Another predictions quiz -- feel free to copy and keep score

1. Will Harry die and stay dead at the end of HPDH? (3 points)

NO

2. Will Voldemort die and stay dead at the end of HPDH? (3 points)

YES

3. Excluding Harry and Voldemort, who will be the most prominent character to die and stay dead? (3 points)

Hagrid

4. From HBP (p125, American Hardcover), in the shop while the trio were listening with Extendable Ears, what did Draco show Borgin that scared him? (3 points)

Draco has the Dark Mark

5. Assuming Hogwarts reopens as a school, who will return as a student, which means enrolled in classes whether or not they attend the classes (answer yes or no for 1 point each):

a. Harry?

Yes

b. Draco?

No

c. Hermione?

Yes

d. Luna?

NO

e. Ron?

Yes

f. Neville?

Yes

g. Ginny?

Yes

6. Which will be the most prominent couple to marry, if any, during the time period covered in DH, excluding any epilogue? (3 points)

Bill and Fleur

7. Who will be the unusual person who performs magic for the first time "very late in life?" (3 points)

Aunt Petunia

8. Assuming Hogwarts reopens as a school, who will be the: (1 point each)

a. Head Boy?

Neville

b. Head Girl?

Hermoine

c. DADA Instructor?

Shacklebolt

d. Potions Master or Mistress?

Aberforth (hey -- how far is a barkeep from a potions master??)

e. Headmaster or -mistress?

McGonagall (interim)

9. Where do Snape's ultimate loyalties lie? (3 points)

I say he's a free agent, trying to figure which side will end up on top.

10. Identify the six Horcruxes (asuming 7th soul fragment is in Voldemort's body) (1 point each)

a. The Diary (given)
b. The Ring (given)
c. The Locket (highly suspect)
d. Nagini
e. Helga's Cup
f. The Scar

11. What are Snape's a) patronus and b) boggert? (1 point each)

A cauldron

Harry

12. What is behind the locked door at the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry of Magic? (2 points)

Love Love Love (I'm not sure HOW that's behind the door??? Maybe an old Beatles recording :} ).

13. True or False? R.A.B. is Regalus Black (2 points)

Yes

Make up to 10 predictions not covered in the Compulsory Question section. (Up to five points each, depending on accuracy and creativity. Avoid overly obvious (Snape will have greasy hair, Herminone will answer a question correctly)

Neville will do something Incredibly Significant in the upcoming battle (like kill 13 death eaters at once or something).

Molly Weasley will die in order to save one (or more) of her children -- possibly the git (Percy)

And I realize I don't get ANY points for this one -- but somewhere, sometime in the book Jo is going to have Fred and George cause us all to be rolling on the floor laughing.

Dumbledore's inclusiveness is going to be significant, all the "good" magical folk are going to need to work together.

Harry will have a son -- who will look just like his father (BUT -- if he get Ginny Weasley pregnant -- the child will look "just like his father" but have "his other's hair")

AND -- I keep thinking that both Hagrid *AND* Arthur Weasley will die -- every time Harry gets a father figure ...

Predictions quiz #1

Anyone who wishes is welcome to play along. Keep track when Book 7 comes out. NOTE - some of these contradict others, and some contradict ones from another predictions quiz I'll post. Oh well - tough I don't know what's really going to happen.

1. Hogwarts will be closed for the entire year.

False

2. Harry will enroll in Year 7 classes at Hogwarts.

True

3. Ron will enroll in Year 7 classes at Hogwarts.

True

4. Hermione will enroll in Year 7 classes at Hogwarts.

True

5. Harry will take N.E.W.T. exams.

True

6. Ron will take N.E.W.T. exams.

False

7. Hermione will take N.E.W.T. exams.

True WHAT -- Hermione will pass on taking an exam?? Even if she doesn't go to Hogwarts she'll probably wander by just to have a chance to take an exam.

8. Harry will be Head Boy at Hogwarts.

False

9. Ron will be Head Boy at Hogwarts.

False

10. Hermione will be Head Girl at Hogwarts.

True - will drive the Slytherin's CRAZY -- a MUGGLE as Head Girl!!!!

