Sunday Stealing: The Pretentious Blogging Meme

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing: originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser:

"Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. First, we always credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim's post. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") We do sometimes edit the original meme, usually to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, sometimes to select that meme's best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from either this new meme or recently asked questions from a prior featured meme. Let's go!"




Today we ripped this meme off a blogger known as Little Bark from the blog The Tree Unleashed. She explains that she found it over at The Tree of Life. It appears it originated on that blog. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Tracing back our theft's thieves might take some time. Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!

Cheers to all of us thieves!



Sunday Stealing: The Pretentious Blogging Meme



1. How long have you been blogging? Regularly for just about a year.

2. What made you start? Originally back in 2005 to keep our family up to date with what was going on after we moved away... then I stopped in 2006. I started up again in Feb. 2009 to enter some giveaways and met some great people... and now my husband says I am addicted.

3. Who inspired you? My husband first started me blogging by having me enter the giveaways. Then there were lots of women I met through blogging that truly helped me and made me want to get better. [I've listed them a couple of times in the last week of so. Please read my blog to find these wonderful women - Shameless plug!!]

4. About how many hours a week would you estimate you spend on your blog? On MY blog about 13 - 15 hours most weeks, some weeks a bit more.

5. What kind of experience or background do you have with writing? Just high school - but I did get an award when I graduated, with a $25 check {shows you how old I am}!!


6. Talk about how you come up with blog topics. Where do you get your ideas? From everywhere... whatever happens in my life: my blog is about me and my family, so whatever happens is fodder for the blog. My family is fond of saying, "is that gonna be on the blog?" And of course, I am never without my camera, so my husband is always pointing out things that would be great for memes or just funny for the blog. He is terrific!!

7. What or who inspires you and your blog? Isn't this the same question as #6? Hello... everything.

8. Where and/or how do your brainstorming for your blog? Um, this is getting a bit monotonous... whatever happens, I just write about it.

9. Do you have any blogging rules or guidelines you follow? The only rule I have is that I will not post any photos of friends children without their permission FIRST; and I will not post their real names if they don't want, plus NO last names of children. Other than that... not really. Oh, yeah, NO SPAM - spam sucks!!



10. Is there anything you will not blog about? I don't know, I don't like to write about other people's troubles, I am not really a gossip. I don't like to kick a person when they are down. Just don't hurt my family or friends - then you are TOAST!!


11. Do you have any sort of a publishing schedule in terms of day of week or topic? Not really, because I am disabled and am in a lot of pain a lot of the time, I write when I can and blog hop whenever I am able. No schedule... I blog, read, nap, eat, sleep, whatever - whenever I feel like it. I have the best husband in the world!! Not bad, huh???



So, that brings us to the close of another Sunday Stealing. Now don't forget to visit the other participants of this meme, I'm sure there are lots of great answers... see you next week. Hope you had a great weekend.


Until next time..... Lorie

Self Portrait Sunday - Me and my Nano

Welcome to Self Portrait Sunday, a meme started by my friend Maria over at Maria's Space. To see why she started this meme head on over here.

Here is a photo of me and my favorite little baby... I love the way the lighting came out, now if I could just remember how I did it.....



Don't forget to head on over to Maria's Space to see her beautiful photo, link up your post and visit the other participants.



Until next time..... Lorie

Cartoon of the Day: Diapers

Oh the memories.....

Until next time..... Lorie

Blog Award from Xmas Dolly

My wonderful friend Marie over at Xmas Dolly has so generously given me this "One Lovely Blog Award". Marie is such a sweet blogger and is terrific at commenting. I am blessed to have her as a friend and truly honored to have received this award from her.


I have passed this award onto some other bloggers before, so I will skip passing it on again at this time, and just say thank you again to Marie for the honor.

Until next time..... Lorie

Hubby Got a New HP Pavilion p6230y Desktop Computer

My husband's computer died a couple of weeks ago which made him very sad...

However, we were very lucky to find a great price on an HP Pavilion p6230y Desktop over at BestBuy, so we headed over and picked one up.

Believe it or not, the two of us were able to set it up together following the one page directions included and it worked right away - NO WAY, you say... believe me, I was shocked myself!!

Here are some photos of the before and after.....

Cleaning up the old mess.....

Opening the box, reading the directions.... all the wires in the back.

Nano sitting out of the way.... and the finished product.

Nano has found his spot to sit with daddy, he does visit him once in a while just to make sure he is OK during the day - it is usually after I have brushed or bathed him and he is mad at me.

Bill is really happy with his new HP computer, he says it goes REALLY fast and that makes him very happy {boys and their toys...}.

