I am getting ready to go on a bus trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, with my Mom.  I’ve tried to come up with some “Tennessee”-type questions.  I’ve actually come up with 6 questions this week, but feel free to answer only 5:

1. Graceland is in Memphis, Tennessee.  I won’t be going there, but what are your feelings about Elvis?
Well I don’t have  any specific feeling for him one way or another. I do like some of his music like Jailhouse Rock and  Hound Dog. I definitely like him better in his younger years.  Also…I do believe that he is dead.  Funny story though…why my best friend moved to Las Vegas in 2003 I went with her when she went down to take some of their stuff down on the first trip.  During that trip she was buying some furniture for her room and the furniture salesman looked just like elvis (the young elvis). I bet he was an impersonator with a day job.

2. I will be visiting the Smoky Mountain National Park.  Which National Parks have you been to?  What did you think?

I have only been to one National Park that I recall and that was Zion National Park in Utah. I thought it was gorgeous and would highly suggest anyone visit if they are going through southern Utah.

3. I will also get to go to Dollywood, an Entertainment Park.  Have you been to any amusement parks?  Which one was your favorite?  Do you like roller coasters?  Tell me about the scariest roller coaster (or other ride) that you have been on.

I am a big fan of amusement parks…but not a big fan of rollercoasters. I LOVE Disneyland (and am planning to go in NOVEMBER).  I also have been to Paramount’s Great America in Santa Clara, CA, Universal Studios in California, Knotts Berry Farm in California….and I don’t know if you can count this but the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk and the Pier in Santa Monica both have rides on them…and I have been there too.

4. My Mom and I will be taking in a lot of variety-type shows featuring music and comedy.  Most of the music seems to be billed as “Gospel, Bluegrass, and Americana music”.  Do you like this type of music?  If so, recommend a CD to me.

I don’t know if I like it or not…I can honestly say that I don’t think I have been exposed to a lot of it. I will be interested to see what the other MI-5ers say about it.

5. This will be the furthest I have gone by bus or car.  How far have you gone in a bus or car?  Where did you go?  If you were not doing the driving, how did you pass the time?  (I’m considering buying a Nintendo DS, a Playstation Portable, or a Game Boy Advance to pass the time on the bus—anyone have any recommendations about any of those?)

In high school I went on a bus trip that took nearly 12 hours. I was only 436 miles though. We went to Ashland Oregon for a week with my AP BRITISH LITERATURE class to the Ashland Oregan Shakepeare Festival.  It was great fun to travel that far on the bus with my friends.  I probably took a book but I doubt that I read to much on the trip. I probably spent most of the time gabbing. I don’t understand why it took 12 hours though when driving the 500 miles to Las Vegas to visit my friend only takes me about 8.

6. We will also get to do a lot of outlet shopping.  Do you like outlet shopping?  What outlets are your favorites?

There are some outlet shops in Monterey which is a about 15 miles away or so. But they aren’t that great…so when I want to shop outlets I go to the Outlets in Gilroy! They rock!

1) Blueberry Morning. What’s your morning routine? Let’s say from the time you get up until you hit work (or 9am, whichever comes first).

Roxy wakes me up around 5:30 wanting out. I walk her through the house (to make sure she makes it out) and open the back door and let her out. I go back to bed and sleep until my alarm goes off at 6:30 at which time I promptly and emphatically hit the snooze button. I finally drag myself out of bed at 6:45 to get up. I shower, and dress which usually puts me right about 7:15ish. Depending on what is going on at work I may or may not put on some makeup. I then try to grab something to eat…usually a yogurt or breakfast bar and then I rush out at like 7:40ish to drive to work. I walk in and start off my morning in front of a computer.

2) Berry Krispies. Snap, Crackle, and Pop have been around a long time. Who are your three favorite cereal characters? Why?

Well I am a big fan of honeycombs and golden grahams…and I think that both of their characters are bears if I am correct. Also..the sugar Smaks frog!

3) Eggo Maple Syrup Cereal. “Leggo my Eggo!” What item do you have from childhood can’t you let go of?