11. Harry will teach Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts.

Eventually

12. The DADA teacher at Hogwarts will be ________________________. (fill in the blank)

Shacklebolt

13. Harry's scar is a Horcrux.

True

14. Nagini is a Horcrux.

False

15. Slytherin's locket is a Horcrux.

True

16. Hufflepuff's cup is a Horcrux.

True

17. The locket that nobody could open at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place is a Horcrux.

True

18. Harry will keep his Horcrux quest secret from the Order of the Phoenix.

For the first 1/2 of the book. He'll find he needs help from one (or
more) members of the Order. After all these years he'll finally
figure out that it's really OKAY to ask for help from a grownup

19. R.A.B. = Regulus A. Black.

True

20. R.A.B. has already destroyed the locket-Horcrux.

True

21. Voldemort already knows (by the end of Half-Blood Prince) that R.A.B. took the locket-Horcrux from the cave.

False

22. Voldemort already knows (by the end of Half-Blood Prince) that Harry is seeking his Horcruxes.

False (but suspects)

23. Albus Dumbledore is really dead.

He's not only merely dead, he's really most sincerely dead.

24. On top of the "Lightening-Struck Tower," Dumbledore was asking Snape to kill him.

TRUE

25. Dumbledore gave Snape the DADA position because he knew Snape would be leaving Hogwarts at the end of the school year.

False

26. Dumbledore will communicate with Harry through his portrait in the Headmaster's office.

Somewhat (yes -- but not CLEARLY)

27. Dumbledore will communicate with Harry through the Pensieve.

Harry will use the Pensieve

28. Harry will use the Sorcerer's Stone.

False

29. Harry will return to the Chamber of Secrets.

False

30. Harry will be a Prisoner of Azkaban (or at least go there).

False

31. Harry will use the Goblet of Fire.

False

32. Harry will join the Order of the Phoenix.

True

33. Harry will (intentionally) join forces with the Half-Blood Prince.

True

34. Harry will visit a place called the Deathly Hallows.

True

35. One of the Dursleys will learn to do magic.

True

36. Petunia will (intentionally) give Harry vital information before he leaves Privet Drive.

True

37. Ron and Hermione will be a couple.

Absolutely

38. Harry and Hermione will be a couple.

NOPE (They're like Luke and Leia -- brother and sister -- not by blood
but in spirit)

39. Harry and Ginny will get back together.

Yeah

40. Ron and Hermione have already kissed "off-screen" by the end of Half-Blood Prince.

True

41. Sybill Trelawney will make another real prophecy.

True

42. Rufus Scrimgeour will be Minister of Magic at the end of Deathly Hallows.

False

43. Harry will use the Mirror of Erised again.

False

44. Harry will use the sword of Godric Gryffindor again.

False

45. Harry will use the Sorting Hat.

False

46. Harry will use a Time-Turner.

False

47. Harry will use the two-way mirror that Sirius gave him.

True

48. Harry's knowledge of Muggle artifacts will save him from imminent danger.

True

49. Grawp will (intentionally) save Harry/Ron/Hermione from danger.

True

50. The Weasleys' - now wild - flying Ford Anglia will play a significant role in saving and/or transporting Harry/Ron/Hermione.

True

51. Aside from James, Lily, Harry, and Voldemort, there was at least one other person present at the Potters' house the night James and Lily died.

