5 things about me and so on...

This is a long post but it's not so sad and depressing as the last one. Well that is if you don't mind looking at list about me and my life. Anyway, I got this from another blogger so very long ago and i can't remember who so I'll just give a general thank you to everyone and hopefully one of you will be the one I got this from. Enjoy...

5 jobs I have had:

Bus Boy

Mail Room Clerk

Job Recruiter

Retail Manager

Sexual Health Educator

5 movies I can watch over and over:

Auntie Mame

The Long, Long, Trailer

Happy Texas

Sordid Lives

All About Eve

5 places I have lived:

Grand Rapids, Michigan

New Orleans, Louisiana

Dallas, Texas

Sydney, Australia

Hobart,Tasmania

5 TV shows I love:

Will & Grace

The Golden Girls

Hell's Kitchen

That 70's Show

Judge Judy

5 places I have been on vacation:

Sydney, Australia

Cradle Mountain, Tasmania (Australia)

St. Petersburg, Florida

San Francisco, California

Los Angeles, California

5 types of my favorite foods:

Mexican

Thai

Indian

Italian

Cajun/Creole

5 places I would rather be now:

Touring Europe

Cruising the Greek Islands

Canada

Las Vegas

Japan

5 stores I could not live without:

Old Navy (if I still lived in the states)

Angus & Robertson Bookstore

David Jones Food Hall

Rodd & Gunn

Dick Smith Electronics

5 things I would do if I won the lottery:

Go on a vacation around the world

Put some of it into savings and term deposits (CD'S)

Pay off all my debts

Help my family where I can

Make donations to my favourite charities

5 things I say daily:

I'm alive

I love you, to my hubby

Things have to get better

Where's the cat?

What do you want for dinner?, to hubby

5 things that make my day:

Waking up next to my hubby

A day without pain

Watching the sunrise

Seeing new things starting to grow in my garden

When hubby not only makes dinner but also does the dishes afterwards.

5 things that annoy me:

When my internet connection dropout

Incompetent and rude salespeople

Incompetent people in general

Government inconsistencies

The cat constantly wanting to go in and out. (I would put in a cat door but have o place to put one)

5 things I cannot live without:

My hubby

My family and friends

My books

My iPod

My computer

5 cars I have owned:

Ford Pinto (My first car)

Datsun 1600 Roadster

Ford Fiero

Mazda Miata

Volkswagen Golf

5 of the best concerts I have attended:

Paul McCartney and Wings

Joni Mitchell

Eric Clapton

Led Zeppelin

Elton John (with just him and a piano)

5 favorite restaurants around town I would be seen in:

Marque IV (Modern Australian)

Maldini Cafe (Italian)

Mezethe's Greek Taverna (Greek)

Anapurna (Indian)

Mai Ake (Thai)

5 things I did today:

Checked my emails

Went out for breakfast

Went to the grocery store

Watched some television

Worked on this blog post

5 things in my refrigerator that I cannot live without:

Bottled water (only because I can not drink tap water)

Real milk (it's non-homogenized so the cream floats to the top. Basically straight from the cow)

Salad greens

My home made garlic butter

fresh fruit (currently apples(

5 things in my pantry that I cannot live without:

Cereal

Olive oil

My spices

All of my teas

Chai mix

Music makes the people...

(Loud scratching sound) Oh, sorry I was channeling Madonna there for a second. It's no wonder as I've been working very hard on a list of my favourite female singers and their songs. Funny thing is, Madonna didn't make the final list and I honestly do like her in fact I have a lot of her music. Some of her older stuff is really good IMHO, but in the end she just didn't make the list.

Anyway, I saw this list originally over at Spo-reflections who got the list from here. I wasn't sure I was up to the challenge which is to make a mix-tape of your favorite 15 songs (you know mix tapes, those things you used to make for your Girlfriend/Boyfriend or for your next party) . Spo-reflections made a very specific tape of just female singers. I decided to follow his lead but now I'm wondering if maybe I should have jut made the virtual tape of songs in general.