Until next time..... Lorie

[I received no compensation for this post from anyone.

I actually PAID for the privilege of using the HP computer.

I just wanted people to know how much we liked the computer.]

Saturday 9: Everybody is a Star 1/30/10

This meme was begun by Crazy Sam, here are her words:

"Welcome to Saturday: 9 . What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!"


Saturday 9: Everybody is a Star

1. Did you ever think that you'd be a star? If yes, doing what? Never.. I had (and still do have) self-esteem issues.

2. Tell us about the last time you had a romantic dinner. New Year's Eve - I made my hubby his favorite meal at home and we snuggled on the couch watching a movie, until we watched tha ball drop and had champagne.

3. Tell us about your worst job interview. I've actually never had a bad interview... I'm pretty good at interviewing. I was really nervous about going on interviews after I left the job where my former boss had assaulted me (it took me 6 months to get the courage to go look for another job and I had to have my husband drive me and wait in the parking lot). After the interview, I got in the car, had hubby drive about 10 yards down the road, pull over, and then I threw up!!

4. Tell us about your stupidest date. I really didn't date much because of the restrictions my parents put on me. The first time I went out with my first husband alone (without a chaperone) was the day we got engaged. Then when Bill and I started "dating" he was 55 and I was 31, so it really wasn't dating.

5. How much in common do you think you should have with a romantic partner? Several things, but NOT everything. You need to have some differences so you have a little "spark" there. But you need to have the "biggies" in common: politics, religion, how many - if ANY - children you want to have (MOST important!!), things like that!

6. Tell us about a favorite meme that you loved but no longer posts. I haven't been blogging that long to know of any... the ones I like are still around.

7. How did you get into blogging? My hubby wanted me to enter some giveaways as a way to occupy my time while I was recovering from lumbar spine surgery as I lie on the couch. Then I started meeting WONDERFUl people, learning about memes, reviews, other peoples families, and I wanted to start posting about my life more. Now my husband says I am addicted, then I remind him it was all his fault, he just shakes his head and laughs.

8. Do you share all your fantasies with a significant other? Yes, and he shares his, it makes for some really fun conversations... :-)

9. What change in your life would you like to happen this year? Selling our current house, so we can build our dream house we have put a deposit on in the retirement community 30 minutes from here that is one-story and much easier on my spine. Plus, I want my son to come back from Afghanistan alive and in one piece, along with all the other deployed men and women.


That's it for this weeks Saturday 9. Don't forget to link your post and visit the other participants. Have a wonderful week.


Until next time..... Lorie

Smile.ly—Be Heard. Be Happy.

My friend Crystal over at Simply Being Mommy introduced me to a new social media online community that is designed to bring its members exciting new things to try. The Smile.ly community is 300,000 strong, and growing.

Today, brands need and want your opinion! Smile.ly members provide valuable feedback about popular brands, and that feedback can actually collectively drive the market. Members get inside and exclusive looks at new brands, new products, and new online content. And the best part, there is no charge to join Smile.ly.

Head on over and take a look, it might be something you would be interested in. Thanks Crystal.

Smile.ly—Be Heard. Be Happy.

Until next time..... Lorie

ABC Wednesday Round Six: Letter B

ABC WEDNESDAY

Welcome to ABC Wednesday Round 6. A fun project, now in it's third year! If you have something to share, be it a photograph, piece of art or poetry please post in on your blog and sign up here with MckLinky.


ABC Wednesday Round 6: Letter "B" is for.....

..... my baby.

..... big brother.

Bill, the love of my life and my soulmate!


Head on over to my friend Maria's post to see her great photos, and have a wonderful day.

Until next time..... Lorie

Random Dozen: I've Been Waiting for You to Answer

This is a meme started by Linda over at 2nd Cup of Coffee, head on over if you'd like to play along. Link up and visit the other participants.

I've Been Waiting for You to Answer:

1. How good are you at delaying gratification? It really depends on what I'm waiting for... Some things I can wait for, some things I want right now, or even yesterday!

2. Maybe a marshmallow wouldn't be too difficult a temptation for you. What food (or anything else) would be most tempting? If it is chocolate {you all know my obsession} or sex {oops, did I say that?} - there is no holding back.

3. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being saintly) how patient are you? I'd say a 5, because again as in question #1, it depends on what it is.....

4. Have you ever waited for something in life only to be disappointed upon realization of the goal/object/etc.? Of, course.... I think everyone has.