True

52. Bill Weasley will become a full werewolf.

True

53. How did James and Lily Potter acquire their small fortune? _________________________________ (fill in the blank)

They borrowed the Sorcerer's Stone from Flamel

54. Snape is an Animagus.

False

55. We will learn more about the relationship between Lily and Snape.

True

56. A current member of the Order of the Phoenix will betray Harry.

True

57. The Death Eaters will attack Privet Drive.

True

58. The Death Eaters will attack The Burrow.

False

59. The Death Eaters will attack during Bill and Fleur's wedding.

True

60. The Death Eaters will attack Hogwarts.

False

61. The Death Eaters will attack Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.

False

62. Draco will abandon the Death Eaters.

True -- but not until almost the end

63. Peter Pettigrew, aka Wormtail, will abandon the Death Eaters.

False

64. Snape will be openly allowed back into the Order of the Phoenix.

False

65. Snape is truly loyal to:
(a) Dumbledore
(b) Voldemort
(c) Neither

(c) Snape

66. Dumbledore trusts Snape because:
(a) Snape made a heartfelt apology
(b) Snape made an Unbreakable Vow
(c) Snape passed crucial secret information to the Order about Voldemort/Death Eaters
(d) Dumbledore had no hard evidence, he just wanted to give Snape the benefit of the doubt
(e) None of these, but we'll find out in Deathly Hallows
(f) We'll never know

(E)

67. Snape began working as a double agent for the Order:
(a) Before the prophecy was made
(b) After the prophecy was made, but before James and Lily died
(c) The night James and Lily died
(d) After James and Lily died

(A)

68. Harry will use, or attempt to use, an Unforgivable Curse.

True

69. Harry will use, or attempt to use, the Avada Kedavra Curse on Voldemort.

True

70. Someone other than Harry will actually finish-off Voldemort, even though Harry will have done most of the work. (i.e. Darth tosses the Emperor, Gollum falls in with the ring.)

True

71. The U.S. edition cover-art for Deathly Hallows, portrays the final showdown.

True

72. The U.S. edition cover-art for Deathly Hallows, portrays Harry and Voldemort reaching for a Horcrux.

False

73. Harry will destroy at least one Horcrux by sending it through the Veil.

True

74. The Deathly Hallows is: (a) at Hogwarts
(b) in Godric's Hollow
(c) a graveyard
(d) beyond the Veil
(e) another name for Horcruxes
(f) none of these, but depicted on the US cover

(B)

75. The final showdown will be at:
(a) the Deathly Hallows
(b) Hogwarts
(c) Azkaban
(d) Veil/Minitry of Magic
(e) Godric's Hollow
(f) The Underground Lake/Gringotts
(g) somewhere else

(B)

76. Harry will survive.

TRUE

77. Ron will survive.

True

78. Hermione will survive.

True

79. Ginny will survive.

True

80. Neville will survive.

False

81. Luna will survive.

True

82. Hagrid will survive.

False

83. Lupin will survive.

False

84. Tonks will survive.

True

85. Molly and Arthur will survive.

False/True

86. Fred and George will survive.

True/True

87. Bill and Fleur will survive.

True

88. Percy will survive.

True (unfortunately -- the Git I say Molly will die to save him.)

89. Voldemort will survive.

False

90. Snape will survive.

False

91. Peter Pettigrew will survive.

True -- and he'll get to go to Azkaban

92. Bellatrix will survive.

False

93. Lucius Malfoy will survive.

False (thank goodness)

94. Narcissa Malfoy will survive.

True

95. Draco Malfoy will survive.

True

96. Harry will become an Auror.

True

97. Harry will become a professor at Hogwarts.

False

98. Ron will become a professor at Hogwarts.

False -- Ron has had ENOUGH of school

99. Hermione will become a professor at Hogwarts.

True

100. Neville will become a professor at Hogwarts.

True (yeah -- I know this contradicts where I said he wouldn't survive)

101. The final word of Deathly Hallows will be "scar."

FALSE

But -- before I heard about the interview the other day I wrote ...

True. (this contradicts what I said about Harry surviving). Harry
will die -- but not before he gets Ginny pregnant. In the epilogue we
will discover that Ginny had a baby boy. Everyone says .....

You look just like your mother -- except you have your father's scar.

This could be true

What Your Latte Says About You

You are very decadent in all aspects of your life. You never scale back, and you always live large. You can be quite silly at times, but you know when to buckle down and be serious. Intense and energetic, you aren't completely happy unless you are bouncing off the walls. You're addicted to caffeine. There's no denying it. You are responsible, mature, and truly an adult. You're occasionally playful, but you find it hard to be carefree. You are deep and thoughtful, but you are never withdrawn.

What does your Latte Say About You?