I have a book called Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present that was given to me on Easter that I love…it was a bad easter for me…I ended up in the ER having doctors pluck cactus spines from my hand because I tripped and fell into a cactus garden with some pretty nasty cactuses in it…and at some point afterwards (I was pretty little so I don’t remember the specifics) we ended up going to the house of my uncle’s mother…who gave me the book. And I LOVED it…and still do. I wish I still had my little golden book of THE WAIT-FOR-ME Kitten…but it is gone.

4) Banana Nut Crunch. You’re feeling a little bananas, and you have 15 minutes to clear your head. What do you do?

Go for a walk…preferably with Roxy (unless I am at work…in which case I just go for a walk alone).

5) Cracklin’ Oat Bran. This one came with a free mail-in offer for a DVD. What was the last DVD (or movie) you watched? Why did you pick it?

View From The Top because I just got it from netflix! I liked it. It was a cute movie.

What? I am doing the MI-5 on a Saturday? Why? Because I am working all day today…(and tomorrow) so why not.

Labor Day is coming and for many people that spells a sort of end to
the formal summer.  This week we look back a bit at summer.

1.  What was the best thing you did this summer as in most fun or
most positive?

Hmmm…I went to Vegas recently..and despite my car trouble it was fun. Pretty much for me I have been working all summer.

2.  What accomplishment did you want to make this summer that you
wanted to make?

I enter the county fair every year. Usually I enter home arts- something that I have crocheted. I did that this year too (my purse won a blue ribbon…).  This year I got wiley and picked two of my favorite photographs to enter in the fair.  I entered them in the Digital Photography category.  They were pictures I had taken with my Sony (you know..the camera that I didn’t like) that is just a little point and shoot type camera.  Nothing fancy.

I was thrilled to death to get Honorable Mentions for both of them. THRILLED. Because I was up against people with digital SLRs and people who…you know take photos a lot.  It thrilled me to death and I plan on working really hard on my photos for next year.

3.  Was there anything you wanted to do this summer that you were
unable to do?

Not that I can think of…

4.  Is there anything you want to get done before the true end of
summer in a few more weeks?

BFM is coming for a visit in a couple of weeks. It will be a quick one to the REN FAIRE which I haven’t been to since she moved to Vegas in 2003- so that will be fun.

5.  Do you have any thoughts about next summer and anything you want
to do?

I want to be in a different place (not physically…but emotionally). That is all I will say.

I really like upbeat, positive, easy MI-5 questions. This time, however, I thought I�d go with something deep, awkward, and thought-provoking. The topics are not my favorite topics to write about, but now no one can accuse me of only preparing �easy� questions. I will list the topic, and you can say as much, or as little, as you�d like. You can express your own view, or you can talk about the issue in light of today�s political climate, or tell some story that relates somehow to the topic. Here goes:

Political Parties

For some reason, people are usually surprised to find out that I am a registered and proud Republican. I am. I wasn’t always- however. When I first registered to vote I signed up as a democrat- because that is what both of my parents were signed up as. I stayed this way until I took my first Political Science class. It was during polisci that I realized that my friend had been right- I am much more republican that I am democrat- so I reregistered as a republican.

Abortion

This is one topic I disagree with most party-line republicans about however. Personally I don’t think that abortion should be a polical issue at all. The government should stay out of it. It is a medical issue that should be decided by a woman and her doctor. If the woman’s morales and ethics are anti-abortion then the doctor should respect that. If the woman’s morales and ethics are pro-abortion- then the doctor sould respect that as well.

Gun Control

I don’t think gun control works. It is meant to keep weapons out of the hands of unsavory individuals who intend to use the weapons to do harm. What it does do is keep certain weapons out of the hands of the general public…however the criminals still manage to get their hands on them.

I have been raised around firearms. I have a very healthy respect for what they can do. I know how to properly handle a firearm. I think anyone who has firearms in their house should be required to keep safeties on them- especially if there are children in the house. I mean really use your head (why people can’t use their heads is beyond me): If you have weapons in your house and you have children spend the time to educate your children that weapons are not toys. Keep the ammunition in a separate locked box. Oh and did I mention teaching your children about weapons. My brother and I didn’t shoot our feet off or kill our cat or neighbor accidently because we knew better. We were taught where in the house the guns were. And we were told not to touch them. And you can be damn sure that they were not loaded.

