Small things matter

(This was forwarded to me. I think there is a lot that is relevant.)

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

• I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
• I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
• I would have talked less and listened more.
• I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
• I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
• I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
• I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
• I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
• I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
• I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
• I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
• Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist in a miracle.
• When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."
• There would have been more "I love you's."
• More "I'm sorry's."
• But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it .. live it .and never give it back.
• Stop sweating the small stuff.
• Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.
• Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

Andre Norton died today at 93

Andre Norton died today at 93. She lived almost a century, which is more of a norm today than it was in the past, when she was born.

She is best known as the author of the "Witchworld" series. I finally had the pleasure of reading one of these novels. She was a skillful writer who knew how to hold your attention. The novel that I read was published in 1968, so I made allowances for the conventions that were typical of the 1960s-the cover art with the scantily clad sorceress, the whole "captured princess" scenario.

Though from the old school, Andre recognized the new media by having a website and an email address.

Admittedly, until I read about Marion Zimmer Bradley's untimely death, I thought that Andre was a man. I am glad to be proven wrong.

I hope to live to be 93. I hope also to be able to die with dignity as Ms. Norton did and with pride at what I was able to accomplish.

I am...that is

You could be described as...
Hopelessly romantic *sigh*
Quiet and observant... Sad but beautiful
The center of attention!
A loner Ultra-cool.
Damn straight.
Very.. uh.. eccentric
Totally easygoing Fun-loving, hoo yeah! Loud and bold, dammit!
Serene and peaceful

If you were a food, you would be...
Strawberries dipped in chocolate
Italian ice (lemon)
Dark chocolate truffles
Green tea ice cream
Chips and salsa or nachos Some sort of takeout Catered cheese sampler Steak, very rare Spicy Thai noodles Olives (with pimento)

If you were a drink, you would be....
Ice water Martini Coke Coffee Orangina Green tea Lemonade Hot chocolate Red wine Margarita Espresso

Choose that which is most important to you:
Freedom Sense of self Beauty Attention Solitude Personality Leisure Enjoyment Power PassionIndividuality

Pick your favorite movie:
Austin Powers
Moulin Rouge
Blade Runner
The Joy Luck Club
Almost Famous
Casablanca
Being John Malkovich

If you were to get a tattoo, which would you choose?
Your zodiac sign Something tribal Moon and/or stars Stylized cat Pair of dice Broken heart Skull (crossbones optional) Grinning sun Pair of wings Chinese or Japanese charactersRose

Pick a color (or set):
Warm golden yellow Sepia tones Black Shades of blue Slate grey Bright green Deep red Pale grey and white Vibrant orange Neon anythingIntense red

What negative personality trait do you most exhibit? (be honest!)
Weepy/moody, just to get attention Doormat syndrome - you don't speak up for yourself Too aloof/out of touch with reality Chronic apathy/lack of care Have to be the center of attention at all times Superiority complex Overly sensitive Shallowness Bossiness/bully-like traits Trying too hard to be different to the point of falsityPurposefully distancing yourself from just about everyone

Favorite item of jewelry:
Lots of gold bangles Gold ball earrings Vintage rhinestone choker Studded leather cuff Big ball-chain necklace Stacked thrift store beaded bracelets No jewelry, thanks Personalized gold necklace, à la Sex and the City Simple silver bangle Small silver hoop earringsThin gold chain with a pendant

Which is something you might say (or something someone might say about you)?
"Sometimes you wake up. Sometimes the fall kills you. And sometimes, when you fall, you fly."
- Dream, Neil Gaiman's The Sandman

"I don't run the show, I am the show." - Rachael, Blade Runner

"I can pretend that things last." - Destruction, Neil Gaiman's The Sandman

"Above all things I believe in love! Love is like oxygen, love is a many-splendored thing, love lifts us up where we belong, all you need is love!"
- Christian, Moulin Rouge

"I do what I want. You have problem?" - Quina Quen, Final Fantasy IX

"In the brave new world of the year 2000, a kiss can still break your heart."
- Program from Cirque du Soleil's Alegria

"Make them laugh. They'll have a hard time shooting you."
- Program from Cirque du Soleil's Alegria

"The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom." - William Blake

"Have you ever spent days and days and days making up flavors of ice cream that no one's ever eaten before? Like chicken and telephone ice cream? ...Green mouse ice cream was the worst. I didn't like that at all."
- Delerium, Neil Gaiman's The Sandman

"I'm so cool you could keep a side of meat in me for a month! I'm so hip I have trouble seeing over my pelvis!"
- Zaphod Beeblebrox, Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

"He's gotta be the tragic figure standing in the rain, mourning the loss of his beloved. So down comes the rain, right on cue."
- Mervyn Pumpkinhead, Neil Gaiman's The Sandman

http://womenshistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fdrhill.tripod.com%2Fuwil.htm

Fighting the law and the ...