So, I went with the all female tape and it was really tough because when I made my first pass of all the female artist I have in my iTunes I ended up with 38 songs and I loved all of them. So then I had to drop 23 of them. I have to admit in a way it wasn't that hard because there were a few artist that I had several of their songs and to make the tape more interesting I thought it would be better to have only one song per artist. After the second pass I ended up with 26 songs which left me with 11 more to delete.

One more pass and I finalized my choices. I will say that I could probably make at least three mix tapes of just female artist. I hate to think of what it will be like trying to make one with just the male artist or better yet a complete mix up made up from my entire iTunes library. It does however leave me with the option to do just that and end up with at least two more post for later. So here is with out further adieu the 15 songs I have chosen for my first virtual mix tape that I'm calling "The Smokey and Sometimes Bluesy Ladies". Oh and one last thing I also have to tell you why I picked each song. Enjoy...

1. At Last - Cyndi Lauper: I've always liked Cyndi but never knew she had the pipes to carry this off. Apparently she does or at least I think so.
   
2. No More - Diana Ross: This is from the CD "Blue" which was supposed to be the follow up to her "Lady Sings the Blues" soundtrack but it was shelved for a while. Thankfully it finally made it's way into the light of day.
3. If I Can't Take It With Me - Eartha Kitt: Miss Kitt makes being rich fun.
4. Big Spender - Shirley Bassey: No one can sell it like Dame Bassey and even I could be persuaded to buy it from her and have a little fun, fun, fun...
5. Legend In My Living Room - Annie Lennox: That voice is smokin' and powerful and always will be no matter what she sings.
6. Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield: The original Lady of Blue-eyed soul. When she sings you believe it.
7. Do Yo Wanna Dance - Bette Midler: The Divine Miss M is usually sassy but she can be smooth and mellow when she wants to be.
8. Feeling Good - Nina Simone.: Nina just makes me feel good
9. I Say A Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin: Aretha shows the rest how to add soul to a song
10. Blue - Joni Mitchell: You can feel soul of this song as Joni sings it.
11. Edith and the Kingpin - Herbie Hancock (Featuring Tina Turner): Now I know this is a remix of Joni Mitchell material by Mr. Hancock but the singer is Tina Turner so it counts and Miss Tina does not let me down.
12. Black coffee - k.d. Lang: This is off her "Shadowland" CD which was supposed to be full of country music but this song is as smokey and soulful as they come not to mention that it's sung by a voice that can melt your soul
13. Fever - Grace Knight: Ms. Knight is an Australian artist with a small following. Personally I think she does a pretty good job with this classic.
14. Travlin' Light - Queen Latifah: When Queen Latifah steps away from her Hip-Hop style she takes on a totally different persona and that's one that I really like. You should also try out her other CD The Dana Owens Album (Queen Latifah's real name)
15. Stormy Weather - Billie Holiday: Miss Billie just oozes soul so much that you can feel the humidity

There you have it my first virtual mix tape. Its probably not every ones taste but I think it works.

All television all the time...

I stole this from here. Thanks Nathan. The meme is all about television and ask the question what's your favourite. so without further adieu here are my choices. Enjoy...

• Favourite Comedy: Kath and Kim
• Favourite Drama: Boston Legal
• Favourite Reality: Project Runway
• Favourite Mystery: Prime Suspect
• Favourite Animated: The Family Guy
• Favourite Talk Show: The Ellen Degeneres Show
• Favourite Show That Ended Too Soon: Rome
• Favourite New Show: Pushing Daisies

What are your favourites?

When you got nothing else...

...do a meme. So, for your reading enjoyment here is five for Friday, as it is Friday here in the land down under. Enjoy...

1. What are your favorite kinds of flowers?

That's a tough one because we have so many to choose from in our garden but at the end of the day I have to say roses.

