It's All in the Cards: The Friday 5

Go over to http://f.riday5.com/ for the weekly prompts.

1. How many of those frequent buyer stamp-cards are you carrying around, and which promises the best reward upon completion?   I used to have several, but I don't bother with them anymore.  By the time I could buy enough to fill a card, they would expire, or the reward wouldn't be worth it.
2. How many of those magnetic-stripped discount cards are you carrying around, and which offers the best rewards?  I have three.  The only one that really saves me anything is my Burke's card.  It helps when I need to by clothing, as long as I buy them on Friday.  They have what's known as "Friday Club" - anyone 55 and under gets discount of Fridays.  Those 55 and older get their discount on Mondays. 
3. How many other people’s business cards do you carry around, and which do you refer to most?  None.  I keep business cards at home.
4. How far away from you is the nearest deck of playing cards?  About 8 feet.  I've got a deck in my bedroom.
5. How many identification cards with your photo do you carry around?  Enough.   :)

This will probably be my last Friday 5 post.  The website where the questions come from stays down more than up.  That makes getting the questions and posting answers next to impossible.  I get more and more behind in trying to post every week.  It's been real, but I need to find a different blog challenge.  Hope y'all enjoyed it.

Rebel Yell: The Friday 5

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Rebellion, going against the grain, not being a conformist.  The Friday 5 questions focus on that this week.

1. In what ways have you rebelled against your upbringing?  I think I need to plead the fifth on this one.  Let's just say the ways I rebelled are not typical and leave it at that.
2. In what ways have you rebelled against your schooling?   For a while, I was not college material by any stretch of the imagination--and the teachers said so.  I changed, made to college, and got two degrees.  I've rebelled in that I've never diagramed another sentence--EVER. 
3. In what ways have you rebelled against American culture?  American cultures dictates rail thin and sexy is the only way to be a real woman.  Sure, I'm losing weight and getting healthy, but I will embrace my curvy, muscular figure.  As far a sexy goes?  **raises middle finger**
4. Is it possible to rebel against yourself?  Sure,  I've had many paradigm shifts in my life.  I think that's a part of maturing and having your own mind.  I don't simply believe things because someone told me; I search them out myself. 
5. What’s your favorite song about rebellion?  I have several.  I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone by the Monkees.  I know it's about a guy saying he's not going to be a doormat for a girl, but the message of the chorus spoke to me.  I played the song a lot during my high school days.  White and Nerdy by Weird Al Yankovic because I love the fact that being brainy and square is just fine (I swear Al was thinking of me when he wrote this).  I would say Your Grace is Enough by Chris Tomlin is a good rebellion song because the human thing is to claim to need no one and to be "self made."  Leaning on God's grace is not popular, but it works a heck of a lot better than trying to do it all yourself.

Recommended Daily Allowance: The Friday 5

Go over to http://f.riday5.com/ for the weekly prompts.

NOTE:  The original Friday 5 website gave questions based on Bruce Springsteen lyrics this week (WTC?!).  The only Springsteen song I remotely like is Glory Days, but it's never-ending ending gets on my nerves.  So I chose to find another source for this week's questions.  These questions came from http://thefridayfive.livejournal.com/

Recommend one and give a reason for each choice:

1. Book:  Are you kidding?  You want me to recommend ONE book?  No way!  Of course I recommend The Bible, but that's a given.  Some other books I recommend:  Ester Reid by Isabella McDonald Alden, So Long, Insecurity by Beth Moore, and Bamboo and Lace by Lori Wick.
2. College/University/Personal Interest course - My alma mater, Jacksonville State University.  My favorite SEC college, the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!).  Personal interest course?  I would recommend any of the arts (art, music, mass communication, language arts, etc) from JSU.  I've taken courses in all of those departments and they are first rate.  Some of the professors are as crazy as an outhouse rat, but overall, they are top notch.
3. Song - Again, how in the world and I going to chose ONE?!  Let's see: Trading My Sorrows by Darrel Evans, Your Grace is Enough by Chris Tomlin, You Told Me by the Monkees, Happy by Pharrel Williams, and Tacky by Weird Al Yankovic.  Was going to post the YouTube videos for these songs in case you hadn't heard them, but Blogger and it's infinite wisdom and knowledge will not let you interrupt a numbered list and resume it.  Who do they think they are, Microsoft Word?  **rolls eyes**
4. Web Site - YouTube, obviously.
5. Something of your choosing (ie- author, video game, food, movie, etc) - Hmm.  I've already talked about authors and books.  Let's see.  I'll recommend a couple of radio shows:  The Rick and Bubba Show, and The Dave Ramsey Show.  I do not agree 100% with what each presents, but there is so much more to like than dislike.