It's funny. It used to be a shameful thing to get arrested, be caught taking drugs or caught having an affair. Now it seems that if you lie about your investments and go to jail, you can be more bankable than when you went in. It is acceptable to be on tv telling of how dumb you were and how your wrecked the lives of others.

Michael Jackson
Interesting how he and Jesse Jackson now have an alliance. His career is over in the US.

Robert Blake
Even if I believe him and somewhat side with him in regards to the fact that his now dead wife swindled him. Who hires an old washed up homicidal maniac?

Phil Spector
Ronnie, his ex and lead singer of the Ronnettes could have told everyone what he was about.

Scott Peterson
Unfortunately the moral of the story is don't get pregnant by a man who does not love you.

Martha Stewart
White collar crime always pays.

what's your cowboy bebop theme song?

Hopes and Dreams, Ways and Means

It was Albert Einstein that said that it was all right to build castles in the air but that one must put a foundation beneath them.

I think that dreams are wonderful things but perhaps endless dreams without hope is pointless.

The Survey

Name: What's in a name?
Birthday: January 19
Birthplace: Boston, MA
Current Location: Somerville, MA
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: off-Brown
Height: 5'4"
Right Handed or Left Handed: Right handed
Your Heritage: American
The Shoes You Wore Today: Old School Sneakers
Your Weakness: Not believing in myself which can lead to a certain
indecisiveness
Your Fears: Worry for my friends and family and the future
Your Perfect Pizza: Chicken Barbeque
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year: Continue to save money,
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger: :)
Thoughts First Waking Up: "I have to get up, don't I?"
Your Best Physical Feature: Smile
Your Bedtime: Whenever I am tired
Your Most Missed Memory: Car trips with anyone but my family
Pepsi or Coke: Coke
MacDonalds or Burger King: BK (for their fries)
Single or Group Dates: Single if necessary but Groups are fine too
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Nestea
Chocolate or Vanilla: Both in a Ripple
Cappuccino or Coffee: Coffee (unless it is a Frapucinno)
Do you Smoke: No
Do you Swear: Yes
Do you Sing: Yes
Do you Shower Daily: Yes (I don't want to meet the person that would
say no to that question and not be in dire straits)
Have you Been in Love: Yes (disastrously)
Do you want to go to College: Yes (I actually want to do it again)
Do you want to get Married: Yes (if certain criteria were met)
Do you belive in yourself: Yes, but not as much as I should
Do you get Motion Sickness: No
Do you think you are Attractive: I was told that I was unconventially
pretty once
Are you a Health Freak: No
Do you get along with your Parents: No. Mother is dead and I did get
along well with her.
Do you like Thunderstorms: Yes, if inside a safe structure. It is
quite the aphrodisiac
Do you play an Instrument: Yes
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol: Yes
In the past month have you Smoked: No
In the past month have you been on Drugs: No
In the past month have you gone on a Date: No
In the past month have you gone to a Mall: No
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos: No
In the past month have you eaten Sushi: Yes
In the past month have you been on Stage: No, but I will be on April 28
In the past month have you been Dumped: No
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping: No, but I have been
known to sleep nude almost year round
In the past month have you Stolen Anything: No
Ever been Drunk: Yes but not on a regular basis and never so wasted
that I was not aware of what is going on or think again about an idea
that seemed cool at the time to do but would have been a great mistake
if sober
Ever been called a Tease: Yes
Ever been Beaten up: Yes
Ever Shoplifted: Yes, but not anymore since I became an adult but as a
kid I was quite the felon AND I never got caught...
How do you want to Die: Dunno. Instantly would be the best.
What do you want to be when you Grow Up: Again, No clue. Some kind of
scientist I think or new media person... Or maybe just a witch.
What country would you most like to Visit: Japan (again), Southeast
Asia (still want to), Wales and the least deadliest country in Africa
In a Boy/Girl.. Favourite Eye Color: Brown or Blue
Favourite Hair Color: Dark (though apparently I have a weakness for blondes)
Short or Long Hair: Longish (usually)
Height:
Depends
Weight:
DependsBest Clothing Style:
Whatever looks good on them and myself. Clean is
usually a good yardstick.Number of Drugs I have taken:
erm... Not anything that I can get arrested for.Number of CDs I own:
14 ( I am slow to transition to the format)Number of Piercings:
2
Number of Tattoos:
0 (Do scars count?)
Number of things in my Past I Regret:
One is listening to every voice except my own. The other two are not printable.