellow Submarine, thanks to Other Coworker
2. Anytime I go near Disney, I get that Small World song stuck in my head . . . and it's horrible
3. Love is All Around, by Wet Wet Wet (one of Frank's and my songs - not a bad one to have stuck in my head)
4. Whatever was the last song playing in the car before I arrive somewhere

Four things you'd like to learn:
1. PHP and MySQL . . . and I will learn it, some day
2. better money-management skills
3. how to use a handgun
4. css

Four beverages you drink frequently:
1. water
2. iced tea
3. coffee
4. Diet Coke

Four TV shows that were on when you were a kid:
1. Family Affair
2. Bewitched
3. Three's Company
4. Happy Days

Four places to go in your area:
1. beaches
2. sponge docks
3. theme parks
4. nature parks

Four things to do when you're bored:
1. watch TV
2. read
3. sleep
4. go to the gym (I never would have said that even two months ago)

Four things that never fail to cheer you up:
1. my cat
2. a walk / exercise
3. comments on my diary :-)
4. time with friends / family

About 20 years ago...
1. I worked for a furniture company and was named Employee of the Year for 1986 because that was the year we established the Inventory Control department and I was Inventory Control Manager and was still handling my bookkeeping duties as well, until we hired more people.
2. I tried to quit smoking, cut out caffeine, and change my diet, all at once, because a doctor suggested I do that, and people around me begged me to go back to one or more of those things.
3. I weighed 100 pounds less than I do now, and I thought I was huge.
4. I used to go over to my best friend's apartment and we'd smoke pot and watch stupid movies and it was so much fun.

About 10 years ago...
1. I quit smoking
2. I left Jane
3. I met D
4. I started life all over

About 5 years ago...
1. I still lived with Roommate
2. I had my candlemaking business
3. My smoke allergy reached its peak and I knew I'd never go back to smoking
4. I first tried pasta with sour cream and developed a taste for it

About 2 years ago...
1. I faced my men fears
2. Mom started working with me
3. I'd been keeping my diary for about a year and a half
4. I got my current car

About 1 year ago...
1. I tried to let my hair grow long
2. I had my first-ever pregnancy scare and was a little sad when I found out I wasn't pregnant
3. I went to see John Edward with Sister (almost a year ago)
4. I stopped seeing Cowboy

Today...
1. I did 30 minutes on the treadmill for the first time
2. This morning was our first "cool-ish" morning for this Fall
3. I had a really nice visit with Mom while I was out doing errands and dropped by her house to give her something
4. I'm standing up straight in spite of PMS

Four things that scare you:
1. the thought of having to deal with frequent depression for the rest of my life
2. the thought of losing my parents
3. being held down
4. having other people see how bad my housekeeping is

Seven things you plan to do before you die:
1. celebrate my 100th birthday, surrounded by loved ones, and be "all there" so I can appreciate it
2. get a handle on my finances and be out of debt while having some money saved and invested too
3. get a dog
4. lose 130 (or so) pounds
5. have at least one novel published (but hopefully several)
6. buy a house
7. learn to dance

Seven Famous People You Want To Meet:
1. John Edward
2. Ellen Degeneres
3. Any of the actors from All My Children
4. Melissa Etheridge
5. The guys from T.A.P.S. (Ghost Hunters on SciFi)
6. Drew, Ryan, Wayne, or Colin from Whose Line is it Anyway
7. Patricia Cornwell

Top 7 songs people should give a listen:
1. Unchained Melody
2. Stand By Me
3. Deep Water by Jewel
4. Why Walk When You Can Fly by Mary Chapin Carpenter
5. This is Love by Mary Chapin Carpenter
6. Somewhere Over the Rainbow
7. True Colors by Cyndi Lauper