{ musings }

The iPod Shuffle Game...

RULES
1. Put your MP3 player, iTunes, Windows media player, etc on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Tag a bunch of friends (tag me, too, so i can see your results).
5. Everyone tagged has to do the same thing.
6. Have fun!

IF SOMEONE SAYS "ARE YOU OKAY" YOU SAY?
“Stop, Drop & Roll” by Foxboro Hottubs

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

“Great Indoors” by John Mayer

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
“When You’re Gone” by The Cranberries

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
“The Shining Path” by Thievery Corp.

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?
“Tell Me Baby” by Red Hot Chili Peppers

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
“Need You Tonight” by INXS

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
“Age of Consent” by New Order

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
“Subtle Feelings” by GS Sachdev

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
“Louder Than Bombs” by Karsh Kale

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
“Amazing Life” by Jem

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
“Yaweh” by U2

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
“Like a Boy” by Ciara

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
“Upside Down” Jack Johnson

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
”Strange Desire” by INXS

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?

“Hot Hot Hot!” by The Cure

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
“Superstar” by Usher

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
“What More Can I Say” by Jay-Z

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
“Work In Progress (Growing Pains)” by Mary J Blige

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?

“How (I Learned My Lesson)” by X

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?

“Let’s Get Lifted” by John Legend

A Flickr Collage of ME!

MY collage, originally uploaded by bebe beaux.

1. are they communicating via their antennas?, 2. "mexican food cart" "street food" "mexican food midtown ny" "street cart", 3. All work and no play...LaSanta (10), 4. Purple Euphoria, 5. McConaughey.jpg, 6. Ritas, 7. 14th August 2007 / Day 226, 8. LEGO Photographers, 9. Kandian Cheif and Family, 10. Friendly Donkey!!, 11. wham:a different corner, 12. Art Journal: Ablaze

This photo collage contains the Flickr answers to this Quiz, which I snagged from Teague's blog:

1. What is your first name? Kim
2. What is your favorite food? Mexican street food
3. What high school did you go to? Alemany High School
4. What is your favorite color? Purple
5. Who is your celebrity crush? Matthew Mc.
6. Favorite drink? Margaritas
7. Favorite dessert? Chocolate
8. What you want to be when you grow up? Photographer
9. What do you love most in life? My family
10. One Word to describe you. Friendly
11. Dream vacation? Tropical beaches
12. Your flickr name. bebebeaux

Now...I tag these peeps to do the same:  Jan, Maria  & Tonya.

Here's how it works:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Pick an image you like.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.

Tag: Apparently I'm IT!

Man....it seems to be my lucky week!  I got tagged by both Carol and Ana, so here goes:

My inspirational blog viewing (these are a little off the beaten path, in order to mix it up a bit, and also because many people have already listed some of my faves on THEIR responses to this challenge!):

1. To the average viewer, I look like your typical ditzy blond, do-gooder cheerleader, but if you've been around me even a few minutes, you'll know I have a wicked sense of snark.  Not quite as highly refined as some of my friends, but I am a HUGE fan of blog-snark such as the Sarcastic Journalist.  I've been reading her blog for almost 2 years now and just love her irreverent, tell-it-like-she-sees-it sense of humor.
2. While on a recent blog-hopping expedition (an all-too-common thing around here) I stumbled upon the very talented Nicol Sayre's blog.  Anyone who hangs doll arms from her backyard clothes-line to dry is A-OK in my book! 
3. This one is a tie:  Jillybean and her riotous-color sister, Beth.  They both make me happy every day...amazing how THAT much talent could be swimming around in one gene pool!  It's Jill's wise, wise (and whimsical) words which always get me...and eb's amazing use of color and creative abandon that inspire me!  Lucky me that I got to recently spend an entire day with them BOTH held captive in my car!  (Happy birthdays, ladies!!!)
4. Another recent fave of mine is Mary's blog.  WOW.  This gal is not only gorgeous, but (as fiend Kelly Jacobs once said) I want to stomp around in her brain for just a day!  TALENT, TALENT, TALENT...what an amazing design aesthetic!!  WOW!  Can't wait to meet her and the rest of the Cali Crew at Sparkle Bella in June!
5. This is another one I love to visit because (in large part) because she makes me guffaw out loud with her sense of snark.  She is a huge smart-ass, which repeatedly gets her in trouble, but I love that she  keeps coming back for more!  She's a freakin' genius, too, which doesn't hurt!

