TPBM #94 - Haydn's Surprise Symphony

The prervious poser was: TPBM likes the Ramones.

Not particularly, but I used to see them on the Uncle Flloyd Show way back when, before they made it big.

TPBM knows of Uncle Flloyd.

He owes me money!

TPBM knows Ziggy Freud.

>1 WholeHouseLibrary: //ahhhhh the days when Floyd and the gang were on channel 68. While it's not as crazy as the TV show was, Floyd now does a radio show Mondays from 6-9AM on 89.1 WFDU-FM HD1 in the NYC area. You can listen live on the web (www.wfdu.fm) and via various other means, or else to an archived show for two weeks after it airs. He plays a lot of novelty songs and stuff going back decades.//

Let's just say that if he posted on Twitter and I knew how to, I would follow him.

He lived for a time just down the road from where I was brought up. I believe you can still see his couch there.

TPBM worries abut their dreams

I do when I wake up - especially this morning. I need to start writing them down so I can worry about them again later!

TPBM knows that everybody dreams but never remembers dreaming.

I used to never remember dreams but I do now. I liked it better when I didn't remember.

TPBM needs to clean house but is in the middle of a great book.

Just a couple, yes - Orwell and Le Carre. But I only need to wash a few crocks, i leave the real cleaning to SWMBO.
//On dreaming - i have noticed of late that mine have become super-fast replays?//

TPBM keeps a diary

I've tried and tried. But it never lasts. I wish I could then I could look up stuff to see when it happened!

The person below me keeps a journal or a diary.

I used to. When, as an adult, my passion for astronomy surfaced (again), I decided I'd journal my observations. So, I wrote it (freehand) as letters to Galileo, because, really, the optics I had were of the same relative quality and everything he observed was new, as it was for me -- so who better would understand?
Well, my wife (the first one) read them, and laughed derisively about it. I was kind of, sort of used to that from her, but she went ten steps farther and would tell everyone about it, and took great pleasure into publicly ridiculing me -- and ~her~ friends agreed with her and mocked me as well. So, I stopped. Haven't had the desire to go there again even though I divorced her almost eighteen years ago. And she tried to use it in the divorce trial as evidence that I was an unfit parent. (I ended up with full custody of our three sons.)

Now I feel like I need a brain shower to wash all that negativity away.

TPBM will tell us something light and cheerful, please.

Boston Red Sox won their third straight from
the visiting Yankees
(cheerful, if you're Red Sox Nation)

TPBM has seen at least one ML baseball
game live this season.

10 WHL - I think it sounds pretty clever. It would be much more interesting reading and probably writing as letters to Galileo. Your ex sounds like an idiot. I'm glad you have the new Mrs.!

No, not a sports fan.

//>12 xorscape: I agree about WHL's ex.//

TPBM has been to the Big Apple.

Several times on business in the early '70s, and quite a few times when I lived in Connecticut 1976-1982.

TPBM has been to every state in the US.

No, only to all the New England states,
plus CA, DC, DL, FL, HI, IL, KY, MD, NJ, NY,
NV, PA, VA, WY (Not counting states that I only
passed through on the bus, or saw nothing of
them but their major airport)

TPBM has spent time in (not just seen) at least
five of the above 20.

If I'm remembering the New England states I've been in correctly, I've been in 15 of them at least over night. Except for a few of them, all the stays were for the purpose of meeting people from online.

TPBM likes to collect a specific item from each state.

I tend to be cliché and collect refrigerator magnets. Of course, I did come back with some great bourbon from Kentucky...

The person below me has better souvenirs.

Pictures, and rocks.

TPBM has a printer that can handle pictures, but never uses it to print them.
(I've got more photo paper than I'll ever use, and haven't bought any in over 10 years.)

How did you know, WHL? I've got 5x7 and 8/12 photo paper, a lovely Brother printer, and haven't printed a picture on photo paper on this printer, which I've had 2 years. The Brother is such an ink hog, and printers are cheap and ink expensive!

TPBM has been scanning old photos into their computer.

No, but that's a good idea and now I have to add that to my list of things to get around to sometime. God that list is long...

TPBM also has a long list.

Actually I just took 'scanning the photos' off the long list. I just packaged all my negatives from the days when I used film, and am sending them to a company that will scan them and send back a dvd of digital copies. I make a calendar for friends and family every year, using my landscape and nature pics, and the pics need to be in digital form to upload. It is quite a long list - I'm sending almost 1000 negatives, and then will have to sort and process them.

TPBM still uses film.

Gah! No, across the board I'm almost completely digital now.

//>10 WholeHouseLibrary: Whool, in my world writing letters to Galileo would make you some kind of hero. Congrats on sorting that problem out.//

TPBM knows a famous author.

Knew. Past tense, and it's not like we ever hung out or exchanged phone numbers, but I met Frank McCourt At the Texas Book Festival about 5 years ago. We talked for a good 15 minutes, just he and I, and I felt we made a connection. He did most of the talking. Sadly, he died about 6 months later.

TPBM (also) knows a famous author.

No, but I corresponded with some back in the early days of LT when I was trying to get pictures for the author pages. I do know some unknown authors, some self-published authors and some wanting-to-be published authors.

I did meet Barbara Rosenblat at a presentation she did at our local library for those of you who listen to books. She is one of my favorites. Could anyone do Amelia Peabody better?

The person below me has favorites.

Absotootley!

TPBM bumped off a famous author.

A pedestal? Maybe.

The person below me gets irritated easily.

Yes, but hydrocortisone takes care of it.

TPBM participated in yesterday's Pirate Treasure Hunt.

Yes, I figured out 10 of them all by myself, and needed a few hints to get the rest.

TPBM is fiercely independent.

More like quietly independent.

TPBM missed the Pirate Treasure Hunt like I did...sniff, sniff :(

>29 morningwalker: ///You still have an hour to search!///

Yup. Missed it completely. I'm not very good at talking like a pirate, anyway.

Had the Krispy Kreme doughnut shop been closer, however, we would have gone for doughnuts yesterday. Talk like a pirate get one free, wear 3 items of pirate costume and get a dozen. But 60 miles round trip is a bit much.....

TPBM walks to the local doughnut shop.

When I lived in DC I could get everything I needed by walking. Now I have to drive everywhere.

TPBM shelters in place.

No, I like to shuffle around a bit.

//>thanks 30. I got 6 and then work kept interfering with working on them and now a client is coming in so I don't know if I will get any more. Wow I haven't thought this hard in a while!!//

TPBM thinks too much.

Some people don't think so.

Had a critique meeting last night with my writing group. We suspended our "polite feedback" rule so we could provide it in pirate-speak. Pretty damn funny.

I went to the TLaP link, but couldn't wrap my head around what I was looking for or what I was supposed to do. Serves me right for looking at it with only one cup of coffee in me!

TPBM works on jigsaw puzzles.

It depends on what you mean by "workS",
to paraphrase a much-ridiculed presidentʻs
phrase. (In other words "Youʻve got the
tense wrong" --awkwardly expressed): I
did give jigsaws a try, as child. Never
completed one all by myself.

TPBM works on high-grade Sudoku.

The biggest one I ever finished was 16 X 16. Is that what you mean? I have done some ken-ken too which was kinda fun. Now I mostly stick with my electronic apps for Sudoku, standard 9 X 9.

The person below me attends a weekly card game.

No, but years ago played Pinochle with friends and sometimes games went on so long ended up having to spend the night.

TPBM will tell of a happy point in their past.

Last week at Costco I bought playing cards, dice, alcohol, rotisserie chicken, and coffee. I had a happy point weekend.

TPBM is happy all the time.

Nope. But I am anticipating a shipment of wine from California, which should brighten things up a bit.

TPBM prefers red to white.

Only in flowers.

TPBM bought a book yesterday.

No, but I gave two as birthday presents.

TPBM enjoys a good party.

If you mean me, pajamas, a dog on the lap, hot chocolate and a book, I'm in!

TPBM loves to go out on New Year's Eve.

I almost never go out on New Year Eve. The last time -- MrsHouseLibrary and I were still in the wooing process.

For the most part, I'm a homebody and don't even celebrate my birthday.

TPBM is a party animal.

Does the Independent party have an animal icon? I don't really identify with the elephant or donkey.

TPBM knows how to start a fight.

Well, being a fairly well-educated, liberal-leaning atheist in Texas, fights tend to erupt around me, but, I tend to walk away from fisticuffs; not my style. I'm a lover, not a fighter, although when given no alternative, I've held my own.

TPBM prefers the mountains to the shore.

I'll take either one.

TPBM will suggest a good Independent party animal icon.

A griffin.

TPBM has their third eye wide open.

Why, yes I did, for a brief and unappreciated moment in my 20s.

TPBM has read Carlos Castaneda.

I have his books cataloged under Fiction.

TPBM has had some weird experiences.

Sure! One time ... in band camp ...

TPBM can top that.

With whipped cream and a cherry.