This could be true -- but then I never bounce off walls (my kids do enough of that)

But they've never been seen together now, have they???

=
Rita Skeeter = Ann Coulter


Just a thought I had earlier today while listening to HP and the Goblet of Fire.

From Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

"Don't you dare blame your father for what that wretched Skeeter woman wrote!" said Mrs. Weasley, flaring up at once.

"If Dad hadn't said anything, old Rita would have just said it was disgraceful that nobody from the Ministry had commented," said Bill,

Guess there's some folks out there that just never learned the old adage ....

"If you can't say something nice about someone, don't say nothing at all."

Heard it in a love song

Chip is taking guitar lessons. A few months ago I ask him about piano lessons and he told me that you can't play rock and roll on piano. Goodness gracious great balls of fire, I thought as it became obvious that my childn's musical knowledge was lacking.

So I did a little about that .... made some introductions


Then, last night while we were at Naperville's we listened to

and now Chip knows -- that you can even play rock and roll on a flute.

The Great Flooring Project of 2007 -- TM version

I often send text messages to Crem -- hey what's a best friend for other than to bother with the mundane details of my life.

Anyway -- I thought it might be interesting to look at the flooring project from the perspective of my text messages.

06/15/07 11:40 a.m
RM: I emailed a picture to [your work] and [other address]. If you have time I'd like a phone consult.

We were having trouble trying to figure out how to fit the flooring under the door jam. We did eventually figure it out. Also, while doing the dining room, we learned a lot of tricks to use when we got to the living room. Crem actually had a grand idea -- but we used a different idea (that didn't involve purchase of a power tool).


06/16/07 4:19 p.m.
RM: You know that puzzle with the 15 pieces and the 16 slots, well we are trying to get the 16th piece in

I think Crem sent a message (that I didn't save) about cutting of the tongue and groove stuff and using glue.

06/16/07 5:01 p.m.
RM: Hey it's true what they say great minds think alike, that's what *I* said. But I also pointed out that a box of flooring was still much cheaper than an install.

06/16/07 5:02 p.m.
RM: I said even if he tries something and screws it up *I* won't be mad.

06/16/07 6:20 p.m.
RM: He shoulda oughta done the thing with the glue. But I said I wouldn't get mad cause he is doing enough of that for the both of us.

06/16/07 6:23 p.m.
RM: Need to go to [grandma's] so tune in tomorrow for the next episode of "As the Floor Installs." hopefully it will be the last dining room episode.

(that was the end of the dining room episode).

06/24/07 4:27 p.m.
RM: I would love to show you my coffee table and see if you have inexpen$ive restoration ideas.

I've had this coffee table since 1982 -- I got it from someone who had it for a few years, and SHE got it second hand. So it's been around awhile and it's STURDY. But it's also been throught the mill and I'm trying to figure a way to make it look pretty again. I had a picture of it on my camera (that I showed Crem that day when the families went out to dinner) but AMAZINGLY enough, I erased the picture from my camera before downloading it. I mean who'd think that I wouldn't have a picture of the damage to a 30 year old coffee table.

07/04/2007 5:52 p.m.
RM: Bloody git. "me: there is the problem" "him: lets try this & this & this" 20 min later "OH there is the problem" ya think? Bloody stubborn git.

OKAY - so sometimes Spouse takes a while to see things my way the right way. And I can vent to Spouse -- but sometimes we just need to not talk about it and I can vent in other directions.

With any luck, tomorrow should be the final "install"ment of the living room version. Then it's move all the furniture back into the living room, and do the same thing all over again with the family room.

Christina -- PLEASE tell me how much I'll love it when it's all done.

Universal truths (or at least planetary truths)

You MUST check this webcomic, which I read daily. It's about a group of geeks that work for a fictional ISP. I know some about computers, and some about geeks so I find it entertaining most days.

However, TODAY J.D. Frazer had me laughing out loud. Why ????



Funny thing is, I looked about and can't find any references to him having children. I mean, from that comic I'd SWEAR his kids just started summer vacation.

THAT explains it ...