Prayer in Schools

Prayer should not be mandatory in school. Religion should not be taught in public schools- however I think that it gets a bit out of control.

The word GOD should NOT be taken out of the pledge. If a student doesn’t believe in God…don’t say the pledge…or just omit the word God. Students who choose NOT to say the pledge should NOT be punished.

A student sitting at lunch who chooses to say grace, prays towards mecca or any other show of religious affiliation should not be punished unless it somehow disrupts learning or is a health hazard to other students.

School is suppose to foster children…and making them feel like their religion is bad fosters nothing.

Katie Couric, Brian Williams, or Charlie Gibson? Someone else? (I needed to do at least one question that was somewhat �fun�!)

Anderson Cooper is hot. Other than that I read about 99.9% of my news. I don’t watch televised new coverage…so I couldn’t tell you.

This one is brought to you by the number 5! (and the color orange).

1. What are five things about you that people might be surprised to find out?

That I am afraid of eucalyptus trees (I know I have said it before but it surprised you didn’t it?). That in high school I was a Golden State Scholar in Geometry…but that was the only subject. I am obsessive about using those gel hand sanitizers. Lizards creep me out. I have a thing for pink flamingos!

2. Name five favorite ___blogs_________ (fill in the blank and then answer).

Of course these aren’t my only favorites…but you will definitely want to check them out if you haven’t already.

Echoesofadream
Zoot
Billy Rhythm
Fond of Snape
RockstarMommy

3. Name five favorite songs.

I’m in a country state of mind lately:

Boondocks- Little Big Town
Making Memories of Us- Keith Urban
Rodeo- Garth Brooks
How Do You Like Me Know-Toby Keith
Arlington- Trace Atkins

4. Five favorite TV shows, Songs, or Books (you pick). Yeah I know Songs twice was stupid of me.

TvShows:
CSI
SVU
Days of Our Lives (I know I know…don’t even go there)
Hells Kitchen
TV Land (ok I know that is technically a station and not a show…but pretty much unless they are playing a Miami Vice marathon I will watch.)

5. Name five of your least favorite ____foods__________ (fill in the blank and then answer).

Cauliflower (there is nothing flowery about it. Yuck!), Lamb, Liver (or any internal organs of any animal), Fish (I will eat some fish…but most I will not), porkchops.

The Blues MI-5 by Jim

We had the blues festival here in Rockland last weekend. I have found that they left some behind when they packed up and left town. I seem to have gotten them.

1. Are you a likable person, the kind that people want to be around?

I like to think I am likeable most of the time…I am sure that I have my moments (doesn’t everyone?) but overall I consider myself the kind of person someone might like to be around.

2. Do you have a lot of friends or just a few? What do you think the quality of your friends are? (close, acquaintance etc…)

Well…I have a few really close friends…with whom I can confide anything…and then I have a larger circle of acquaintance type people.

3. If you meet someone on the street that you knew from years ago or maybe met just once do they usually say hi to you or pass you by with maybe a glance?

It depends on the person…most of them usually say Hi if the recongnize me. I do have one particular person though…who actually use to be part of my little clique in high school and for some reason unbeknownst to me…she would go six blocks out of her way just to avoid me. Not sure why…

4. In your free time are you a social butterfly or a loner or somewhere in between?

I am inbetween. Sometimes I want nothing more than myself, a venti iced black tea lemonade 7 pump valencia ice to the top, and a good book. Other times I would want to be out with people…shopping, hanging out, whatever.

5. How has your week gone? When was the last time you had the blues? Tell us more.

My week has gone by fast. It is already friday and I can’t believe it. I think the fact that I was moved from my old office to this nice shiny new one is a contributor to that. The last time I had the blues? Probably Fourth of July weekend. Usually whenever I spend time with my best friend…the time immediately afterwards…sucks.