OK....now, 6 odd things about me:

1. While in college, I arranged my classes and wore a bathing suit to school nearly every day under my clothes so I could go directly to the beach after class.  In fact, it wasn't till my last year that many of my friends in the Philosophy Department even saw me with make-up on....as I finally had to wear a suit and make-up to my job (accounting software/hardware sales) that year!
2. I have broken my feet/ankles at least 8 times and now (and sprained/strained them MANY times more) have horrible osteoarthritis in both feet.  THIS is why I nearly always wear sneakers (so I can also wear my heavy-duty orthotics AND so I have a decent amount of support and stability).
3. I have a bizarre fantasy to one day play roller derby.
4. Clutter (in my home) makes me extremely uneasy, however clutter in my studio is oddly stimulating.
5. Without acrylic fingernails on, I pick my cuticles. It is really a horrible habit...I feel a little edge while I'm driving or watching TV, than I pick, pick, pick!  Nasty, and painful and I MUST stop.
6. I really want to get my nose pierced.   REALLY.  I almost did it at Silver Bella '06, i almost did it in Paris....maybe Silver Bella 2007 will be IT????

OK...so now I guess I have to tag some MORE peeps!  Here goes:  I tag Helle, Mou and Maija...because they are my blog friends with cool names!  :-)  You girls can feel free to choose whichever challenge you wish!

Soundtrack of My Life

Friend Chris has an interesting MEME on her blog...couldn't resist.  Basically, you just open up your iPod (or iTunes) and select the random shuffle.  Match the order that the songs come up with the following "scenes" in your life.

Opening Credits:  She's A Rebel, Green Day (OK...this just cracked me up!  When people first meet me, they think I am this proper, "together," very straight, cheer-leader type girl...but I have a big rebel streak that runs strong and deep.  Tattoos.  Piercing.  Edgy music.  Alternative healing & spirituality...oh hell, I have a degree in Philosophy, for god's sake! ha!)

Waking Up: Fascination Street, The Cure  (Love this song.  Love The Cure.  "It's opening time down on Fascination Street...")

First Day of School:  1985, Bowling For Soup (I graduated High School in 1984, so while I listened to more alternative and New Wave music than this song speaks of, I can certainly relate to the "feel" of this song.  High School was awesome for me...and I still LOVE 80's music!  My kids joke that this song is about me...but that I am certainly WAY cooler than the mom in the song...whew!)

Falling In Love: I'm Glad, Jennifer Lopez (Paul Oakenfold remix) (really...this one speaks for itself!)

Fight Song: Let It Bump, Missy Elliott (ha!  Not sure how it fits, but since I'm not a really "fighter" in my relationships, perhaps Missy's message of just goin' with the groove is appropriate!)

Breaking Up:  Tourniquet, Evanescence (Although I never personally had a breakup as bad as this song's theme, I can certainly understand that kind of pain and the searching/needing for a higher power to come to the rescue)

Prom Scene:  Back To The Hotel, N2Deep (hahahahahaha!  An old school hip-hop favorite - this cracks me up!  Althought my senior prom date had to work at 5am the morning after my prom, so I was home NICE AND early that night, unlike many of my friends!)

Life's OK:  Low Tide Of The Night, Everything But The Girl (A cool, mellow groove.  Love Everything But The Girl...their stuff is nice background music for much of my life)

Mental breakdown:  Halo, Depeche Mode (Pretty much anything Depeche is perfect for a mental breakdown, don't you think, Chris?? ha!  i am surprised that more Depeche didn't show up in this shuffle, as there is SO much of it on my iTunes)

Driving Scene:  The Heat, Sergio Mendes (Totally slammin' driving tunes!  LOVE this song, love Sergio, love the BEP!)

Flashback:  Burn, Usher (A sad, melancholy recollection of past relationships that had to end...altho I cannot say that I've actually ever called anyone "my boo"  - ha!)

Getting Back Together:  Afterglow , Sarah McLachlan (well...the best part of makin' up is the, ummm, well...YOU KNOW!)

Wedding Scene:  Close to Me (remix), The Cure (Kind of an overpowering, dark, obsessive tune for "wedding" but hey - who am I to judge the almighty shuffle?)

Birth Scene:  Anhata (Heart Chakra), Jorge Alfano (Cool tune.  I have a bunch of cool tunes in my iPod for meditation, Reiki and general relaxation.  This one is to "re-tune" the heart chakra...which is appropriate for birth:   Nothing like giving birth to a child to change your heart FOREVER!)

Final Battle:  Soldier, Destiny's Child  (While the "soldier" references sound appropriate for a battle, this song is so not me.  I am more of a do-it-myself kinda gal.  I have never been one to look for a man to fight MY battles, thank you very much.  I'll battle them MYSELF!)

Death Scene:  Munich, The Editors (A hard rockin groove to go out on, I suppose.  "With one hand you calm me.  With one hand I'm still. ")

Funeral Song:  Joy & Pain, E-Z Rock & Rob Base (Rolling on the floor how funny this is!)