NOW I get it -- while I was cleaning out the house I found some R.O.U.S.'s hanging around.

Your Love Life is Like The Princess Bride

"Since the invention of the kiss, there have only been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind." For you, love is like a fairy tale - albeit a fairly twisted one. You believe romance is all about loyalty, fate, and a good big of goofy fun. Your love style: Idealistic yet quirky Your Hollywood Ending Will Be: Perfectly romantic

What Movie Is Your Love Life Like?

Don't blame me -- it's innate

So -- after the Great Flooring (and redecorating) Project of 2007 is done, if you don't like it, remember it's not inconsistent, it's CREATIVE!!

You Are 86% Creative

You are an incredibly creative person. For you, there are no bounds or limits to your creativity. Your next creation could be something very great... Or at least very cool!

How Creative Are You?

The Great Flooring Project of 2007

We are in the process of installing flooring over the first floor of my house. Spouse and I are installing. A while ago we learned that we don't work well together, and if we're working together we have to have one person in charge and one person only doing exactly what he or she is told. I'm much better at taking direction than Spouse. Which is not to say that I'm exactly stellar at taking directions, but I suppose an oak tree is slightly more pliable than a brick wall.

We decided to get some new flooring because our wonderful puppy caused the need in one room (he had some dietary issues), lucky for you unfortunately for you guys - we don't have before pictures of the carpet. And it's also unfortunate I didn't get pictures of the carpet padding while I was painting, nobody will ever get to see how well the carpet padding went with the blue 3M painting tape.

This is taking longer than we expected. I will give kudos to the folks at iFLOOR. They sell both flooring and installation. The salesman we bought our stuff from comes from an installing background. We were having trouble, we went back to the store, and got a "hands on" demonstration. And I'm sure that it will continue to take a while. But I'm trying to remember the "mommy mantra" this too shall pass and eventually it will be done.

After all, myself, my Spouse, hammers, and power tools is not a really great combination.

Spouse at work

we sent this shot to Crem for a phone consult as to what to do with the doorjam.
We're not suppose to "need" to tape the floor, but we discovered it works better.

I'm looking forward to sending the after pictures.

Magicicada

Ah yes, another 17 years have come and gone and Magiciciada is back. You can find Ciciadas in the Chicagoland area by following this map

We have not been blessed with the cicidas in my neighborhood. I understand it's because of the use of grubix? or something when our development went in.

Today however, Chip, Princess, and I went to the annual Pignic (guinea pig pignic) for The Critter Corral, A Guinea Pig Rescue.

The Pignic was held at a forest preserve in a nearby town. As we were driving every now and then I'd open my car window and say "THAT sound is the cicadas." We hadn't really heard them yet. Little did we realize that once we arrived at the Pignic we would be subjected to the noise for 2.5 hours able to hear the lovely songs of Magicicada.

And now that I got to do that, I'm more then willing to wait 17 years to put up with hear that sound again.

For those of you on the other side of the Mississippi that will never experience it, and want a taste of it, go find a very old gas powered lawn mower. Fire it up. Forget about your hearing protectors. Now get about another dozen or so lawn mowers and fire them up. Then play that sound endlessly for the next 6 weeks.

Interesting California Bill

Was reading news today and ran across this article about the possibility of a law in California that requires people to spay and neuter their pets. It's passed the Assembly, and now moves to the Senate and then the Governor's desk. There are exemptions for breeders and owners of guide dogs (and some others -- I think there's like 20+ exemptions). Some Republicans consider this bill "micro-managing." Governor Arnie will not disclose whether his dogs are neutered.

There could be a fine for up to $500 for each unneutered animal.

A couple of things stick out in my mind when I'm looking at this ... First of all, I've read between $250 MILLION and $300 MILLION dollars (of taxpayer money) is spend on caring for unwanted animals in California per year.

But hey -- it's the state budget of California -- so really whats a couple of hundred million -- I mean who cares?? right???

OH - and another thing that sticks out in my mind. One common comment is that if this bill passes there will be NO more shelter animals in California for people to adopt. People in CA will have to go out and spend really big money on purebred animals because all the shelters will close down.