TPBM will elevate the general tone.

Modulating ...

TPBM has a recent edition of the OED.

Well, no, but I do have one - 1971 as a matter of fact. It's condensed, two huge volumes, with a surprisingly good magnifying lens in a special little box in a pull-out tray. It's definitely needed to read the itty bitty words.

TPBM still hasn't gotten rid of their old multi-volume Encyclopedia.

Which one? I have at least four. Encyclopedia Americana, The American Peoples Encyclopedia and two Danish ones (plus my wife has one too).

TPBM has a rubber bible.

?? Is that anything like a rubber check??

TPBM doesn't even use checks anymore.

I keep them, but no- probably no more than one or two per year.

TPBM has more than one bank account.

Got forced into it by the credit union since we both were paid into our checking accounts and the primary name had to match the employee. But then, that was BLT (not a sandwich). Was a pain until I got the ability to move money around by computer! I could go to the bank now since I am gainfully unemployed but don't need to any more!!

TPBM has managed to survive without credit cards. How do you do it if you travel or need to rent a car?

Yes, savings and checking. And I don't like to write checks anymore either.

The person below me has those pretty checks with pictures on them (makes them hard to read but they are pretty).

Oops. Leaped.

No, I have credit cards and they get used more than they should. I hate surprises so I use cash more than any of my family or friends do.

Same TPBM from above...

I don't have any credit cards. I drove cross-country without a credit card, as a matter of fact. I haven't needed to rent a car since I don't remember when, so that's not an issue. Airlines and motels have been happy with my debit card.

I've had two husbands who maxed out my credit, so I've kinda just given up on it. For me, the aggravation factor outweighs the convenience factor. I don't have them, and except for rare occasions, don't miss 'em. Also, it makes me really, really strict about my budget.

TPBM can't even imagine.

No, I can't. I charge everything and never carry cash. I budget by the "electronic envelope method," so every purchase falls under a category, and if there's not money in the category, there's no purchase. Also, every purchase has to be backed by real money in the bank such that I could pay off the entire credit card at a moment's notice. So I have credit, but no debt. The card companies probably hate me.

Now if I could just manage my diet and housework with the same level of self-control...

TPBM has self-discipline

I do. It's not an option. Things must be in categories, with checklists, and maintained continually. Hooray Aspergers.

TPBM has a checklist in progress.

I have a checklist for my checklists!

Due to several factors, I have to maintain very tight control over, oh, what's in the food I eat (for example); how sentences are punctuated; managing what little money we've got now; being of help to others. But, regarding things I can be lax about -- music, conversation, and such, I have little control. It's the bicameral mind; I'm both ADD and CDO. Sometimes, MrsHouseLibrary becomes quite exasperated with me.

TPBM is consistently clearly understood by all.

I don't even understand myself.

TPBM has good neighbors.

I don't know - I only socialize with one of the 14 other families in the neighborhood. We see people as we drive in and out of the cul-de-sac, and one other neighbor does handyman stuff for us for a price if we need it. People mostly moved out here to be left alone.

TPBM likes to be in the swing of things.

Gods no, I'm a hermit. I was on the road for a fun but hectic six days and since I got back on Tuesday night, I haven't left the house. Caught a cold, too.

TPBM travels well.

I enjoy a short road, train or (rarely) plane trip a couple of times a year, but am quite contented vacationing at home with my music, books and tea.

I am currently experiencing said music, books and tea with my first cold of the season.

TPBM has a good home remedy.

Several, but it depends on the specific problem the home has.

TPBM Is handy at home repairs.

It depends on what the repair involves. I know enough about various things you might have to repair around a house to take care of them as long as they don't get too involved. My skills may have degraded a bit tho since I no longer own a house and haven't had to make any repairs in years.

TPBM prefers to leave it to the professionals.

I sure do. We just finished up some home repairs started 10 months ago. A friend's husband is a finish carpenter but can only work occasional weekends. He's very good and hardly charged us anything for his labor - his choice, we never asked for a discount. He replaced a slider with a window and put up sheet rock and hardiplank, replaced exterior 2 doors and 3 windows, repaired some outside trim and a front-porch column, and fixed 2 fence rails. The inside stuff he did we could probably have done except we're no good at it - adjusted several doors, adjusted several cabinet doors, fixed an electrical outlet, and replaced some sheet rock in the garage.

And next month we're going to have the exterior of the house power washed and painted and some interior walls/trim repainted too. Yay.

TPBM is considering downsizing.

If I did, where would I put my books?

TPBM has an answer.

When you figure it out tell me. My method of downsizing was to move 50 boxes of books to my daughter's home for the library on the third floor. Yes I checked the floor joists and they are full size 2 x 12 on 12" centers. When your house is built like that you don't have to worry about that (1900 twin!),

TPBM moved their books to the third floor and . . . . .

No, but I did move 50 12x12x16 boxes of books from NY to NC to OR. Never again. I used a commercial mover from NC to OR and got my household goods (mostly books) weeks late because every time they loaded them on a truck, the truck was overweight. For what it cost me, I could have replaced the whole lot.

TPBM had books on upper floors.

Yes, had and will have. The vast SGiV collection is broken up and scattered right now. The idea of having a third floor library seems achingly beautiful.

TPBM has a third floor ballroom.

If you count the attic as the third floor, and assume that at least one of daughter's toys (i.e., balls) made it into a box to the attic, which is highly probable, then yes, I have a third floor ball room.

//The idea of having a third floor library seems achingly beautiful. Sigh.//

TPBM has a huge attic.

No. Small, dark, full of insulation and mouse droppings. I would give all my books away before I'd store them up there.

TPBM has an attic that functions as more than just a space between the ceiling and the roof.

//I once visited the newly-built house of a friend of a friend, still mostly empty. The "attic" was all one room with wall to floor built-in bookcases and spacious tables. I ooh-ed and aaah-ed and the owner told me her husband was a collector of rare books. Even empty, the space was amazing.//

I don't have an attic. Just a crawl space. And a stupid flat roof. I swore I would never own a house with a flat roof, but I really liked the rest of this house so...

The person below has a basement. (I don't have one of those either.)

Well, it's more of a cellar. Laid up sandstone, partial dirt floor, spider webs, etc. Also have a crawl space under part of the house.

TPBM's favorite room is __________, because _____________. (two parter)

>73 SomeGuyInVirginia: //While it wasn't the house I lived in, when I lived in Paterson NJ with mom, one of the houses down the block DID have a third floor ballroom. It's mentioned in this article about the neighborhood//

http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303802904579334890179348668

My favorite room in my house is the master bedroom, because three walls have built-in bookshelves. It was the last room the Realtor showed us during the initial tour, and we made an offer right then. Of course, they are filled now and I need more shelves...

TPBM is taking care of business.

Everyday!

//Thanks for the link, rasta, very interesting and it must be nice!//

TPBM is dressing for Halloween.

I dress everyday. LOL

TPBM knows what SomeGuyInVirginia meant.

Costumes?

The person below me will be buying Halloween candy in order to eat it themselves.

Frugal shopping tip - shop on Nov 1st, all the candy is on sale, so you can justify buying twice as much! We live in the woods and don't get any trick-or-treaters so I only have to share with the husband.

>82 cal8769: We went to New Orleans for Halloween once; saw some of the greatest costumes ever. Then went back to Bourbon Street the next morning and found out that some of the ladies wear those leather-and-chain outfits every day.

TPBM is having a Halloween Party this year.

:( No, I used to because Halloween was my favorite holiday. I loved everything about it as a kid and carried that into adulthood and dressed up every year to give out candy and had parties. Now, I've lost the motivation and am thinking of getting rid of my 3 totes full of costume materials.

TPBM understands the aging process.

All too well. What I didn't understand was thinning hair runs in the family. Both my sisters use fancy expensive hair growth treatments. I wear hats.

TPBM knows how to hide a bald spot.

No, but I used to be really good at hiding blemishes with makeup. That's when I still wore makeup.

TPBM has no clue about what's fashionable for this fall.

You got that right. . . my idea of style is tee shirt with a pocket for the phone, jeans, suspenders and a vest with lots of pockets for my stuff. Saves sending the wallet through the wash.

TPBM knows the drill for replacing ____________ when you ___________ it.

1) A Timex; b) when you wash it. Yes! No need to, just dry it out and you're good to go. Or did I dry out Uncle Joe and had to buy a new watch? Oh well.

TPBM knows when to add ___________ to make a perfect ___________.

A. a write-in name B. ballot*
TPBM has at least once made a write-in
vote, or a vote for a 3rd Party or Independent.

*well, perfect, as far as your one
ballot is concerned; perfect election
result is not guaranteed.

I voted for John Anderson back in the day. My late husband was a strong supporter of Ralph Nader, but I don't think he ever got over Florida and its chads.

He had a tee shirt that said "Bush and Gore make me want to Ralph."

TPBM saw a good tee shirt.

I quite liked "Too old to die young".