Never Say Never: The Friday 5

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1. Some people say you should never mix business with friendship. What experience have you had that would either refute or confirm this wisdom?  I don't know.  It depends on the friend.  I wouldn't want to do business with someone I despised.  However, if I did do business with friends, they need to be business savvy and trustworthy.  It can't just be, "Hey, if would be cool if Dude and I ran a business together."  I think the worst is mixing business with family.
2. Some people say you should never let ‘em see you sweat. What experience have you had that would either refute or confirm this wisdom?  This adage is bad advice both figuratively and literally.  Whether you are sweating through a problem or a workout, we should always be genuine instead of hiding.
3. It is often said that you should never put off ’til tomorrow what you can do today. What experience have you had that would either refute or confirm this wisdom?  That's true.  Procrastination is a terrible thing.  I'm guilty of putting things off out of fear or laziness.  I've missed opportunities because of procrastination.
4. It is often said that you should never get romantically involved with someone at work (there’s a cruder way of putting it, but I’m declining to use that selection of words). What experience have you had that would either refute or confirm this wisdom?  I've not had any experience with that, so I can't comment.
5. What piece of wisdom from your own life should be a catchy proverb for others to live by?  Saw this on social media yesterday and it was perfect:

If you can remember, be that!

HSN (Home Shopping Nuttiness): The Friday 5

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1. What crowd-funding projects have you supported? If you haven’t supported any, were there some that really intrigued you?  First, I had to look up what crowdfunding is.  crowdfunding or crowd-funding -
   the practice of funding a project or venture by raising many small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the Internet.  I've never done it via the internet (like Kickstarter), but that's pretty much how the church funds itself.  So, whether it's an internal project that needs completion, or a giving project to help others (which is most often), I do it all the time.
2. How much of your monthly bill-paying is done online?  None at the moment, but before I moved, I did most of my bill paying online.
3. What are some of the more memorable things you’ve bought or sold in online auctions?  Nothing.  Never did that.
4. What experience do you have with purchasing digital entertainment (music, movies, TV shows, or live web shows, for example) online? I guess you're talking about Netflix and such, but I've never purchased anything like that.  I used to buy CD's and DVD's online.  As things improve, I'll most likely be tearing up Amazon.com again.
5. What kind of stuff have you bought or sold from personal online craft stores, such as are found on Etsy?  Neither.  I had an Etsy shop for about a year, but never sold anything.  Etsy used to be a good source for individual handcrafters, but now, most everyone who sells mass produces their wares or has a conglomerate of people selling under one name.  Kind of defeats the purpose.  I used Facebook as a means to drum up business.

The Cement Pond: The Friday 5

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This week's theme focuses on summer water fun.

1. Where and how did you learn to swim?  I've kind of been learning in stages.  I learned the basics from one of my sisters' boyfriends when I was about eight or ten years old.  I learned how to stroke and breathe better from a friend of mine while I was on Summer Beach Project summer of 1992.  Now, I'm picking up tips here and there.  I need to take a formal swimming class.  I can swim and not drown, but if I ever want to swim any kind of distance, I need some formal training.
2. How far away is the nearest swimmable body of fresh water, and how’s the swimming there?  Not sure about any that aren't formal swimming pools.  The Jacksonville Community Center's pool is about six miles from where I live.  The YMCA's indoor pool is about eight miles away.  Not sure if there is a swimming hole in Weaver.
3. How long has it been since you’ve been for a swim?  More than a year ago. 
4. What’s the nearest community swimming pool like?  The pool at the Jacksonville Community Center is great.  The shallow area is specifically designed for kids with a mushroom waterfall for them to play under.  The deep end is designed like an Olympic sized pool; it can be laned off for swimming competitions or lap swimming.  The only drawback is that it's an outdoor pool that is only open three months out of the year.
5. What experience do you have with jumping off stuff and into water?  I once won a belly buster contest in Florida.  Does that count?

Fun at the pool with my ThunderBabies during my teaching days.

Out to Lunch: The Friday 5

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This weeks theme:  Eating out.

1. What’s the last thing you experienced that could be called a reunion? Oh honey, I have family reunion every time I go to Wal-Mart.  If it's not blood kin, there's always plenty of my church family to catch up with while shopping.
2. When you spend time out with friends, how does your group handle the bill?  We pay it.
3. What are you picky about when you order something in a restaurant?  Service.  I'm not so much food picky; I usually order the same thing all the time.  However, I am picky about service.  If a server is rude or inattentive, I do not tip.  If I find out a restaurant pools their tips, I either don't eat there again, or a I don't tip when I am there.  I don't believe in a mediocre or bad server getting part of the tip I gave to an excellent one.  That's tacky.  It angered me so much that I once wrote a check to a server in her name so that the eatery couldn't get their hands on it. 
4. When did you last spill a drink on yourself?  Probably this morning.  My shirts are always hungry.
5. When dining out, what’s your approach to dessert?   Walk softly and carry a big spoon.