To the people of the great state of California ..... If this bill passes, I will personally make you two promises.

1) while there may be a reduction of unwanted animals in California, there will never be complete compliance with this bill and there will still be plenty of mixed breed animals to adopt.

2) even if by some really odd circumstance there are *NO* unwanted animals left in California, I assure you there are enough idiots in the other 47 contiguous states that will be having enough unneutered strays running around, there will be no shortage of unwanted animals.

I've looked at some of the articles and discussion on this bill (I find it far more interesting that whether or not Paris Hilton is in jail and whether or not she's eating) and HAD to laugh at the following quote from The San Jose Mercury News ...

(Assemblyman Plescia, R- Sandiego) said the Assembly should stop crafting legislation in the "crazy bill factory" before Californians pass a ballot initiative "mandating the spaying and neutering of legislators."

Spaying and neutering legislators ...... hmmmmmmmmmmm

What's in a name .....

My day in reverse.

The last stop of the day was interesting. We had stopped at a teacher supply store to get a "graduation" present for Nephew1, who just "graduated" from Kindergarten. I'm wondering why I'm getting a graduation present for Kindergarten for chrissake and am determined not to spend too much money sure the party won't be too bad.

One of the things I looked at was a trivia/fact book for Illinois. (Who Wants to be a Millionaire Illinois Edition or some such) I thought this might be fun for him, Niece4, Chip, and Princess. So I open up the book to a random page and see the following question ....

Which of the following skyscrapers is not in Chicago

1. Sears Tower
2. Empire State Building
3. John Hancock Building
4. Amoco Building

Now, for those that don't live in Illinois (or don't care) the Amoco Building changed names in Jan. 2001 to the Aon Building. (Incidentally, the book was copyrighted in 2001, which means that was after the name change. I'm reading this going ummm I count two buildings that aren't in Illinois. We ended up getting him a Mad Libs book.

This was not the first glaring error I had experienced this evening -- nope not even. The family and I went out to dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise. I may very well be corrupting my children raising two little parrotheads.


Anyway - it being Thursday night there was live music. Some guy was singing. He did some Elvis, Bob Dylan, Eagles, finally he did some Jimmy Buffett and

MESSED UP THE WORDS

On CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE

His mamma didn't raise him right -- at least MY kids know the words.

I hope they didn't pay him too much. He certainly wasn't worth all that.

He might have sounded better if I was in the bar, and had had a few boat drinks.

Fuzzy takes the hit

We have neighbors (GreenThumb and CopGuy) that throw two wonderful parties per year. They invite all their friends, and ALL their neighbors (taking the theory that the neighbors can't complain about the party if they're all at the party).

This weekend they had an outdoor party and the weather was lovely. GreenThumb's "baby" TinyPup is similar to this ....



an entire 8 pounds of love. TinyPup is a very social dog, but spent most of the afternoon in hiding. After a while GreenThumb brough TinyPup out and the young girls (I think ranging in age from like 5-8) had a GRAND time playing with her. A few times adult intervention was necessary. I suggested to GreenThumb that I might bring Fuzzybutt by and give TinyPup a break. She said she'd take TinyPup in after a bit and Fuzzybutt could come by. A little after that, GreenThumb was talking to friends or relations, and I looked over and saw the girls, TinyPup wrapped in a blanket and stuffed in a stroller. Needless to say, THAT was the end of that.

TinyPup went inside, I called Spouse (he'd gone home already -- he's not a party animal) and he sent Chip down with Fuzzybutt. Unlike Spouse, Fuzzybutt enjoyed being a party animal, and getting great deals of attention. He didn't even mind the girls fawning all over him (but even put together he outweighed the girls).

Fuzzybutt then went home, where he was subjected to even more torture enjoyed a grooming.

I forget ......

I wish I knew how to embed music -- I'd insert "Baby Elephant Walk" here. Last night I had a dream that I got a pet elephant and his (or her) entire family. I think I had 7 elephants. I think there were three other young elephants and three adult elephants, and I was walking around with them.