TPBM often sloganizes their chest.

My shirt often advertises that I am secretly judging your grammar. Which, if it's on my shirt, it's not really secret, is it?

TPBM advertises for something else.

My shirt's slogan is "Vader-Palpatine 2016 - Join Us Or Die". I've been asked not to wear it to work...

TPBM prefers bumper stickers.

I like reading bumper stickers but don't have any on my car.

TPBM likes to try and figure out the personalized license plates on cars in front of them while waiting for a green light.

Absolutely. It's kind of a hobby. One of my favourites belonged to a husband and wife doctor team: PARADOX.

TPBM has seen a good personalized license plate. Or bumper sticker.

Yes, we saw a good one last week. Of course, I do not remember it now.(See 85 above)
//Had cataract surgery so could not see too well online.//

TPBM wishes to reply with a different theme.

//>97 John_Vaughan: hope you are doing better.//

//How is they eye, John? Can you see any better? I hope so. Yesterday I was wondering what you'd got up to- now I feel badly for not having written. Thanks for the update!//

//Too early to tell yet but at least I can now see to type - thanks!//

My theme is, as always, about summer's lease hathing all too short a stay.

TPBM will write a theme on 'What I want for Christmas'.

Christmas? Christmas!?! It's not even Halloween yet. It's not even Columbus Day yet.

However, for Christmas I want my daughter home for a week, interesting stocking stuffers (I usually get those), Un Jardin sur le Nil eau de perfume, and to have less presents under the tree than daughter. (Husband tends to go overboard).

TPBM has a longer list.

Not really. I can really do without gifts - well into the decumulation phase of life. I hope two of my children (those in the UK) will be back at the old Abbey and that we will eat well and have a decent bottle or two. I hope the internet can cope with a long FaceTime to our daughter and grand-kids in LA. I have sorted out a couple of treats - Der Rosenkavalier with a rising US soprano, Rachel Willis-Sorensen as the Marschellin (couldn't get Renee Fleming's performances) and Peter Shafer's Amadeus at the National Theatre. That'll do.

I always cry during the trio at the end of Der Rosenkavalier.

TPBM usually cries during some other performance

In the Spielberg movie AI, when the little boy robot prays in the dark to the Blue Fairy for eons to be made real, I started sobbing. And Herbeck's Pueri Concinite always takes my breath away.

TPBM is damp with ruffled feathers.

It all these tears.

TPBM has also downsized successfully and has an empty Abbey.

I have an empty Abbey but I still need to downsize. Every once in a while I will get in the mood and then...Look Out! The feeling passes too quickly. LOL

TPBM dreads going into the attic.

Yes, I do. It's behind the guest bedroom closet, up a steep set of stairs. I was thinking about going up there the other day, but fortunately mastered the urge.

TPBM has a finished basement.

Not in a walk-up I don't.

The person below me is glued to the news from Hoboken.

It's a long way from me and mine, although my daughter lived not far away before she moved out West. Horrid business. Somehow it seems particularly disturbing when a train - usually the safest way to get around - crashes. Sympathy and good wishes to all involved.

TPBM regularly travels by rail

I used to, for over ten years -- through that very terminal.

TPBM has traveled overnight on a train.

Yep, from North Carolina to Boston then back again. It was pretty uncomfortable.

TPBM has a better experience to tell.

Back when I was young, my friend and I went to Mazatlán on the train from Nogales, Mexico. The cars were the old Pullman cars from the US. We had a tiny bathroom and pull down beds. It was an overnight trip each way with a week on the beach in between. Great fun, great trip.

The person below me has another adventure to share.

When I went to Italy, Delta went on strike, so travel plans were all messed up with re-routing, waiting, etc. After we finally got there we spent several days in Florence and then the plan was to spend one night in Sienna on our way to our final destination. We discovered trains were going to strike that night so we had to scrap the night in Sienna in order to get to our destination on time. Apparently in Italy they schedule their train strikes and it went into effect at 9:00 PM. which left us about 50 miles from our destination in the middle of nowhere at the train station, pretty much alone. Fortunately there was an English speaking taxi driver there who was very nice. We asked if he could take us the rest of the way, but again Italian code for taxi drivers was whichever one was in line next got the next fare. Our driver was a creepy guy with his creepy female partner and they spoke no English. We feared for our lives but the nice driver struck our deal with the creepy couple and we established a somewhat fair fee and hoped we would arrive alive. Fortunately we did, and had a wonderful week in a convent in a little town that was hard to leave.

TPBM has another adventure.

My first train adventure was when I was about 6, traveling from Los Angeles to Cedar Rapids Iowa. I don't remember much about it except for a young man in uniform playing cards with me and teaching me how to back shuffle the deck of cards.

My second train adventure was from Athens, Greece to Gottingen, West Germany (yes, it was still West Germany) in 1977. My boyfriend cheaped out and bought me a second class ticket - I didn't know any different - and I was crowded in with 5 other people for 2 days, with no food and water except for what they shared. Once we got to Yugoslavia and they kept my passport for 2 hours, scaring me to death, I was afraid to get off the train in case they wouldn't let me back on. I did make it safely to W. Germany, then bought a Eurail pass and my high-school friend and I traveled around parts of Germany and down to Portugal. First class is much, much nicer than second. And since we were Americans and Haika spoke fluent German, we got to hear quite a few comments about the uncouth Americans from Germans who insulted us in our presence. None of the folks we rode with spoke English, so Haika could translate immediately and we could carry on our English interpretation of the insults right away.

TPBM has another adventure.

When I was a baby, my family was travelling from Ontario to Nova Scotia to celebrate Christmas with my mum's family. In the middle of the night, in the cold, dark, snowy New Brunswick forest, our car came uncoupled. We had to wait there with the wolves howling all around, until daytime when the train came back for us. I was obviously too young to remember this, which is probably just as well.

TPBM has a story about planes or automobiles.

I had a 3-hour layover at the Kansas City airport. If you wanted to use the restroom, you had to leave the (unnamed) Airlines gate area and then go through security again to get back in. They did have a bar in the containment area, but I was cautious not to drink too much, for obvious reasons.

TPBM has an obviously good story.

I tried to make friends with a dog at the airport in Anchorage; he was beautiful and I made the "come hither, dog" eyes at him. That usually works, and he strolled over my way, but just as I reached to pet him he passed me by and headed directly for the man sitting next to me. Turns out the dog was on duty, and the man got busted for drugs in his luggage.

I never got to pat the dog.

TPBM is observing Rosh Hashana.

All holidays matter.

Sorry, just a bit too snarky. I don't have an interest in any religious holidays or practices.

(Warning: Trick challenge below. A variation of this was on a 50-item test sent to me by MrsHouseLibrary a few weeks after we met online. How well I scored determined whether she felt I was worth pursuing.)

TPBM is evolving.

In ways. My eyes are different, my hair color is different, my skin is different...oh. Wait. That's aging.

TPBM evolves.

Sometimes I'm not sure which direction I'm going.

The person below me fully embraces change.

Eventually, but I often go kicking and screaming.

TPBM has their own way.

Of course I do. If it is the same as what SWMBO wants.

TPBM has/had riches.

Ha! Surely you jest.

//>122 John_Vaughan: you didn't wait for me!!! Okay, I know I was late. Stupid work keeps interfering with the important stuff I need to do.//

TPBM goes to fall festivals.

As there is no actual fall season in central Texas, no. The only festival I go attend is the Texas Book Festival, which, this year, is the first weekend of November.

TPBM celebrates the small victories.

What else? I can't remember when I last had a big one.

TPBM sets the bar lower.

No, I always want a big one.

TPBM concedes the point.

Yes, I always trip over those lower bars - Canterbury, Kiev, DC, San Salvador. Seems I have to concede that I am beginning to fall over a lot!

TPBM always takes the "High Road'.

Yes, because then I'll be in Scotland afore ye.

TPBM will shake up this thread with exciting news.

There's a big drug raid going on just down the road.

TPBM also has exciting news.

My exciting news is that I just celebrated my 9th Thingaversary, and according to the rules (!) I get to buy 10 books.

My strange news is that my family in SoCal were under an earthquake alert from last week through today, and we're now carefully watching Hurricane Matthew here on the East Coast in case it veers inland. So, west coast and east coast with potentially disastrous weather/tectonic events.

TPBM sees signs of autumn.

I do, but it's been so dry lately we probably will go from green to brown.

TPBM is experiencing heavy weather.

We had the first major rainfall of the fall today, but nothing compared to what those in the path of the hurricane are facing.

TPBM enjoys the change of seasons.

The change approaching winter is always anxiety inducing, because there is always a pile of chores that remain to be done. But, then I do, I do enjoy fall and winter when they are here. And I sure as heck appreciate when spring and summer roll around again.

TPBM would rather have just one season.

No. While I pretty much hate winter after December I like the other seasons. Spring is like our reward for making it through winter and it's wonderful to see everything come back to life and grow.