Old Fart Syndrome: The Friday 5

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An ailment that knows no socioeconomic boundaries or demographic pigeonholes.  Like acne and dandruff, Old Fart Syndrome can affect us all at one time or another and can strike when we least expect it.  This week's Friday 5 questions help us assess our susceptibility. 

1. What’s something you have a grumpy old person’s attitude about?  These papery-blog things called books.  I'm all for technology, but I really don't want electronic books to totally take the place of paper ones.  Yes, I like the portability of e-books and the convenience of audio books, but there is still something personal about having a real book.  There's something comforting about turning the pages of a favorite tome.  I want kids to still know how to learn when the power goes off.
2. What is evidence of your not being a completely grumpy old person?  I don't hock my pants all the way to my armpits.  I still wear my own teeth.  I hate watching the news.  I don't play Farmville.  I still like to rock.
3. What’s something in your wardrobe that might qualify as old people’s attire?   I guess my "maw-maw" shades.  I've got a pair of those sunshades that go over a pair of glasses that my friends tease me about wearing.  I do have a few pieces in my wardrobe that are a little matronly.  I try not to wear them out anywhere.
4. When during the week do you tend to be your grumpiest?  It's not really a certain point in the week, but a certain time of the month...if you know what I mean.
5. Who in your family is most often in a bad mood, and who’s most often in a good mood?  Our family is a fun loving bunch for the most part.  We do have a chosen few who seem to find no joy in anything and get upset when any of us find a reason to be happy.  We simply ignore them and go on.

Animal, Mineral, or Vegetable?: The Friday 5

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Mammalian traits are this week's Friday 5 focus.

1. Have you drunk the milk of some animal other than a cow? If so, how was it?  Yes, I've had the milk of the illusive Soy.  I'm not sure what kind of animal this is, but its milk is horrible.  Not in taste, but in effect.  What milk from a cow does to some people, milk from the Soy animal does to me.  I refuse to try almond milk.  I had to dodge an Almond animal on the highway once.  Dangerous...and the milk would probably taste gamey.
2. How sensitive are you to changes in atmospheric temperature?  I'm more sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure.  They say it's an old wives' tail, but drastic changes in pressure can cause physical responses  (bones aching, headache, etc.).
3. How do you feel about your body hair?  I wish the hair on my head was longer, but I like it.  The rest of my body hair is just there until I shave it.
4. What’s something you know about the moment of your birth or the events immediately before and after?  I'm the only one of my siblings to be born in a hospital instead of by midwife.  According to my mom, she was in labor with me for nearly three days.  She also said that I tried to emerge arm first, but somehow turned myself.  I guess I had to feel around for daylight before I dared come into this crazy world.
5. What non-mammalian animal do you feel the most kinship with?  The butterfly.  My word for the year is metamorphosis.  I am in my cocoon just waiting to emerge beautiful and free.

Respect the Polygon: The Friday 5

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With the overhyping of the tropical storms off the coast of Hawaii and the "sideways tornado" hoax (to the chagrin of the world's best meteorologist, James Spann) storms are the focus of this week's Friday five.

1. What does your storm preparedness stuff look like?  It looks like a flashlight and a seat in the hallway.
2. What kinds of storms make you the most uncomfortable?  Snowstorms or ice storms.  We don't get them very often in the Deep South, but when we do, they're a doozy.  It's cold, the power goes off, I can't drive anywhere, and I can only eat so many PopTarts.
3. What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without electricity, and what were the circumstances?  I've only been without power for a day or two at most.  Alabama Power is very good about getting things up and running again as quickly as possible.  I've been powerless because of severe thunderstorms, freezing weather, and drunk goobers ramming their cars into power poles .
4. What’s the worst damage a storm has done to your dwelling?  My dwelling have not really suffered a lot of damage.
5. What was the occasion for your last storming of the gates?  I'm not sure what this question is asking, so I guess my answer is never.

Crazy Eights: The Friday 5

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 We focus on octopi and eights this week.

1. What’s something you own at least eight of?  Exactly eight?  Um, crochet hooks (though I can't find one of them right now).  That's the only thing I can think of.
2. How particular are you about the ink in the pens you write with?  Very.  I'm persnickety about the kind of pens I use.  They must write smoothly and darkly.  I still do a good bit of writing by longhand, so I'd like to enjoy the experience.
3. What’s something interesting you know about octopi?  I've not done much study on the octopus, so I really don't know much about them.
4. What seems to have a suction-cup-like grip on your attention lately?  Weight, anger, guilt, loneliness, poverty...
5. These questions were inspired by a song in which one of the repeated lyrics is often playfully mis-sung as “How am I gonna be an octopus about this?” That was going to be my question #5 this week, but then I thought nobody would ever come back after a thing like that, so your real question is: When you travel, whether it’s to a completely different culture or just to a neighboring state, how adventurous is your approach to the cuisine?  I've not travelled much, and where I have been has been in the U.S.  So, food wasn't a big issue.