5. Are you a person who takes shortcuts? Only if the end with be the same and no one gets hurt along the way.

6. Which line is hardest to wait in? Our town Post Office... we have the slowest one in the world. The people who work there talk and talk to every single customer about NOTHING and they talk to each other, constantly. The people who go there are never ready for what they need to do, thus holding up the line even longer! AARRGGHH!!!

7. Did you wait to discover the gender of your unborn child until its birth? I waited for the first one because I wanted to be surprised. For the second one, I needed to know because we lived in a 2 bedroom apartment. Our firstborn is a boy and if we were having a girl, we were going to have to move.

8. Are you more patient with children or the elderly? I'm usually patient with both, except when the elderly are driving - and since I live in Florida, that's not really a very good thing.

9. Did you ever sneak a peek at a present? Yes I have - and I'm ashamed to say it was as an adult.

10. What is the longest you've ever waited for anything? I waited 29 years to find my soulmate - Bill.

11. Who has more patience, you or your significant other? Definitely ME!!

12. Which of the following songs about waiting is your pick for the best? (OK, you may substitute another, if you like.)
A) Anticipation by Carly Simon
B) The Waiting by Tom Petty
C) Right Here Waiting for You by Richard Marx
D) Wait for Me by Rebecca St. James

I'd have to say (C) Right Here Waiting for You by Richard Marx, I really like that song and we just saw Richard Marx at EPCOT in Disney World a couple of months ago - he was still great!

Enjoy the rest of the week..... Until next time..... Lorie

Spay Day 2010 Online Pet Photo Contest

I have entered Nano into another photo contest.... I know, I know, I am obsessed with my little baby. I can't help it, he is just so darned cute!

The photo is one of him in his jammies, just like in my Wordless Wednesday post, but this contest can help benefit the Humane Society - one of my favorite charities. If you have the time and $1.00, please head on over to vote...... Even if you don't have the $1.00, please just look at the photo, it really is adorable {OK, I am just a bit partial!!}

Spay Day 2010 Online Pet Photo Contest

Until next time..... Lorie

Wordless Wednesday: Nano's New Jammies

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday.... Nano got jammies for the winter.

Here he is saying his prayers before bedtime:

Don't forget to link up to the WW Hub and visit the other participants.

Until next time..... Lorie

Blue Monday, Mellow Yellow Monday and Ruby Tuesday All Rolled into One

I have this flag hanging in my front window (sorry for the glare, we actually had sunshine today), it is a symbol showing I am a Blue Star Mother. The Service flag is an official banner authorized by the Department of Defense for display by families who have members serving in the Armed Forces during any period of war or hostilities the United States may be engaged in for the duration of such hostilities.

I am so proud of my son Nikolaus and think of him daily. I pray that he returns home safely, as well as all the deployed men and women of all the armed forces. God bless them all and God bless America!!

Don't forget to link your post up to Smiling Sally's for Blue Monday; Drowsey Monkey's for Mellow Yellow Monday; and Work of the Poet for Ruby Tuesday. While you're on each of those sites, visit the other participants to see their wonderful photos. Have a great week.

Until next time..... Lorie

Cartoon of the Day: The Innocence of Children

Wouldn't it be great if we could still have the imagination, innocence and happiness we did when we were children?






Until next time..... Lorie

Self Portrait Sunday - I'm Healing Pretty Well

To find out why Maria began Self Portrait Sunday, see her first post here.


With today's self portrait post, I wanted to show everyone how well my incision from my cervical spinal surgery {my procedure: Anterior Cervical Corpectomy} is healing. It is still sore and itchy and kind of red. I'm still having pain in my neck, shoulders and down my arms into my hands, but not nearly as much as I used to have. The constant headache I had for 8 years (YES, eight years) is gone, although from reading my blog, you know that I still suffer from migraines and occasional neurological headaches. I will have those problems for the rest of my life. If you look at the second photograph, you really can't see the incision when you look at me from a short distance unless you really look for it, I am SO happy with the way my neurosurgeon did the procedure. I really shouldn't have that much of a scar at all after about a year.

See these gorgeous earrings.... these were a gift from my WONDERFUL friend Maria, she made them - she is a true artisan. They were a gift from her because I was the top commenter on her wonderful blog Maria's Space, the originator of this meme. I was so surprised when she wanted to give me these for visiting her blog. I just can't help myself, she is a wonderful writer and a fabulous photographer. Please head over to her blog to take a look.

She also has an Etsy shop called Street Angel where she sells her beautiful jewelry, so if you would like to own a pair of earrings like these or other wonderful jewelry, head on over, I'm sure you can find something you will like.

Don't forget to link back to Maria's Space and visit the other participants.... Have a great week.