TPBM has a pet with an unusual name.

Hobo got his name because he was a stray. Reuben & Cherise are named after a Jerry Garcia song.

TPBM buys their pet a holiday gift.

Well, of course we do! The kitties have a fish-shaped Christmas stocking and they get one can each of the expensive stuff.

TPBM cooks meals for their dogs. (my in-laws used to cook up chicken and rice and carrots for Lulu)

Nope, I don't even cook for myself.

//>135 Darth-Heather:, >136 karenmarie: Buying a Christmas gift for my pets is sort of my 'Get out of Hell free' card.//

TPBM was a chef in a restaurant.

More of a Cafe (eng="caff") really, a Resort Hotel coffee shop for a year. 'Course I was a sea cook too.

TPBM also keeps their stove still plastic-wrapped and unused. (Helps retain its value)

Not me, but my older sister is one of those need-to-dust-the-stove-before-I-use-it cooks. She had her condo's kitchen redone a couple of years ago but I can't imagine why. She got an over-the-stove microwave but never uses it; she uses her antique microwave that sits on a microwave cart over in the corner. Danged thing is so old, it doesn't even have a turntable. She had one of those wind-up turntables for it, but it finally gasped its last and she can't find a replacement. But she still won't use the new one. I thought I was resistant to change, but compared to Big Sister I am an experimental whirlwind.

TPBM is very attached to something.

Books & reading

TPBM rates the book medium above the
film medium

Definitely! Although I have seen some movies based on books that I have liked as much as the book. Yes, they are few, but there are some in my opinion (one that comes to mind is To Kill a Mockingbird).

TPBM has another movie that is based on a book that they rate highly.

The Green Mile

TPBM has another to add.

Watchmen

TPBM has another to add.

//Thats me - watching Hurricane Mathew loom over us. More of that "weather" our dear Abbott says we have too much of. Six years ago when we still lived in the house I bought a generator. Never had to use it as no real storm came over the house again. Perhaps I should buy another as it obviously worked!//

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. None of the subsequent movies, only that one.

//John_Vaughn - stay safe. Matthew is a nasty piece of work for Florida and southern Georgia. It's now curving away from North Carolina, for which I'm grateful - daughter lives in Wilmington and will still get rain, and possibly high winds, but the eye will not go directly over her as was predicted 2 days ago!//

TPBM has another to add.

//Good lord, John. Have you gone inland? Keep us updated.//

The movie Carrie was as good as the book.

TPBM has another.

//Stay safe and keep us updated John_Vaughan.//

I liked the film version of The Firm better than the book. I also kinda liked the film version of The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window... better, but the book was different and I really enjoyed it too.

The person below me has another one or two to offer.

Some I thought were a decent representation of the book, but not necessarily better, such as Nightbreed, Gone With The Wind, The Help, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas. I think Red Dragon was quite well done, as far as showing the complexity of the main character.

I really liked the movie's added ending twist in Stephen King's The Mist.

A few books that I've read recently have movies I would like to catch up on: The Bridge Over The River Kwai, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Ender's Game, Cold Mountain.

TPBM likes tv series' made from books.

Sometimes. I like The Magicians based on the trilogy of which I've read the first two books. Most of the other ones I've watched I haven't read the books so I can't compare. I've been marathoning Justified the first bit of which was based on an Elmore Leonard short story. I could sense the Elmore convolutions in the early seasons, but later seasons, while good, are not quite as masterful (Leonard died three years into the production).

I stopped watching The 100 which is based on a YA novel which I haven't read. I lost interest after the first season. There's a bunch of British & Canadian TV series which are based on characters from novels which I haven't read (or haven't read in 40 years -- Miss Marple, I'm looking at you) but I enjoy the series: Poirot. the aformentioned Miss Marple, The Murdoch Mysteries, Morse.

One I like which I have read and think the series is done beautifully is Kerry Greenwood's Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries.

Why, yes, I do watch a lot of TV.

TPBM watches a lot of TV.

Almost none, but I am watching season 1 of American Horror Show on Netflix. And The Walkin' Daid starts again on Halloween.

TPBM has acted on TV.

well, been on panels that were
televised -- in the past decade
four in about five years.

TPBM has also been a panelist.

Only at live events. But I have been on the news.

TPBM is newsworthy.

Yes, we are - we survived our tenth hurricane. But only because it did not come ashore. We did not like Mathew who weakened to a storm over us, so we sent it up north to share with y'all.

TPBM writes the news

I wish. I really would be king of the world.

TPBM lets a critter walk all over them.

Yes, our cat. As does TPAM.

TPBM has some boots made for walking

//>155 John_Vaughan: Well, John, I wish you hadn't been so generous as to share. *smile* We've lost power and two trees came down, not near the house, fortunately, but down at the creek and across pasture fencing. Our 10 foot wide creek is now a 100-foot wide river with still more rain to come for the next 8 hours or so. We have a generator so husband can watch the Carolina football game - stupid idiots are playing today here at home - and I'm alternately reading and turning my cell phone into a mobile hot spot to get to the internet here on my computer. Matthew is so much fun! //

I got boots made for conquering the universe, and if it weren't for those meddling Jedi, I would have gotten away with it too. Sigh.

TPBM also mixes their pop culture references.

Righty-Roo, mon Cap-i-tahn!

TPBM mixes their cereals.

The last cereal I bought was Captain Crunch and I picked it up because we were going to have a blizzard. And you never mix the Captain with anything because there is already enough wrong in the world.

TPBM has a motto.

If we're not supposed to eat animals, then how come they're made of meat?

TPBM also has a motto.

Always remember, never say 'never' or 'always.'

TPBM agrees

Always! (Or never.) (Sometimes, anyway.)

TPBM equivocates.

Well, I could say that, but then maybe I don't, I mean really, what is the real issue here? I think I've made myself perfectly clear.

TPBM pontificates.

Cor nostrum ab erroribus liberet te volente. Vade cum Apollo.

TPBM exacerbates.

Not so much as the Presidential Debate last night.

TPBM hasta con Dios

I have a strict edict to never discuss religion or politics. Which is good because the way this election year is going, I don't know what I could say about politics.

TPBM reads the manual.

Only the French version, just to make sure I still can.

TPBM can still...

Remember how to put on my own socks, but like Mortimer, can no longer bend.

TPBM can still...

Oh no, I don't think so.

TPBM knows that...

Well, you've insinuated that any of us might, but only you know for sure.

TPBM can vouch for that.

Of course I can.

TPBM heard....

...it on the grapevine.

TPBM is sitting ......

...on the dock of the bay.

TPBM saw ...

Waiting, Wishing ;)

..

A Bad Moon Rising

TPBM is just waiting for ....

... the world to change.
We keep on waiting waiting on the world to change
One day our generation
Is gonna rule the population
So we keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change.

TPBM wonders...

Will you hold it against me if I tell you you have a beautiful body? (LMAO)

TPBM has a certain phobia

Arachnophobia. Don't even thing about it...

TPBM is phobic, too.

I do, but it's not very strong. Clusters of cells, like a honeycomb, make me uncomfortable. I don't know what it's called.

When this old world starts getting TPBM down....

Well, if people are just too much for me to face, I'll climb way up to the top of the stairs and eventually find myself locked up on the roof.
(I hate it when that happens.)

TPBM, on the other hand, would rather be _______________________.

>180 SomeGuyInVirginia: //I offer you 'kirithraphobia' - enjoy! ;-) //

...blind, yeah, than to see you walk away, see you walk away from me.

TPBM also loves Etta James songs.

Yes, and Odetta (saw her years ago in front row at local college. She was quite a striking woman), and Nina Simone.

TPBM would like to be sittin on the dock of the bay.

Yes, that #1 in Boston. Waiting to go into Legal Seafoods to eat oysters.

TPBM loves oysters (or, if a new Englander; arysters)

nope, can't stand the aaahstehs. I like all other shellfish that I've tried, except those. Raw or cooked - the texture turns me off. I also prefer clam strips because I don't like the bellies. Please don't tell my grandmother that - she might disown me.

Legal Seafoods is really good, but there is a great little place a couple blocks further down the same street, just past the Blue Hills Pavilion (before you get to the Harpoon Brewery). Yankee Lobster doesn't look like much from the outside but the food is great and they have good choices on tap.

TPBM has more tupperware containers than lids.

Until I retired, I would have said yes. But my Tupperware cupboard is organized and there is one lid for each Tupperware. And all the old nasty Tupperware got thrown out and I buy bpa-free storage containers now with pretty green lids.

TPBM has way too much kitchen stuff.

Oh, don't I! I have cupboards of stuff. Some of my mother's stuff still in there. I hope that most of it goes away in the next six months. I'm moving...

The person below me has lots of cookbooks but doesn't cook much.

Yes, LOTS (200?) of cookbooks, some antique, some odd (in Polish), etc. But I LOVE to cook, and sadly eat it also.

TPBM, likes American Pie?