Double Zero: The Friday 5.

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 This week's questions are about nothing...literally.

1. What is something you have run out of?  Steam.  I'm having a hard time getting myself in gear to create.  I think I'm going to have to start working out in the mornings to clear my mind so the creative juices start flowing again.
2. What is something you don’t know anything about?  There are tons of things I don't know anything about.  I would like to know more about history, travel, music, driving on the interstate, digital media, etc.  There are things I don't care if I know anything about: politics, sex, ordering at Starbucks, etc.  I never want to stop learning, but I also want to have wisdom with my knowledge.
3. What is something that needs emptying?  My heart needs emptying of bitter feelings.  I need to empty my car of trash (it's not that bad, but I don't want it to get bad). 
4. There are a lot of stylistic or slangy ways to say “zero.” Which are your favorite?  Nayern (my mom and dad always said that), as in "We ain't got nayern." 
5. When did you last receive something free when you were expecting to pay for it?  My DVD drive on my laptop has wigged out and will read and write CD's but not DVD's (?!).  I thought I would have to pay for a new drive to be installed, but a friend gave me an external DVD drive she wasn't using.  For that, I am very thankful.

Veggie Tales: The Friday 5

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This week's questions were about out favorite vegetables.

1. What’s your favorite tomato thing?  That's a toughie.  I enjoy tomatoes in so many different ways: on salads, on sandwiches, in pasta sauce and salsa.  My favorite quote about tomatoes is from Miles Kington:  "Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad."
2. What’s your favorite celery thing?  My mother's cornbread dressing.  I only get to eat it twice a year and it's best use for celery (other than compost).
3. What’s your favorite broccoli thing?  My favorite healthy broccoli thing is a broccoli stir fry with chicken and other veggies.  My favorite unhealthy use for broccoli is a big hot bowl of homemade broccoli cheese soup.  Good thing I don't know how to make it myself or I'd weigh 5000 pounds.  :) 
4. What’s your favorite eggplant thing? I've never eaten eggplant and don't know how to prepare it, so I don't know if I would even like it.  I've heard they are very bitter.
5. What’s your favorite spinach thing?  Spinach is my salad base instead of lettuce most of the time.  I also really enjoy it wilted and added to my "hot mess" omelet.

And since we're on the subject of vegetables...

Dodging Naners: The Friday 5

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1. What’s something this past week that made you slightly bananas? A crochet pattern, of all things.  It's a pattern I've done several times, but for some reason it doesn't always come out right.  I literally had to cut my work apart to fix the error.  It drives me nuts because it's an easy pattern, but the stitch counts have to be exact.
2. What did you do last Sunday? Went to church, came home and took a nap, then went to worship team practice.  What are you planning for this coming Sunday?  Church, of course, but the rest of the day is up for grabs.  Because so many people are out of town, we're not having practice tomorrow, so I'm not sure what I'm doing tomorrow.  I may go riding.
3. What’s something you fudged this past week?  If you mean fudge, as in to dodge or avoid something, then sort of.  It was kind of an accidental fudge.  I avoided having to deal with something, but I didn't try to avoid it; the opportunity just never presented itself.
4. What was this week’s most interesting scoop?  Nothing, really.
5. What was the cherry on top of your good or bad week?  Everyone talking about, or showing pictures of their vacations and exotic summer trips kind of bummed me out.  Plus, more of my friends still doing poverty shaming on social media.  Just ticks me off!

Brought to You By the Letter B: The Friday 5

Go over to http://f.riday5.com/ for the weekly prompts.

I'm trying a new blogging prompt called Friday 5. The blog author gives you five random questions to answer.  This one may be like Thursday 13 that I only do it once in a while.  Let me know what you think. Here goes.

This week first thing I had to do was go to a random letter generator and answer the five questions based on that letter.  The letter I got was B.

1. What article of clothing, whose name begins with the letter, have you never worn?  Bikini--'nuf said.  :)
2. What book, whose title begins with the letter, are you looking forward to reading?  The Blessing of the Lord by Kenneth Copeland.  I've had the book for several months, but haven't gotten into it yet. BTW-- For all of us grammar and mechanics nuts the T in The does not count. 
3. What mode of transportation, whose name begins with the letter, seems like it would be fun?  Boat.  I would really like to go on a cruise or two someday.
4. What form of exercise, whose name begins with the letter, have you recently engaged in? Well, Bicycling of course.
5. What fictional character, whose name begins with the letter, would be good company on a long trip? Bob Cratchit from A Christmas Carol.  He would be courteous and thankful.  He wouldn't complain; he's just be happy to be there. He would most likely take good care of anyone who went along.