End Credits:  Float On, Modest Mouse (that's all, folks!!)

Tagged!

I got tagged by Tffany at the Sharp Edge:

1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be?   On the beach, in Oxnard

2. What's your favorite article of clothing? Gap/Old Navy T-shirts.
3. Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex? The eyes.

4. What's the last CD that you bought? "Senses Working Overtime" compilation CD @ 'Bucks

5. Where's your favorite place to be? At the beach...any beach.

6. Where is your least favorite place to be? Waiting in the parent pickup line @ school.

7. What's your favorite place to be massaged? Head/neck and feet.

8. Strong in mind or strong in body? Both, absolutely!
9. What time do you wake up in the morning? Usually 7 am. 10. What is your favorite kitchen appliance?  My Sub Zero! ;-)

11. What makes you really angry? Deceit

12. If you could play any instrument, what would it be? Piano.

13. Favorite color?   Rich, regal Purple.

14. Which do you prefer...sports car or SUV?  I should be driving a convertible Jag, but instead I'm driving a SUV.
15. Do you believe in an afterlife? Yes...
16. Favorite children's book? Tie between the Narnia Chronicles and A Wrinkle In Time.
17. What is your favorite season? Summer on the beach.

18. What is your least favorite household chore?  Folding and putting away laundry.  It never seems to be done around here!

19. If you could have one super power, what would it be? To be in more than one place at a time.

20. If you have a tattoo, what is it? Yes. I got a tiny heart on the back of my left ankle when I was 20, then added some "swirls" and vines when I turned 40.  It's cute!

21. Can you juggle?  Are you kidding me?

22. The one person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to? My Grandpa Earl who passed away right before I graduated college.

23. What's your favorite day? Saturday.

24. What's in the trunk of your car? First aid kit (c'mon, I'm a Girl Scout Leader!!), spare + jack, blanket, rain ponchos, about a thousand ball point pens (from a school meeting), Mag flashlight, extra batteries, a school directory...and more!

25. Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger?  Depends on the day, but usually the hamburger

Meme: Wikipedia

MEME: This one I scammed from my Alphabetica pal, Laura:

1. Go to Wikipedia.
2. IN the search box, type your birth month and day (but not year).
3. List three events that happened on your birthday.
4. List two important birthdays and one interesting death.
5. List one holiday or observance.

MY BIRTHDAY:  December 21

EVENTS:

• 1620 - Plymouth Colony: William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims land on what is now known as Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
• 1937 - The film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is premiered at the Carthay Circle Theater in Los Angeles.
• 1988 - A bomb explodes on board Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway, killing 270.

BIRTHS:

• 1879 - Joseph Stalin, Leader of the Russian Communist Party from 1928 to 1953 (d. 1953)
• 1940 - Frank Zappa, American singer, guitarist and composer (d. 1993)

DEATH:

• 1940 - F. Scott Fitzgerald, American writer (b. 1896)

HOLIDAY/OBSERVANCE:

• Celebration of the Winter Solstice (Northern Hemisphere) and Summer Solstice (Southern Hemisphere)

What's In...

It has been a while, but here goes another MEME challenge:

What's in your FRIDGE?

• Organic 1% Milk
• Half a chicken I roasted the other day
• eggs...fresh and hard-boiled
• Lots of fresh produce (lettuce, artichokes, strawberries, grapes...)
• Misc Yoplait Light yogurts and Jello Fat-Free puddings
• Lots of condiments (Salsas and Dijon mustards being the most important!)
• PepsiOne (for ME!)
• Lots of different juices and juice-boxes for the girls
• and much, much more....

What's in your PURSE?

• My absolutely ancient Kate Spade Wallet
• My TREO PDA/Phone
• Sunglass case
• Keys
• Sugar-free gum
• Lots if different lip "stuff"
• A tube of shea butter hand creme
• A Travel size tube of Aleve

What's in your CLOSET?

• TOO MUCH!
• Ton's of boxes of Alexis' old clothes I'm saving for Olivia
• A safe with important stuff in it
• Boxes of memorabilia from my Grandma Wilma

What's on/in your DVR/DVD?

• On DVD from Netflix...."North Country" and "Lord of War" (David's pick)
• On the DVR...a bunch of Oprah episodes, Scrubs, Sopranos, Big Love, What About Brian, 24, Alias...and a couple of Disney movies for the girls!

What's in your CAR?

• My iPod car adapter
• Sunglasses (3 pairs! ha!)
• Gum for me and Butterfields Peach Buds for the girls
• Hand Creme
• Water bottles (lots!)
• Tissue box (it's sneezin' season here in AZ!)
• 2 Booster seats
• First aid kit and CPR mask
• Flashlights, foil blankets, Swiss army knives, rain ponchos, wind-up radio (hey - I'm a Girl Scout Leader...we take our preparedness SERIOUSLY!)