Well, I've got two or three cook books that belonged to my grandmothers but I never cook. Come to think o fit, I seldom turn the heat on in the place, either. Basically, Parker the Great! has no idea what 'hot' is.

//>182 abbottthomas: Yeah! We're half way to a cure! People, send money for the cause!//

//>188 xorscape: Where you going, Xor?//

TPBM uses a caterer.

No, but I have a friend in Sacramento who is an award-winning BBQ caterer. Whenever he says come on down and I'll feed you, I go.

Come to think of it, my ex-daughter-in-law was born into a family of caterers. She likes to be the head cook for huge SCA feasts.

TPBM has caterer stories.

//190 SGiV: I'm just moving down the road. I managed to pinch a nerve and pull a quad muscle and it has been slow healing. I decided I needed somewhere with less maintenance. I'm a lot better, but have already set the move in place... It will be the first time since 1978 that I've moved into a place that doesn't need work!

//Good lord, that's awful. I'm sorry you've been in pain, that stinks.//

No, I never catered but did work in a couple restaurants. We had some colorful regular customers. Wheat toast Joe, the Honey Bunners, limp bacon, and Tom the mailman to name a few.

TPBM knows some colorful characters.

How about Oberon Zell for starters?

TPBM is a bit rainbow-y themselves.

Yes, but in an unobtrusive way. I'm a big fan of protective coloration.

TPBM is somewhere over the rainbow.

I gave up on psychoactive substances in the Sixties. Not counting ethanol, of course, but these days I don't drink enough to make me even a little bit giggly.

TPBM follows the yellow-brick road.

I was but I think I'm lost.

TPBM will tell me where to go.

Seek the headwaters of the river of pain. Or get your hair done. Either.

TPBM keeps it simple.

Is giving it a good brushing getting your hair "done"? Because that's about all I've done for a few decades now.

TPBM keeps something else simple.

That depends on your point of view. I have a strong undiagnosed ADD issue, and I try (keyword) to keep it under control by planning out every minute detail of what I'm trying to accomplish. And then, I must follow those exact steps unless I see that something's wrong. In effect, I'm also very CDO -- and there are other symptoms to support that notion as well.

So, I remain very focused until I'm distracted. MrsHouseLibrary is a very distracting woman.

And to finally answer you question, I try to keep things simple, but analysis has shown me that nothing is simple.

TPBM keeps it under wraps.

//leap frogged

No makeup. WYSIWYG.

TPBM keeps something else simple, too.//

Cooking, even though I'd like to experiment more with sauces.

The person below me has an ache.

I'm 57 and been working nights in a supermarket for 29 years. If I didn't have an ache it'd be VERY unusual.

TPBM yearns for something from their youth.

Yeah, but I don't know where to find her. I had a very serious mutually reciprocated relationship going from kindergarten through the middle of second grade. She didn't come back after the winter holidays. My parents told me she had some medical condition and was in the hospital. That's when I realized people lie, and it's the reason I've got strong closure issues. I happened to see her (maybe five or six years later, as we happened to drive by her house) several years later. We made eye contact, and I've been kicking myself ever since that I didn't insist my aunt stop the car so I could talk to her again.

TPBM knows it's better to let some thing be.

Yeah, I shouldn't have gotten back together with that old boyfriend. He's currently doing 35 years for murdering his wife. Looong story.

TPBM has a weird story.

Not that weird. The beans. Spill them.

TPBM concurs.

Well, no. Friend PhaedraB has already responded with a not-going-there response, so just this one time, I'm not pressuring her.

TPBM sleeps well at night.

I find that my natural circadian rhythm is to stay up until 1:00 in the morning and sleep until 9:00 am. If I can do that, I sleep fine. Unfortunately, that doesn't fit in well with actually holding down a job. I think I am in the wrong time zone. I suspect I should live somewhere in the Aleutian Islands.

TPBM is in the wrong time zone as well.

I am. I am in California visiting family so I'm in Pacific time and I live in Eastern time.

TPBM just got back from an out of town visit.

Spent a week in California, but that was a couple of weeks ago.

TPBM has gotten home more recently.

Yeah. Around 7 this evening. MrsHouseLibrary went to the coffee shop downtown earlier today. When we arrived back, we noticed a bicycle leaning against a tree in our yard -- the part that is nearest the hike-and-bike trail. It was an odd place to leave a bicycle, so I went to check it out. Two flat tires, a rusty chain, broken brake cables, a child carrier seat on the back with an accumulation of old dirt and leaves caked in it. So, somebody apparently doesn't know how to dispose of a bicycle? Really? I called it in to the police.

TPBM has filed a police report.

Can't remember the last time I filed a police report. I did call the State Highway Patrol the other day while driving home from work. I was going 65 mph in a 65 mph zone and a small red car was going at least 90 mph weaving in and out of traffic and even passed me on the right hand side in the berm, scaring me!

TPBM likes life in the fast lane.

No! I once rode shotgun in a car when the driver said 'watch this' and took it up to120mph. I didn't like it at all. I didn't think he'd crash, but that some Bubba cop would arrest him for life and just shoot me.

TPBM knows that the phrase 'hold me beer' and _________ are the beginning of sorrows.

the phrase "hold my beer while I light these fireworks" preceded a friend's loss of two fingers and a tree in his yard. People just don't read the directions on things.

TPBM never takes a dare.

Nope. If my common sense says no, I say no. Peer pressure is not as important to me as my own well-being. Of course, I do have an anxiety disorder, which may contribute.

TPBM has done it all.

Absolutely not! In fact, I doubt that I have even done 1/2 of "it". I'm probably your most law abiding, do your job well, non-risk taking person there is that grew up in the 60's.

TPBM was once a hippie.

Never. Except maybe in spirit; not sure. I was too (pick as many as you want) shy, bashful, reserved, quiet, introverted, watchful of myself, scared, naive, a loner ... to ever be considered a hippie type. I've never drank alcohol, never done drugs except those prescribed to me by a physician, never grew my hair long, never wore bell bottoms. On the other hand, I do have a strong tendency for the concepts of peace, love, and understanding. I'm just not the type who thinks seeing paisley horsies gets me there.

TPBM is a reformed _______________.

catholic. It made sense to me when I was a child, but then I learned chemistry and physics and found the answers to my questions.

TPBM feels like howling at the moon.

Well, it is Hallo - ween. And there is a beautiful full moon here to howl at. And I am a celt.

TPBM plans to go trick or treating (and will tell us about their costume).

No, I guess I'm getting stodgy in my dotage. The rest of me's fine but my dotage is a problem.

TPBM is going to dress up and dance all night and fall asleep at dawn.

I thought it was dance nekked all night. Hmmm. If I can wear clothes I might consider't.

TPBM thinks it's too cold for nekked.

It's never too cold for nekked -- unless you're trying to impress someone.
For me, I shrink up like a stack of dimes -- about forty cent's worth.

TPBM is thinking: TMI.

Maybe. But I don't have too many issues about nekked, so maybe not.

I've been known to dance nekked around a bonfire myself. Of course, I was younger then, and the bonfire was pretty darn big so cold was less of an issue. However, I've been unwilling to explore ecstatic dancing while using a cane.

TPBM wishes.

Wishing and hoping and thinking and praying that the reporter lady doesn't get her brains fried via electro shock therapy on season two of American Horror Show - Asylum. Tra-la.

//ETC grammir and sich.//

TPBM is a morning individual.

Only that, my morning begins when I wake up, no matter where the sun is in the sky.

TPBM saw the moon do it's thing last night.

It was big and bright - did I miss something?

TPBM can identify at least four constellations (without the aid of an app).

I can identify all of the ones in the northern hemisphere, and a few in the southern as well. Plus, I know all the asterisms as well. I used to be able to name a thousand stars and tell you their magnitude, but it's been quite a while, so maybe just a couple of hundred now. I didn't get the nickname "StarMan" for nothing, you know -- I paid good money for it!

TPBM knows the difference between a constellation and an asterism, and will provide an example of each.

Not a clue. I'm thinking they're both in the sky though.

TPBM has difficulty finding the Little Dipper.

I thought you told me to find the big one - cos you were thirsty?!

TPBM is a sky walker

nope, a Sith. But you all knew that already.

TPBM is a lumberjack (and is ok)

I totally do not get the whole lumbersexual thing. So newp.

TPBM knows a dead parrot when they see one.

Sure, it's a polygon!

TPBM was sad to learn that Python's Terry Jones is suffering from dementia.

I'm always sad to learn that someone has dementia. It runs in my family, so I freak out if I forget where I left my car keys.

TPBM knows where I left my car keys.

In the freezer, right next to the shoe polish.

TPBM lost something.

I Did? Oh jeez, what next?

TPBM will help me find whatever I lost.

I think you want St. Anthony.

"Good St. Anthony, look around, something's lost and can't be found."

TPBM has more to offer.

You could try dowsing - all you seem to need is a Y-shaped stick.