I remember waking up from the dream thinking MAN I must be bloody wealthy to afford the upkeep on those babies

So this morning (realizing that I'm not Freud and looking things up by one word on the Internet is not going to solve all my life's problems I look up elephant in a few dream dictionaries.

This interpretation states:

To see an elephant in your dream, suggests that you either need to be more patient and understanding of others.

I'm sure there's a few people who'd agree that I need to be more patient and understanding. Funny thing though -- it seems like that's 1/2 a sentence it should read suggests that you either need to be more patient or understanding of others or it could state suggests that you either need to be more patient and understanding of others and/or. I'm so impatient of incomplete sentences. I simply don't understand it at all.

This same definition goes on to say that:

The elephant is also a symbol of power, strength, and intellect.

Hmmmm, and I powerful, strong, and intellectual? Most days I don't so much think so.

Now, I am so liking this interpretation: ...

elephant - As a gift: Sense of abundance or prosperity coming. Baby: Good luck or fortune.

Did I mention they were gifts? And there were 7 elephants? And 3 of them were babies?? 7 times the abundance or prosperity and 3 times the good luck or fortune.

This dream dictionary and this dream dictionary both say the exact same thing:

Elephant Dreams
Elephants in dreams may represent knowledge, power, and strength. They are also associated with long memory and "thick skin." However, depending on the dream’s details, the elephant may be a symbol of a large burden. Additionally, in the dream you may be making efforts to remember something important and of great magnitude.

Now what was I thinking????? I forget.

Of course I'm a Goddess

Which God or Goddess are you like? Your Result: Goddess Bast   You are the Goddess Bast. You are quiet and calm, but when need be, you are firm and fierce. You are full of love, and you always care. People often come to you for advise or guidance, and you willingly give it. Congatulations!! You are Goddess!!
Goddess Sekhemet
Budha
The Christian God
You are your own God or Goddess
Jesus
God Zeus
Satan
Which God or Goddess are you like? Make Your Own Quiz

To Christina

From this site comes my favorite from the vast collection at the Art Institute of Chicago. Before kids I was a member for years and year and years. Actually, I was a member when I did NOT live in Chicago (it was cheap to be a National Associate, and I was in town often enough that it was worth it).



Picasso -- Crazy Woman with Cats (hey - it's been the story of my life at times).

HELP (not)

We need to replace the flooring in the dining room. I decided before we do the floors we I might as well paint the walls. They haven't been done since we moved into the house, and I've been wanting to paint for a while. The way I figure it, might as well paint over the old -- about to be discarded -- carpet. Doesn't matter if I splash paint all over that now does it.

I'm sure many of you have seen TV shows or commercials or print ads with the lovely couple bonding over redecorating their lovely suburban home. Ah yes, the perfect married couple bonding over cooperative job efforts.

Well, as Bob Dylan would say "It Ain't Me Babe." Spouse and I figured out a long time ago that we don't work well together. I'm not saying that like it's necessarily a bad thing - it's just a fact of our relationship.

SO -- over the past two days I've been doing all the "painting stuff." Prepping the walls, washing, taping, painting, cleaning up, putting on the faux stuff.

I've had some help from both Princess and Spouse.

I'd probably be able to work twice as fast with less than half the help.

I'm just saying. OR -- as Helen Reddy said

Leave me alone won't you leave me alone
Please leave me alone, no leave me alone
Leave me alone, just leave me alone, oh leave me

Can I play too?? Edited (thanks MLL)

One Feather Tail did this and I was going to but forgot, then it popped up again on Doc Thelma's House (which is private so you might not be able to link to it) and A Squib's Life. I figure it's my turn to play.

What I have done

Those that I have done are in italics, my comments are bold.