2. Do you have any cut flowers in your home or office right now? What kinds?

Yes, we have flowers from our garden in the house right now. We have two different types of jonquils (what I call baby daffodils), yellow ones and double-headed white ones. The scent they bring to house is amazing for such a small flower.

3. Are you growing/planting any live flowers inside or outside your home? What kinds and where?

We have a small established and well laid out garden with four different beds in the back and three in the front. We have three different climbing rose bushes and nineteen additional standard rose bushes throughout the beds. Along with the jonquils we also have full size daffodils, dahlias, tulips, bearded irises, carnations, hyacinths, foxgloves, peony's and lavender. We also have a huge rhododendron (it looks just like the one in the top picture of the link) and a camellia bush, each of which is over 80 years old. (Remember our house is over 115 years old) We have a few other kinds of flowers but I can't remember their names. They all bloom at different times so starting about now I can have different cut flowers in my house almost every week.

4. Which flowers do you associate with specific people, places, or events?

Roses I associate with my mum because they are her favourites.

5. When was the last time you were given flowers as a gift?

About two months ago, because we were in the beginning of winter and nothing was blooming in the garden, James bought me some for no reason which he does on occasion and it is such a nice surprise because as I said it is for no other reason than he wants to/loves me.

Reading is fundamental

As winter sets in here in the land down under it seems to be the most logical time to get in some good reading time. It's a bit cold to go outside and nothing is nicer then curling up on the couch with a good book. I've always liked to read and sometimes I would read for days on end. Then other times I get easily distracted or maybe the book just isn't that great. Anyway, I thought I would share some of my most recent reads along with my current read and those to be read. So without further adieu, my current reading material is:

Mississippi Sissy by Kevin Sessums

Recent reads have included:

• The Kid: What Happened After My Boyfriend and I Decided to Go Get Pregnant by Dan Savage
• Light Before Day by Christopher Rice
• Running with Scissors: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs

Books still to be read include but not limited to:

• Eragon (Inheritance, Book 1) by Christopher Paolini
• Eldest (Inheritance, Book 2) by Christopher Paolini
• Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
• Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan
• The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1) by Jonathan Stroud
• The Golem's Eye (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 2) by Jonathan Stroud
• Ptolemy's Gate (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 3) by Jonathan Stroud
• The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
• Michael Tolliver Lives by Armistead Maupin
• My First Five Husbands..And the Ones Who Got Away by Rue McClanahan
• The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir by Bill Bryson

So, there you have it, quite a menagerie of reading material but I like to keep it all over the shop. I like everything from pure fantasy, thought provoking things, just plain good reads and good old true stories. It also looks like I have a lot of books on my shelves So, I best get reading! What have you read lately, currently reading or plan on reading?

(I linked all of the books in case you might be interested in finding out more not because I think you should buy them from Amazon)

TV Dinners...

I know I said I would put up a real post but once again I'm just not feeling it so I'm going for another meme. In some ways it's not cheating because you do get to find out quirky stuff about me and my life. It's really like being interviewed and even though I'm not a celebrity I can feel like one. I have been so into cooking lately with my new cook top and oven. That I figured it would be appropriate to do a meme on cooking. This particular meme is about cooking and television. I love watching LifeStyle FOOD channel here in Australia. I think it's fascinating watching people create things. I'm always afraid to mix certain ingredients for fear they taste like crap and I'll have to throw it all away and that would be such a waste of food. So anyway on to today's meme and it goes like this:

1. Favorite TV Chef: Jamie Oliver, I know it seems to be an obvious pick but I find him easy to watch, what can I say

2. Favorite TV Cooking Personality: John Torode and Gregg Wallace from Masterchef Goes Large. I would love to test all the food that they get served up to them by the contestants.