TPBM has experience of arcane arts.

Well, not arcane but I made a Christmas tree out of sugarcanes once. Are those the kind of ars you meant?

TPBM has an appropriate response.

@#$%^&*(

Apparently not.

TPBM is a blood donor.

Does it have to be my blood?

TPBM has buckets of the stuff.

It's from the deer, I swear. Venison steaks on the grill tonight!

TPBM has buckets of some other stuff.

Pig's blood. For god sakes don't tell Carrie where I am.

TPBM is bloodless.

I hope that I have the normal amount tucked away in my vascular system - none is leaking out anywhere, certainly.

I toyed with a squeezy bottle of zombie blood on the Halloween stand in our local newsagent but thought better of it.

TPBM goes the whole hog.

Particularly Suckling Pig. Enjoyed SOME of a whole piglet in Toledo.

TPBM celebrates The Day of the Dead rather than Halloween.

I would, if my husband were to shoot one. I will cook anything he brings home. I really hope he gives up the plan to go after the hogs though - they are a lot meaner than deer and turkeys, and I worry that he might get hurt.

TPBM doesn't eat meat.

How did you know?

TPBM has had a rough morning.

Yes, but I did get a good laugh, after my double-take, on the leaped response of #245 and #246.

The person below me wishes for Star Trek's Bones to come use his little device and provide cures for what ails us. (50th anniversary - I watched part of a marathon the other day!)

Yes! I wrenched my knee months ago and it's still giving me a hard time.

TPBM walks it off.

Half-an-hour briskly every day, which isn't bad considering the virtual absence of any articular cartilage in either knee. Couldn't run to save my life, though.

TPBM runs like the wind.

If you mean with lots of huffing and puffing, then yes.

TPBM is long winded.

Sorry, I had beans for lunch.

TPBM likes a good toot.

...of Irish whiskey. Uisce beatha, the Waters of life.

TPBM likes a good shot.

That depends on who the target is.

TPBM always plans out what is going to be served for dinner for the week.

I just toss the delivery menus in the air and work from the top down.

TPBM is the real thing.

I know the feeling, it is the real thing, the essence of the soul.

TPBM can explain why black garlic is supposed to be better than white garlic.

I wasn't even aware there was black garlic. After looking it up it sounds like something I would like to try sometime. My guess that it is supposed to be better than white garlic because fermented foods are all the rage these days for a healthier gut.

TPBM has eaten beluga lentils.

It's soup season! Yes, yum! Lentils of all colors are welcome.

TPBM will share about a secret ingredient.

Soylent green is people! Tasty, gluten-free people.

TPBM takes it on the chin.

Only when the soylent green dribbles from my mouth.

/* Aside: I've got my clock-radio set to the classical station. When it went off this morning, it was playing the title of this thread. End aside */

TPBM will share her/his favorite SG recipe.

Soylent Green recipe or SGIV recipe? I've never tried Soylent Green, but I think SGIV recipes would be listed on takeout menus.

TPBM will be carving pumpkins this weekend.

yes, with a shotgun. It's target practice weekend before gun season opens next week.

TPBM is learning to fly.

I'm not doing very well at it tho. I can do the part about throwing myself at the ground real well. I'm completely failing at the missing the ground part.

TPBM is learning a skill that's a little less painful.

I've been working on my book buying skills, but I think I need more practice.

TPBM has mastered a useless skill.

I used to be able to twiddle my thumbs with each thumb going in a different direction. It's the thumb-twiddling equivalent of patting your head while rubbing your stomach -- harder than you think. Tried to do it recently, but I've lost the knack. Maybe I'll practice till I get it again.

TPBM has another useless skill.

I'm an expert at processing carbohydrates into sugar. I do it faster and more efficiently than anyone on Earth. Seriously, I can eat a single pretzel stick (maybe 3"long) and my blood sugar will jump thirty points in ten seconds flat. I'm so good at it, I've become diabetic.

TPBM can top that.

You may have seen reports of the "escape" of a 29 stone silverback gorilla at London Zoo. He drank 5 litres of undiluted blackcurrant squash. What would that do to his blood sugar, I wonder?

TPBM is OK with zoos.

They make me sad. I think I empathize with the animals, thinking, would I rather have a safe long life, or a short life of freedom. I think i would choose freedom. In this day and age i understand their necessity with endangered species, but still...to look into a majestic captive beast's eyes is unbearable.

TPBM is looking forward to________.

THE WORLD SERIES!!!!

Sorry. Got a little carried away.

TPBM understands.

That you got carried away, yes.
But about the world series? Really?
Well, okay, if that's your thing, have at it -- not that you need my permission or anything.
But, to keep things in perspective, it's not a book.
So there.

TPBM doesn't "get" why people get excited about watching a bunch of other people get paid millions of dollars for doing what TPBM did all the time as a kid, for free.

///>270 WholeHouseLibrary: It's a Chicago baby boomer's dream to see the Cubs in the World Series. We honestly thought we might die before that happened. And, I like baseball!///

Does Boy Band count? Not that I was in a charitable singing group, but I had a trendy haircut and liked to hang in packs..

//>268 morningwalker: Totally with you on zoos.//

If they could, TPBM would bring back _________.

>271 PhaedraB:
//I just recently read the short story 'Curses' in the Harry Dresden universe, and got some insight into the root problem there.//

Common courtesy. I think the world would be better with more kindness and courtesy.

TPBM can tell me what I want, what I really, really want.

I'll tell you what you want, what you really really want. You want a, you want a...you want - Oh My, >274 cal8769: I can't write that down, too shocking.

TPBM hands out Halloween candy.

Nope, not allowed in my apartment building.

TPBM shoots candy out of a cannon.

That must be tried! The watermelons-out-of-a-trebuchet exercise was pretty fun.

TPBM has ladybug roommates moving in for winter.

//A trebuchet! Oh my we are all so well read. Love to have seen it - and what an inspirational load.//

No, no ladybirds yet. And thankfully no sign of the "rain" or Huntsman spiders this year.

TPBM knows why they are late

>278 John_Vaughan: // my brother was very insistent that we use the correct terminology - apparently trebuchets use counter-weight as propellant, while catapults use tension. He's picky like that, but since he built the thing, he gets to have it his way :) It heaved a 5lb watermelon about 50 yards. If I can find the video footage, I will post a link. It's fun to watch//

I was born that way.

TPBM has a list of good excuses for being late.

It was either put the list together or miss a rift in the space-time continuum that would allow me to study the Upper Cretaceous. Do you want to know what a Corythosaurus sounded like?

TPBM wears vintage clothing.

It wasn't vintage when I bought it.

I did sell some pieces to a collectibles store, though. For awhile, they had my old jeans and purse hanging on a wall.

TPBM buys more often.

As far as clothing goes, very rarely. Since I hardly ever go anywhere that I HAVE to be wearing clothes besides work, the same clothing gets worn over and over until it's practically falling apart.

TPBM needs more closet space.

Not anymore. I've been going through stuff and asking myself if I will ever wear or use that again and when the answer is no, into to the thrift store bag it goes. I just sent 3 bags of Halloween costumes .."sniff, sniff, :(. I didn't get rid of all of them though and have decided to dress up this year when I hand out the goodies.

TPBM has good news to share.

I am the only one at my work who does my job so when I go on vacation I return to a mess. It is depressing knowing what I am in for when I return. It takes several weeks to get caught up. When I returned to work on Monday after a much needed vacation I found that my coworkers pitched in and did what they could do so I wasn't too far behind. It was wonderful!

TPBM is planning a vacation.

Right now I'm just planning on Christmas week, but I might stretch it to two weeks. Plus, the casino at the National Harbor is opening in December. Whoo-hoo!

TPBM will vacation someplace sunny and warm.

Hopefully Minnesota will be warm in August when we go there next summer to visit my dad.

TPBM vacations in the winter.

I am off soon to what has become a regular trip to Wexford for the opera festival. Despite being the beginning of the Irish winter we usually manage to walk along the wide Irish Sea beaches in the sunshine at least once.

TPBM travels for the sake of 'culture'.

Oh my yes! I always seeks out a locale's most elevated environs, whether I'm in Las Vegas or Greenwich Village or any other improving beauty spot.

TPBM will tell us how many cans of spray cheese they'd be able to eat in one sitting.

You old goat! I don't eat cans!

But TPBM will answer SGiV's challenge.

What is this 'spray cheese' of which you speak? Many strange things come out of the West but this is new to me.

TPBM will enlighten me.

Well, I could, but I'm not licensed to to do surgical removal of organs. Just curious -- how much less would you like to weigh?

TPBM, if American, has already voted for in the (officially) upcoming Nov 8 election; if not American, will do a short presentation of how leadership changes hand in the country s/he resides in.

Nope. I like to vote at the polls on Election Day. I only vote early if I'm going to be out of town. There is just something right about it for me personally to go to the polling place to cast my ballot. Maybe I'm just old. It helps that there is never much of a line at my polling place.