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with wild dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said “I love you” and meant it!
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea WAY COOL
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise I'm not good at getting up early, but I am good at staying up late.
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game I guess that depends on your definition? A Cubs game? Yes. A World Series Game, no?
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables Yeah, but going to Farmer's Market is much more convenient.
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Drunk tequila In a margarita
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster see number 31.
35. Scored a winning goal
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Visited all 5 continents
40. Taken care of someone who was drunk Hmmm, maybe part of the reason my ex-husband is my EX-husband.
41. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
42. Watched wild whales
43. Stolen a sign
44. Backpacked
45. Taken a road-trip
46. Gone rock climbing
47. Midnight walk on the beach
45. Gone sky diving
49. Taken a train through Europe
50. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
51. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table, and had a meal with them
52. Milked a cow
53. Alphabetized your CDs
54. Sung karaoke
55. Lounged around in bed all day BEFORE number 93.
56. Gone scuba diving
57. Kissed in the rain
58. Gone to a drive-in theatre
59. Started a business
60. Taken a martial arts class
61. Been in a movie
62. Crashed a party
63. Gone without food for 5 days
64. Gotten a tattoo
65. Got flowers for no reason and given
66. Performed on stage
67. Been to Las Vegas
68. Recorded music
69. Eaten shark
70. Buried one/both of your parents
71. Been on a cruise ship
72. Spoken more than one language fluently
73. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over Well, a job was involved.
74. Walked a famous bridge
75. Had plastic surgery
76. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
78. Wrote articles for a large publication
79. Tried to lose weight seriously
80. Piloted an airplane
80. Petted a stingray
81. Broken someone’s heart
82. Broken a bone Hmmm, does it count if someone else actually broke the bone for me??
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Parasailed
86. Skipped all your school reunions
87. Shaved your head
88. Caused a car accident
89. Pretended to be “sick”
90. Swam in the Pacific Ocean
91. Saved someone’s life No, but saved someone's eyesight.
92. Fainted
93. Been in the room while someone is giving birth (Self only)
94. Hitchhiked No -- but taken rides with strangers.
95. Adopted a child
96. Been caught daydreaming
97. Been to the Painted Desert
98. Called off a wedding engagement
99. Donated your blood
100. Had an out-of-body experience

Edited

Bye Bye Waitress

There are quite a number of blogs I read on a regular basis (see list to the right, under the Deathly Hallows countdown). Three of these blogs are "servers" of sorts, every one's favorite waiter, the lady that gives us something to go with our caffeine fix, and a good old barmaid. The good old barmaid is retiring from blogging, and I'll miss her insights and commentary on humans.

I'm not sure if these three have improved my tipping practices (I think I've been pretty good all along) but they've certainly made me more aware of my practices. They've also (jointly) reminded me (what I already knew) that "folks is folks" and it's interesting how humans everywhere are the same.

One that that totally amuses me though, these three (wonderful) writers have all had encounters with and commented about cheap mother fuck3rs the more frugal members of our society.

I run a tax business (anyone want to buy it) The thing that I have found to be of interest, is when the cheap mother fuck3rs more frugal folks, is that sometimes the people that whine and moan and complain are apt to try to strike a deal are often loaded not those in the most need.

When the folks go into a restaurant and ask for hot water and lemon (while having brought their own tea bags), or gentlemen go and sit and have "one" beer at Waitress' bar, or have Barista Brat make multiple bar drinks because the first (and second and third) were wrong (and then try to walk out with the extras for free) the folks serving them don't know something that I get to find out....

When these same folks come into my shop and try to finagle their way to get discounts on my services (my friend paid "$x.xx at the competition") ("can't I use this coupon AND this coupon AND this coupon") ("but I got a quote of $x.xx on the phone" when I make the policy and know dang well exactly what quotes are given over the phone) they forget...

I'm doing your taxes honey -- I know exactly what you make, what your mortgage payments are, where you live, what your property taxes are, how much you've made (or lost) this year on capital gains.

So Waitress, Brat, Waiter, the next time someone comes in and tries to pull one over on you -- yeah, you could think that they might need a break, but that could also be the person that makes $180,000 a year and LOSES (yea that's right loses) over $10,000 per year gambling.

At the end of this tax season when my manager and I were looking back and realized, the people that bitched the MOST were also the people that MADE the most.

Surprised??

(NOTE -- there were also a number of people that were wonderful, salt of the earth, and treated us as fairly as we treated them).