1. What is under your bed?

A shoebox of letters. On the fourth of July there was half a beagle hinding under my bed.

Click for more…

2. What do you see when you close your eyes?

Darkness! What do you see?

3. Tell us about a news story that you really feel is over - despite the press continuous coverage. And why?

Most of them. I get tired real quick of the news and the way it drives something into the ground. It makes me mad…and quickly bores me to tears.

4. What’s on top of your fridge?

A green clay pot filled with lots of little things like tiny light bulbs, screws and other little widgets. A basket holding Roxy’s leashes and other walking accessories (hatler, easylead, zippy leash, regular leash, and poopoo baggies). A manila envelope with some important papers.

5. People often don’t tell us what they are really thinking. Who is the one person you would really like to know what they are thinking (as far as how they feel about you), and why?

Well I know she isn’t a person…but Roxy has these little facial expressions…and usually they are seemingly very appropriate for the situation…so I would love to know what she is thinking.

It was my turn to make up the questions and I totally forgot! Thank goodness Billy reminded me!

1. A meal is being prepared in your honor. What is prepared (include specific dishes and don’t forget dessert as this is a special occasion!)? Who is invited? Why are you being honored? Do you give a speech?

Oh who am I kidding…who the heck would want to prepare a meal in my honor?!? But let’s just say one was…it would be probably for something I did…like Best Customer Service or something foolish like that work related (at our annual retreat-that I am hoping we are forgetting this year- they give silly awards like that). Since I get to pick the meal…we will start with abalone as an appetizer mostly because I have always wanted to try it but am to cheap to buy it (because what if I end up no liking it?). There would be your traditional soup/salad course…where it would just be a good normal salad…or tomato bisque soup. Main entree would be diner’s choice of either teryaki chicken with a side of vegatable stirfry, a nice steak and vegatable, or a shrimp pasta deal…depending on my mood (and how I felt about the abalone) I would have the chicken or the shrimp. Dessert? That would hopefully a Blackberry Bavarian Creme pie Yum.

2. Your neighbor accidently backs into your car and gives it a nice sized dent. The dent is for the most part purely cosmetic in nature. The neighbor is a nice guy…and also doesn’t really want insurance companies to get involved. He gives you the option: have his friend (whom you don’t know at all) fix for you or take it to a repair shop. What do you choose and why?

Ok…Billy caught me on this one…I was stuck with this one recently. I actually ended up taking it to a repair shop for an estimate. I am hoping the neighbor doesn’t get mad…but I don’t know what kind of work his friend does…but my neighbors daughter backed his truck into a tree or something (the same one who hit me) and his truck is still in bondo…and I LOVE my car…and don’t want to drive around with bondo for a month. My neighbor is out of town this weekend…so I have the estimate and I will give it to him next week when he comes back. He told me to do what ever made me feel comfortable…and this makes me feel more comfortable…but slightly guilty.

3. You win a trip to any place OUTSIDE of the United States. Where do you go? You can take only two people with you…who do you take?

I would take BFM and my mom…and we would go to AUSTRALIA!!!! I have always been fascinated with Australia…and would LOVE to go.

4. Now let’s talk about work. You bend over backwards to get something done quickly for someone as a courtesy because of the situation- something that requires you to call on other people to do YOU a favor to get it done. They don’t say thank you and the next time they require something of you they expect it to be done just as fast. What do you do?

Well…this happens to me A LOT. Everyone who calls me thinks that their problem is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER! Plus I have trouble saying NO admittedly. But if you take continual advantage of me trying to get things done for you on a moments notice…I will eventually tell you that I have 16 other jobs (or however many I have ahead of you in my work queue) and that I will gladly do it for you if YOU call each of them up and explain why your job is more important than theirs. (I can be evil sometimes can’t I???) Ok so that sounded good…but I don’t have the backbone to ACTUALLY say that but don’t think I don’t think it!!! I usually just do it when I can fit it in.

5. If you could start A NEW hobby…any hobby…(money is NO object) what would it be?

I would take up either learning an instrument…(guitar or piano probably) or I become a purpetual class taker at a university and just fill my head full of knowledge until it exploded.