The person below me shops online more often than not.

I've even started ordering groceries online.

//>290 2wonderY: I'm not a goat! Naaaay!//

TPBM gets a ton of catalogs in the mail.

Yeah! How do they do that - neither of us buy from a catalog yet they constitute 99% of our mail. Plus leaflets and begging letters of course.

TPBM gets real letters in their mail

I might, but they are probably lost in the 10 lbs of catalogs filling up my mailbox every day. I really wonder how I got on some of these mailing lists...

TPBM recycles junk mail.

Sure do! I'm getting a new can from the township for 2017. TPBM is as well . . .

Recycling is for sissies and people who are going to be around after I'm gone. And guys named Cobi. Guys names Cobi are always up to something.

TPBM has an alibi.

No way! Read your Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, etc. - the guy (or gal) with the best alibi is always guilty. You can find out where I was yourself! Innocent until proven guilty!

TPBM doth protest too much.

I did in my youth, but 1968 was a long time ago.

TPBM is up to something now.

Up to my ears in paperwork, dealing with banks, and trying to take care of my mother's finances since she had a slight stroke which, combined with her heart problems has put her in hospice and a board-and-care facility.

TPBM has had to deal with bank stupidity.

Yes. I don't even want to get into it. I hate banks.

TPBM will apologize to any of you who are bankers.

Er......NO! Bankers feather their nests enough to cope with a bit of buffeting.

TPBM worries about where increasing inequality is taking the Western world.

Very much so, since I am one of the 1%. Scary times.

TPBM is also scared.

With 2 weeks to go to the elections you are right that I am scared!

TPBM should be working but is spending time on LibraryThing.

Yup. I should be working more on Mom's finances.

TPBM has just started a home project.

I usually start home projects in February when I can't stand winter anymore and need change.

TPBM thinks change is good.

Yeah, if there's nothing else available.

//>301 karenmarie: Fells Wargo is the devil!

TPBM cares enough to send the very best.

Nah, I can't afford the very best. More like fair to middling.

TPBM is a solitary sort.

yes, I don't like anyone getting involved when I'm sorting. They always do it wrong, and then I have to re-do. It's easier to do it myself.

TPBM prefers the group effort.

Best thing for a barn raising.

TPBM will tell us who will play the gods Diana and Poseidon in the movie of their life.

//Aaak! Leaped!//

Diana: Tilda Swinton
Poseidon: Jason Momoa

TPBM knows who will play me.

You have put a minefield before us, Phae, at least for those who try to be polite and empathic. How do we know that we won't be upsetting you, for all manner of reasons, by our suggestions?

How would you feel about Vanessa Redgrave? Jane Fonda (more Barbarella than work-out)? But who knows, maybe you'd go for Dolly Parton.

TPBM will throw their hat in the ring

Audrey Hepburn. It should always be Audrey Hepburn or Cary Grant for the men. They're sort of the Adam and Eve of Hollywood.

TPBM objects.

My God, no objection! How could I have forgotten her. I don't go for Cary, though. He could be a teeny bit grinny and smug. I prefer my heroes more tormented and sour - has to be Bogart.

TPBM will continue in this vein (unless it's Phaedra, in which case she can tell us who she really really wants.)

Honestly, I drew a blank, which is why I asked. But if we're talkin' Bogie, maybe Lauren Bacall. There's no resemblance, but I like Lauren Bacall. Katherine Hepburn would have the voice all wrong.

TPBM would audition.

Not at my age. I'm in or I'm not.

I'm a Cary Grant fan myself. Sigh. There were so many beautiful women in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman, Hedy Lamarr, the ones mentioned above, etc. Of course, there are some good looking folks in the movies now. And in between, I always thought young Robert Redford was pretty nice to look at... In college I had a small poster of Clint Eastwood in his western attire. You guys are taking me back in time!

The person below me can also bop around in time.

Yes, because many times the past seems better than the here and now.

TPBM is feelin good.

Yepper! It's Halloween! Happy Halloween! It's the Peoples' Christmas!

TPBM has a favorite soap.

I used to watch General Hospital with my mom, but that was a lot of years ago.

TPBM is whistling in the wind.

Sorry. Too many beans.

TPBM enjoys making soup.

Yes, all kinds of, from around the world, this weekend i 've made Dahl again:
Lentils as base with all sorts of other vegetables and Indian curry spices, Lekker! (delicious)
Next time probably peanut-chicken soup.

TPBM enjoys making stews

I make some, but like making soups better. Love fall just for that reason. >322 EMS_24: that sounds yummy!

TPBM likes spicy food.

Leaped! No, I don't!

I used to, when I only had to cook for myself. No one else will eat them here, though.

TPBM makes fruitcake.

I haven't in several years, but I do have what I consider a pretty good recipe that my mother somehow acquired. I especially like the rum aspect.....

TPBM has given up on finding a good fruitcake.

No, I married him. LOL

TPBM loves to eat a strange food.

No. You can't even get me to try a chocolate chip cookie without me grilling you for what went into it first.
There are lots of seemingly innocent foods that are deadly to me.

TPBM, on the other hand, has a proverbial cast iron stomach.

But not cast-iron tastebuds. I have my limits.

TPBM has good taste.

Champagne tastes on a beer budget, usually. But not always.

The person below me is very selective.

Oh yes, vairy raihfined. I only eat food and drink liquids.

TPBM is on a fast.

Apparently not, if my lie-berry is any indication.

TPBM picks and chooses.

Damn. I didn't think anyone saw me.

TPBM picks and grins.

Hee-Haw! Sure do.

TPBM slurps and burps.

If it is my first scotch of the day it is usually slurps and sighs contentedly.

TPBM restrains ALL body noises in a genteel fashion.

Not anymore, now that I live alone.

TPBM genteelly manages _____________.

to keep the hair out of my eyes whilst puking up the one past the eight.

TPBM is run by the clock.

//THE CUBS!!!//

What can I say, I'm a creature of habit.

TPBM eats the same breakfast every morning.

No way! Once it's gone through my digestive tract, I'm not touching it ever again.

TPBM has some news for us (or, if is Jack Hanna, some gnus.)

///>337 SomeGuyInVirginia: YES! CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!///

// >340 PhaedraB: At least the Phillies won after 1906 but I shall never forget the dive of '64. One is truly not a Phillies fan if you did not suffer through that one. I had to learn French numbers as the only radio station I could pick up in upstate Vermont in those days was a Montreal station. Oh it was painful! //

News flash, gnus get pneumatic knees. Spirapodus Agnew, special to Boston Globe.

TPBM landed at sea.

Does a chopper to a North Sea rig count?

TPBM was in a carrier.

Nope, I'm standing right here on good old Terra Firma.

TPBM has a boat.

// >343 John_Vaughan: While I was never in the Navy, about 25 years ago one of my friends in the online chat service I used was, and he was stationed on the Constellation. When I stopped off in San Diego on my way to Hawaii he took me for a "I'll show you as much as I can get away with" tour.//

Well, it was a canoe, and I don't have it anymore. Gave it to my neighbor's daughter and son in law while we were doing cleanup from Hurricane Irene since I knew I wouldn't be getting to use it very much anymore, and wouldn't have anyplace to store it moving into an apartment.

TPBM prefers motorized water transport.

I can get seasick easily. Doesn't always happen but when it does- whoopsie.

TPBM flies a drone.

No, but I used to feel like one before I retired.

The person below me is impulsive.

Edit: changed a word...

Less than I used to be, but I still occasionally do something totally whacko.

TPBM did something extremely impulsive with positive results while in their 20s or 30s.

In my late 30s, I dropped everything in Chicago and went to Oregon for six months for a training program. I had been saying "people like me can't just drop everything and do stuff like that." But I did. There wasn't an immediate payoff (I had a lot of debt when I got back) but I learned that I was a person who did things like that. That's had positive reverberations through the rest of my life, including the way I fell in love with that Oregon town. I moved back there when I was 60.

TPBM surprised themselves.

//Awesome, Phae. Takes courage.

More like surprised at myself.

The person below me has surprised someone else.

Yes, and I hope to again.

TPBM is surprised a lot.

Oh yeah!

TPBM can't wait until tomorrow is over regardless of the outcome.

Yes! I am thoroughly and heartily sick of the whole thing.

TPBM likes to look at the lights.

Last night I drove three of us to our book club meeting and when I turned the engine on and the dashboard lighted up, Blanche and Diane oohed and aahed. I liked looking at them too.

TPBM likes to have a window seat on an airplane to see the lights if they are taking off or landing at night.

I would like a window seat but I am destined to always sit in the middle. My husband is very tall and the inside seats are too close so at least with an aisle seat he can stretch some.

TPBM hates to fly.

I don't mind it, really. It's all the extra "security measures" that get me. (My shoes?!? Really?)

The person below me takes the train, but because they actually prefer it.

Indeed. After a career flying around and enduring the awful treatment and service, SWMBO and I do prefer the train. Even Amtrak.