Until next time..... Lorie

Sunday Stealing: The Negativity Meme 1/24/10

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing: originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser:

"Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. First, we always credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim's post. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") We do sometimes edit the original meme, usually to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, sometimes to select that meme's best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from either this new meme or recently asked questions from a prior featured meme. Let's go!"

Today we ripped this meme off blogger named Flea from the blog Flea's World. She states that she stole it at Warty Mammal. But, it was probably stolen there as well. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Tracing back our theft's thieves might take some time. Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!

Cheers to all of us thieves!

Sunday Stealing: The Negativity Meme

Foods which disgust the crap out of me: Peas... They just make me shiver and shutter! I will pick them out of anything I am eating that has them. Even the smell makes me gag - when I make them for my family, I have to make them in the sealed bag and hold my breath when I open them. EEWWW!! The last time I ever ate them, I was 7 years old and swallowed them whole with eight glasses of water and then vomited them all up again. NEVER ate another one again!!!

TV show I loathe: ANY "reality" TV show, but I think the worst is "Biggest Loser" because I cannot stand Jillian Michaels! {Plus there is anything on MTV, VH1 and the CW except "Supernatural" - that show ROCKS!!!}

Movie I loathe: All stupid, sophomoric movies like "Dumb and Dumber", "You Don't Mess with the Zohan", "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story", and "Zoolander".

Music genres I loathe: This one is SO easy ~ RAP!!!

Magazine which annoys me: Cosmo ~ 400 pages of Ads for things that are either way too expensive or way too ugly to own; and 3 articles telling women how to look like airbrushed celebrities because they are not good enough they way they are!

Makes me cranky at restaurant: Being ignored by the server... um, hello, THAT is your job, you are supposed to check with me to see if I need or want anything else.

Makes me cranky in public: Oh, there are so many things!! Horrible drivers, people who are mean to children, people who don't look out for handicapped people - that would be me!! I have had so many people bump into me or almost knock me over or knock my cane out of my hand. I've even had people almost fall into my lap while I'm in my wheelchair because they have tried to cut in front of me or run around me. I mean, REALLY?????

Makes me cranky in general: Pain! I really hate being in pain everyday and having to take all kinds of medication.

Pisses me off at home: I hate to say this, but nothing much, my hubby is pretty great. He does almost all the cleaning, and walks the dog twice a day, he helps me with the grocery shopping, and putting them away. I think the only two things we disagree on are: 1. The temperature of the room, when I'm hot - he is cold, and when he is hot - I am cold... we never can get it right; and 2. I swear he has a hearing problem because I keep asking him to repeat things because I can't hear him (he talks too low, but says he is talking loud) then he gets irritated & shouts, plus he can't hear me when I say things, or he says he never heard me say things. {Although I've learned that several husbands suffer from this problem, hmm!}

Pisses me off at work: I don't work, I am a kept woman ~ HaHa!!

Pisses me off in general: Memes that ask the same question over and over!! Hello.... haven't we already covered this?!?!?!?

Makes me impatient at home: Again, The Hubs "Selective Hearing Loss".

Makes me impatient at work: "Kept Woman", remember???

I could care less about: Tweeting, Twilight Saga, Reality TV (I think I answered this one yesterday, too???)

Annoys the crap out of me weekdays: Horrible drivers that are late for work, meetings, school, wherever they are going and decide that my life, or that of my baby, Nano, isn't worth them slowing down.

Annoys the crap out of me weekends: TV shows

Blogger's habit that annoys you: Using the phrases LOL, LMAO, ROTFL, ROTFLMAO... ENOUGH already! I cannot imagine you people walking around your neighborhood with no asses, or being on your kitchen floors in front of you children laughing. Plus, I don't believe you REALLY think all this crap that we are all saying is THAT funny! You are just being annoying with all your damn acronyms. If you can't think of anything to say.... don't say anything!!

Feature on your blog you hate: Um, uh, nothing... I wouldn't have put it there if I hated it, it's MY blog... nobody has a gun to my head saying, "You must put this on your blog or I'm gonna shoot you in the head." DUH!!

Movie star you despise: Only one? There are just SO MANY!!! The first one that comes to mind is Jack Nicholson. He is the same annoying, pain in the ass character in every movie.

Politician that you hate: Senator Joe Lieberman (I used to live in Connecticut), he should just shut up and go away!!

So, that brings us to the close of another Sunday Stealing. Now don't forget to visit the other participants of this meme, I'm sure there are lots of great answers... see you next week. Hope you had a great weekend.

Until next time..... Lorie