3. Favorite TV Dinner: I don't do a lot of TV dinners but if I had to pick one it would be Heinz Steam Fresh Honey Mustard Chicken

4. Favorite Watching TV Movie Snack: Popcorn, it's not original but it's what I like

So there you go, wasn't that intriguing. I bet you were on the edge of your seat and I'm sure you found some of my answers shocking to say the least. It just goes to show you how little you know a person.

Movies, movies, movies

Well, I said I would post and here it is even though it's only a meme and not a post that I had to think very hard about but I did make the effort and it's still better than no post at all. Anyway, the following list is from the American Film Institute and it is what they say are the 100 Top Movies people should see. I have highlighted the ones I've seen and at the end you are supposed to add three that are not on their list. So without further adieu...

1. CITIZEN KANE (1941)
2. CASABLANCA (1942)
3. THE GODFATHER (1972)
4. GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
6. THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
7. THE GRADUATE (1967)
8. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
9. SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
10. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)
11. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
12. SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
13. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
14. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
15. STAR WARS (1977)
16. ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
17. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
18. PSYCHO (1960)
19. CHINATOWN (1974)
20. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
21. THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
22. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
23. THE MALTESE FALCON (1941)
24. RAGING BULL (1980)
25. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
26. DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
27. BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)
28. APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
29. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
30. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
31. ANNIE HALL (1977)
32. THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)
33. HIGH NOON (1952)
34. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
35. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
36. MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)
37. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
38. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
39. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)
40. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
41. WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
42. REAR WINDOW (1954)
43. KING KONG (1933)
44. THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)
45. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951)
46. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
47. TAXI DRIVER (1976)
48. JAWS (1975)
49. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)
50. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)
51. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)
52. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)
53. AMADEUS (1984)
54. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
55. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
56. M*A*S*H (1970)
57. THE THIRD MAN (1949)
58. FANTASIA (1940)
59. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
60. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
61. VERTIGO (1958)
62. TOOTSIE (1982)
63. STAGECOACH (1939)
64. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
65. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
66. NETWORK (1976)
67. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)
68. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951)
69. SHANE (1953)
70. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)
71. FORREST GUMP (1994)
72. BEN-HUR (1959)
73. WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)
74. THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
75. DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
76. CITY LIGHTS (1931)
77. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
78. ROCKY (1976)
79. THE DEER HUNTER (1978)
80. THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
81. MODERN TIMES (1936)
82. GIANT (1956)
83. PLATOON (1986)
84. FARGO (1996)
85. DUCK SOUP (1933)
86. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)
87. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
88. EASY RIDER (1969)
89. PATTON (1970)
90. THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)
91. MY FAIR LADY (1964)
92. A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)
93. THE APARTMENT (1960)
94. GOODFELLAS (1990)
95. PULP FICTION (1994)
96. THE SEARCHERS (1956)
97. BRINGING UP BABY (1938)
98. UNFORGIVEN (1992)
99. GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)

Out of 100 I've seen 48. almost half. What three movies would I add to the list?

101. Auntie Mame (Rosalind Russel)
102. Born Yesterday (Judy Ho1liday)
103. The Philadelphia Story (Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant)

What three would you add?

What can I say, I like to smell pretty...

I ran into this little bit of fun here. So I thought I would give it a go and apparently according to the test this is how I rate:

I don't think I can even buy Old Spice here in Australia and even if I could I wouldn't. It just doesn't do it for me, but the little test was fun. Click on the tag to see how you rate. Enjoy...

Filler...

After that last post I happened upon this new meme and although it doesn't require a lot of thinking as far as creative thinking goes. It did require some thought as to the answers. So for better or worse here is another list and a bit of filler.