Now....it's your turn:  Teresa, Tracy, Susan, Tena and Debi!

Tag...I'm IT!

Darnit!  I got tagged by Tracy .

What scrapbook lines/products, etc. do you dislike?
Mrs. Grossmans (the same as almost all of you!)

What is the hardest thing you have ever had to scrap?
Anything remotely "All About Me" related.  Thankfully, my pal Pam Lambie at Pinecone Press just send me a care package full of goodies, which included the new book she co-authored with my pal Jennifer...so maybe there is hope! 

What technique do you use more than anything else?
Photo manipulation using my computer.

What is the smallest scrap of paper you save?
Usually 3x5.

Have you ever had any scrapbook related injuries?
Many scissor slices, but recently (while making my recent Fat Book entry!) I dripped molten solder on my bare leg while soldering.  DOH!

Finish this sentence, "If I wasn't a scrapbooker/stamper, I would spend my money on...
More photography equipment and any techie gadgets I can get my hands on!

You just won a week long scrapbooking cruise for 5. Who is going with you?
Oh, this is difficult. Without a doubt, Cori.  After that, I'm sticking with my known partying pals because I ain't going on a cruise without doing some SERIOUS partying: Lindsay, Laurie, Tena, Pam Lambie, Jennifer... then the rest is TOUGH!  I'd love to have Tracy and Valita join us...and I'd also love to party with crazy nut-ball Margie.  Then, now that I think about it, I'd LOVE to hook up with some of my overseas pals like Jan and Flo, too.  I guess I'd have to buy out the whole damn boat 'cause, because I just can't make up my mind!!! 

When you received your first publication notification, who did you tell? And if you are not yet pubbed, who will be the first person you share the news with?
Since the "call" literally came within 15 minutes of me e-mailing it to CK, I first told my hubby, then I think I called my mom!!!  Then I think the third person I told was Kelli.

After answering the questions, tag four of your buddies.
nahhh...do it if you want!

Meme Me, Baby!

What were you doing 10 years ago?

Feb 1996:  David and I had been married for nearly a year and I was HUGE into building my business (I had a nutraceuticals distributorship in a MLM).  I was travelling and doing motivational speaking all over the country building my business.

What were you doing 1 year ago? 

Feb 2005:  I was getting ready to go to CHA and all of the fun and excitement to go with it. 

Five snacks you enjoy:

Cookies, PepsiOne (or any fountain diet cola), ChexMix, fresh berries, chips (& salsa)

Five songs to which you Know all the lyrics:

Like Chris, almost every single Depeche Mode song (except for the newest stuff), Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten," TONS of nasty hip-hop songs, and every song by The Cure.

Five things you would do if you won the PowerBall:

Set up a trust to put the money in and have David manage it, pay off my parent's house, give a bunch to my brother to help him build his business, set up a charitable trust for causes close to my heart and buy/rent a home in Tuscany for a year so we could live there, learn the language and learn to cook gourmet Italian.

Five bad habits:

Wasting too much time surfing the internet, nibbling/snacking, putting off doing things I don't really like to do, picking my cuticles, over scheduling.

Five things you like doing:

Taking photos, learning new computer skills (teaching myself HTML right now), teaching, public speaking, cooking.

Five things you would never wear, buy, or get new again:

Pantyhose, shirts that show my mid-section, any vehicle by Dodge, tile/grout counter-tops, a small dog.

OK...my turn to tag YOU:   Teresa, Sharyn and Valita (although I KNOW you are closing on your house in a couple of days...you can do THIS, missy!).

If I...

Tenika recently posted another fun meme on 2 Peas that I thought was pretty interesting.  Here's what she said:

Try this: The artist soul thrives on adventure.
Many adventures require that we muster the courage to be a beginner. That bicycle trip to France requires that I haul out my bike and start riding. That black-and-white photography course says "Get out the camera; shoot a few rolls." Yoga for beginners requires that i stretch myself physically and mentally. Attendance at an open mic invites me to bring a poem. Life is filled with adventure if we are openhearted.  List five things you would love to do, if you didn't have to do them perfectly.

1. If I didn't have to do it perfectly, I'd try to learn to swim WELL (real strokes!). 
2. If I didn't have to do it perfectly, I'd try learn to play a musical instrument. 
3. If I didn't have to do it perfectly, I'd try to write a book. 
4. If I didn't have to do it perfectly, I'd try to learn to ballroom dance. 
5. If I didn't have to do it perfectly, I'd try to launch my own mixed media art products/supplies company.

What would YOU DO?