TPBM commutes

Only about 5 miles. And in my own car. Does that count as commuting?

TPBM knows.

Yes, it does. And I do know. My commute is even shorter - bedroom to my home office. Since I'm retired, it's where I drink my morning coffee, check LT as I am doing now, and then read for a while.

TPBM has or once had a commute of more than an hour each way.

Yes, I do now. At least an hour on the sub'emway and 45 minutes by car, and I live about 8 miles from where I work. There was no traffic this morning because a) the elections and b) jihadists threatening to blow stuff up. I'm starting to think these jihadists aren't at all nice people. This afternoon may be a headache.

TPBM walks.

Not anywhere near what I used to, due to a combination of living up the side of a rather steep hill, minor breathing problems, and nerve damage in my feet. I kinda miss it, though. I know my waistline misses it.

TPBM has some nerve.

I do, it's in my jaw. It got damaged years ago in an accident, and ever since then it behaves quite poorly - twitching and stinging and the like. I've tried scolding it but that hasn't encouraged better behavior.

TPBM uses creative epithets rather than coarse swears.

Gadzooks you curmudgeon! In a spit I do, as most rapscallions should know.

TPBM has more creative epithets (and thinks they are really needed, today of all days)

Right now I have no words.

TPBM understands.

Yes, and sends sympathy.

TPBM has some good news.

No, I am still sick to my stomach.

TPBM has good news for >365 SylviaC:.

Yes! I got all my laundry done at 4:00am today, so now I can spend the weekend with my dad and not have that hanging over my head.

You're welcome.

A five letter word becomes shorter when TPBM add two letters to it, and they will tell us what the word is.

Well that's very short SGiV

Tpbm will elaborate on our depression today.

The depression is caused by democracy. Unless you're a woman. Or young. Or black. Or Hispanic. No democracy there...

TPBM will add 3 letters to our angst and give us the new incumbent...

Okay, I don't know >369 Tid:'s riddle but felt I needed to stop reading political comments and get back to TPBM for a while before my head explodes.

TPBM has quietly accepted things.

I have decorum out the wahzoo.

TPBM misses Bowie.

oh god, do I ever. It's being a tough year for music fans.

TPBM will see us on the dark side of the moon.

As a matter of fact, it's all dark. ( the solution to my riddle was GangstER !!)

TPBM misses Bowie but also another great musical loss to us this year.

>373 Tid: I thought of that but didn't know if it was right...I guess I was somehow thinking he's more of an a**hole and couldn't get that to work...

//We are all trapped now in Trumpistan//

I'm pretty sure Keith Richards has been clinically dead for more than a year. Wow! Whatta mess. I saw him, Horatio, in 2003. He was so high he couldn't even play Brown Sugar. Which he wrote.

TPBM had dinner with Elvis.

No, but I would have liked to.

TPBM is trying something new.

>376 SomeGuyInVirginia:
//I think you'll find Jagger wrote Brown Sugar, which might explain why Keef f***ed it up!//

Chocolate for breakfast. Yay CostCo!

//Au-contra! I'm pretty sure he couldn't play the song because he'd been very high indeed since the 60s.//

TPBM painted a tree.

I just did, as a matter of fact!



If you count snip lines as painting.....

TPBM loves cut and paste and snipping and all the other cute things we can do with our cell phones and computers now.

.....saves a lot of typing!

I'll share a few lines of The Second Coming by W. B. Yeates which seem very apposite to our polarised society - Brexit, Trump, etc..

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

TPBM has quotations for every situation.

Halleluiah Leonard Cohen! And you can quote me on that.

//Nice, thanks at.//

TPBM does indeed have a quote for every situation.

I usually do, but only other Monty Python fans get them.

TPBM has something completely different.

Yes I do. Nudge nudge wink wink, know what I mean eh?

TPBM has the faintest idea what we're talking about.

Not at all. It's probably better that way.

TPBM fainted.

In high school after swimming without having eaten any breakfast. Totally embarrassing, plus I cracked my head on the concrete.

TPBM always eats breakfast.

Full Irish, when I get the chance.

TPBM is dissatisfied if not provided with black and white pudding.

Is black pudding like a black sausage? My grandmother talked me into trying that once, and I still haven't forgiven her.

TPBM can explain.

No! Who looks at a tasty pig and thinks 'I want the blood and the ears and the tail! Forget bacon, let's turn that thing into Spam (tm)' Some Southern cooking can only be explained by Southern bourbon.

TPBM produces confections.

No! I CONSUME confections (by the proverbial bucketload).

TPBM likes chocolate.

Dark chocolate more than milk, and white chocolate is good candy but NOT chocolate.

TPBM prefers a different sweet.

Nah. If I'm going to waste the calories, it might as well be chocolate.

TPBM has a different opinion.

I'm not a chocolate or sweets person. I prefer savory. My women friends don't understand how that is possible. I could care less about chocolate or donuts.

TPBM is also abnormal.

I am allergic to chocolate. I suspect I am being punished for being a terrible person in a former life.

TPBM craves salty foods.

Yeah, chips and peanuts. Good stuff.

TPBM suffers the little children.

I love children, we could learn a lot from them.

TPBM recently learned ____________.

That someone cut a picture of a hart out of the Aberdeen Bestiary.

TPBM knows who.

Someone with no heart?

The person below me would like to vandalize vandals.

I would! And while at it, I'd goth goths and hun huns at the same time.

TPBM has seen the supermoon.

Nope, cloudy here. But honestly, a 7% difference in size is not a big enough difference to see with the naked eye. If it weren't for the hype, you wouldn't notice any difference. It is 15% brighter, but again, unless you were a regular moon watcher, you'd probably never notice. The whole supermoon thing is a pet peeve of mine, as is the newest thing, the so-called "black moon." A friend of mine invented the Black Moon as a gimmick to promote an event years and years ago. He's delighted that it finally went viral.

TPBM is peeved at something else.

Pick something. I've been sick as hell for days, and am supposed to be on a short vacation. Plus, I use a brush to shower and it's scratched up my left side. I've very delicate. (I totally recommend using a brush in the shower, it's a whole new kind of clean. I must have gone overboard. It's the Dutch in me.)

TPBM thinks times were simpler when we had goths. (Mascara goths, not painted blue goths.)

Goths seemed scary way back when, but compared to things now, they're positively cuddly. Sigh...if only we could go back in time.

TPBM went through a teen transition and renounced the establishment.

yup, lots of black eyeliner and black clothes and spontaneous blurting out of "come see the violence inherent in the system..... help, help, I'm being repressed!" (see >384 Darth-Heather:)

TPBM rebelled for real.

I was the very model of propriety and decorum. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

TPBM has it on record.

I never got arrested. It was a small talent; I was pretty good at not being around when the real stuff came down. But I'm reasonably certain the Chicago PD had me on their Red Squad list. Ah, youth.

TPBM broke the record.

I don't think I broke any, but I sure scratched up a lot of them when I used to take them out of their slipcases and use them for steppingstones. I was only about three at the time, but I don't think my mother ever forgave me.

TPBM did something unforgivable.

Yep. I'm one of the voices to be heard on Chuck Berry's "My ding-a-Ling"

TPBM can trump beat that.

I hear voices in my head that tell me to burn things! OK, not really but that's usually a pretty good ice breaker.

//Get out! You were one of the background singers? Very cool. What was he like?//

TPBM is a revel fighter.

Fight it? No way, I love to revel.

TPBM has a pain...right there.

I've got a little list...

TPBM has a list.

...to starboard.

TPBM is straight as a die.

Straight Ahead? Full astern more like it. Hence my list to larboard too.

TPBM has the same 'body-mass alignment".

>409 SomeGuyInVirginia: It was a live gig, and I was in the audience asked to sing along! He was actually very good...

No I have MS so I have a list to the seated position.

TPBM likes different kinds of lists

I love lists. Like a list of ingredients to buy for Thanksgiving dinner? Or a list of the coupons I've loaded onto my food store discount card? What about my wish list of books? Christmas gift list? Christmas Card List, sorted in descending order by zip code?

You get the idea. I love lists.

TPBM doesn't keep written lists but manages to get/do everything.

I mostly make grocery lists and plan weekly menus by looking at recipes online. Shhh..I get this done while at work, during down time of course.

TPBM gets something else done at work.

I work in a supermarket, so I get the majority of my food shopping done there before/after my shift.

TPBM (if in the USA) still has shopping to do for Turkey day. TPBM if from elsewhere has a purchase they need to make soon.

Nope. Ruth invited us again this year (Chris that is!)

TPBM never celebrates Turkey-Day

Au contraire, every so many years my birthday falls on American Turkey Day. My family always celebrated it along with the feast. To this day, I'd rather have candles on pumpkin pie than on a cake. The downside, which didn't occur to me when I was an adult, was that I never had an actual birthday party.

TPBM realized something about a holiday/celebration.

Yes!

TPBM will read about it here.