1. What is your occupation? Retired
2. What color are your socks right now? Barefoot
3. What are you listening to right now? The morning silence
4. What was the last thing you ate? Prawn cutlets and chips (Fried shrimp and french fires for the Americans)
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes, but rather not now that I drive on the opposite side of the road as it would be to much to think about and stay on the left side of the road at the same time.
6. What is your favorite color? Blue
7. Last person you talked to on the phone? Our friend Wayne (the bear-child) to discuss dates for a BBQ
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? I stole this, but the person I stole it from seems nice
9. How old are you today? 49 and counting
10. Favorite drink: Pepsi, Merlot with dinner and hot chocolate in the winter
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? Australian Football League
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? No
13. Pets? Molly Brown (cat)
14. Favorite foods? You name it I probably like it, except beets
15. What was the last movie you watched? Torch Song Trilogy, and oldie but goody in my eyes
16. Favorite day of the year? Got to be Christmas I love all the decorations and food
17. What do you do to vent anger? I usually internalise and if that doesn't work I yell
18. What was your favorite toy as a child? GI Joe w/jeep
19. What is your favorite Fall or Spring? Fall all the way. The colours changing and the cooler weather just put a skip in my step
20. Hugs or kisses? Hugs as there is nothing better especially if it ends in a big cuddle
21. Cherry or Blueberry? Can't choose have to have both
22. Do you want your friends to email you back? Hell yes! I wasn't writing to watch myself type.
23. Who is most likely to respond? My mum
24. Who is least likely to respond? ??? I don't think anyone has not ever responded
25. Living arrangements? Two bedroom home that is over 115 years old and in great condition and living with the love of my life my husband
26. When was the last time you cried? When my dad passed away last year
27. What is on the floor of your closet? shoes
28. Who is the friend you're sending this to that has been your friend the longest? I don't usually tag people for meme's and I'm not going to start now
29. What did you do last night? Went down to the wharf to get fresh fish and chips and then sat out on our back deck looking at all of the stars in the sky
30. What is your favorite smell? Anything baking (pies, cakes, cookies, etc.)

I stole this from here who had stole it from here.

Another list...

I've been borrowing a lot of things/ideas from other bloggers lately but I still have to fill them out and do the post so in a way I am writing something. I know it's lazy but you still get to know something else about my life. Anyway I got this from Brad who borrowed it from someone else. Enjoy....

A- Available or single? Neither, very happily attached
B- Best Friend? My other half James
C- Cake or Pie? My Peanut Butter pie
D- Drink of Choice? Pepsi
E- Essential Item? iPod
F- Favorite Color? Brown
G- Gummi Bears or Worms? Neither
H- Hometown? Originally Dallas via New Orleans but I consider Hobart, Tasmania home now
I- Indulgence? Eating breakfast out every morning
J- January or February? Neither as they are both summer months here in the Southern Hemisphere. So prefer June/July being winter here
K. Kids and names? Daughter- Erin, Cat - Molly
L- Life is incomplete without? James
M- Marriage Date? Not allowed to marry
N- Number of Siblings? 1 real brother, 1 half brother and 5 step brothers (Both parents re-married)
O- Oranges or apples? Both
P- Phobias/Fears? I hate snakes
Q- Favorite Quote? "Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death. You got to live, live live!" Auntie Mame
R- Reason to Smile? I'm alive and I have James
S- Season? Fall, love the colours
T- Tag three people! I hate doing that, so I agree with Brad, do the list if you want...
U- Unknown Fact About Me? If I told you it wouldn't be unknown....
V-Vegetable you hate? Beetroot (beets to Americans) Australians love it and eat it on everything sandwiches salads etc.
W- Worst habit? Stressing about things I can't control
X- X-Rays you’ve had? Everything from top to bottom at one point or another...
Y- Your favorite food? I like food period!
Z- Zodiac? Scorpio true to nature!

Update: After writing this and showing it to James he said he felt a bit as if he were being stalked. I find that funny seeing that we have lived together for going on nine years. I must be a pretty successful stalker. I realise it looked a little like I was a bit obsessed with him but the reality is that he is the love of my life and I will continue to stalk him to the ends of the earth. (GRIN)