Favorite Fortune Cookie Fortunes

I found a bunch of these while going through a shoebox of old stuff I've collected over the years. They're still good.

• "You shall sit on the tack of success and rise quickly."
• "Every person is the architect of his own fortune."
• "Unnecessary words may detract from the power of your speech."
• "Forget the doubts and fears that are creeping into your heart."
• "Eccentricity is the spice of life."
• "A friend is a present you give yourself."

and last, but not least.

• "A wise man knows everything a shrewd one, everybody."
  

Feeling: nostalgic

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: quotations

Facebook Comes to the Posting Rescue

Yeah, another questionnaire meme I found on Facebook.

Is music important to you?: Yes
Is reading important to you?: Yes
Do you watch the news daily?: Yes
Do you check the weather daily?: Yes
Are you a nice person?: I like to think so.

Favorites
Fruit?: Banana
Vegetable?: Brocoli (who woulda thunk it?)
Toolbar?: Google
Icon?: I love Google's G
Bible verse?: none

Have you Ever
feared the future?: I fear there not being a future.
dreaded the past?: No
made homeade soup?: No
bought someone a car?: No
gotten money in the mail you didn't expect?: I wish! No.

Do you
believe in miracles?: No
believe in fate?: Sometimes
use a crock pot?: No
prefer rice or pasta?: Pasta
ever go into chat rooms?: Only private ones with friends

What is
your homepage?: No homepage now, but many blogs
your favorite old movie?: Too many, but I have a soft spot in my heart for Laura.
the best brand of condoms?: none
your favorite way to eat eggs?: Scrambled, over easy, chopped, omelette
something you learned from your grandparents?: Well, there are some Yiddish words...

This/That
Yesterday/Tomorrow?: Tomorrow
Chicken soup/Clam Chowder?: Chicken soup
Radio/CDs?: Radio
Soup/Sandwich?: Sandwich
Word/Excel?: WordPerfect (Yeah, I'm contrary.)

Relationships
are you close to your grandparents?: Not since they died. I was close to the grandmother I knew.
do you stay in touch with your aunts and uncles?: Not really. There are only a few.
do you tell your significant other everything?: No. Gotta maintain some mystery.
do you and your best friend have inside secrets?: Yes.
is lying unacceptable to you?: No. Not sayng something is okay, tho.

Finish...
Life is...: a bowl of chocolate ice cream.
I am...: a chocoholic and proud of it!
I am not...: fond of fill-in-the-blank questions.
I want to be...: just what I am.
I wish I could...: retire tomorrow.

Firsts
love?: married him.
kiss?: Ah, that would be my mother's cousin's then-boyfriend, later hubby, who gave me a Sweet 16 kiss I'll never forget.
sexual experience?: That's no one's business. :)
friend?: Probably A and S.
child?: none

Lasts
What was your last dream about?: Too complicated to begin to explain. The usual weirdness.
How many letters in your last name?: Guess. ;)
When is the last time you ate too much?: Uh, sometime last week.
When is the last time you ate at a buffet?: Have no idea.
When is the last time you shared a dessert with someone?: Probably in May, at the Outback. My friends and I always get a few desserts to share.

Feeling: sassy

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: questinnaires

Concert Night

A rare mid-week concert night. The opening act was Kate Taylor, sister of James Taylor. I guess she's more country than folk, but I enjoyed her performance very much.



Then came Air Supply. They weren't at Westbury last year, so we didn't want to miss this time even if we have work tomorrow (well, technically today, as I type this and I really should be getting to bed). They were wonderful, as usual, but the theater cut off half the seats and stage, so no revolving. I guess they figured they wouldn't sell as many seats mid-week.



Feeling: happy

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: concerts

Lunch

Presented for your entertainment, burger and fries from Goodburger.



Feeling: stuffed

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: lunch

Memory Lane

I was reminded about an old toy and an old game today when I read about a store in NYC called Alphaville. I took a peek at their online offerings and found a couple of things that really took me back. I'd forgotten all about Lie Detector from Mattel. I loved the artwork on the suspect/witness cards. I did figure out how things worked, but that didn't detract from the fun.

The second item was a toy I remembered but haven't been able to remember the name of: Block City. I didn't know from Legos (I'm not even sure when those came out). I built houses with Block City. Not very versatile, but it kept me busy. This link will probably vanish once they sell the item.

More toy memories as I remember them! What about you? What do you remember playing with?

Feeling: nostalgic

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: toys

1969

It was a magic year.The Jets won the Super Bowl, though I didn't follow football back then. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon, which had my parents and I (I don't think my sister cared much) enthralled in front of the TV. There was a big rock concert in upstate New York called Woodstock. And the Mets, improbably won the World Series. Last night, hubby and I went to Citi Field for a game (the Mets lost) and an opening ceremony honoring the 1969 team. Most of them attended and Tom Seaver spoke on behalf of his teammates. He wasn't nicknamed Tom Terrific and The Franchise for nothing. It was very cool.



Feeling: okay, but have been better

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: baseball

Would Have Been Happy With Spring or Fall

Your Soul Is Connected to the Fall

You are a somewhat sensitive soul with a tough exterior. You are street smart and wise about the world. You have the heart of a poet, but you're not too eager to let anyone else see it. You are very creative and deeply talented. You are still looking for the perfect outlet for your expression. You embrace change and think the cycles of life are beautiful. You don't shrink away from the darker elements of life.

What Season is Your Soul Connected To?

Feeling: tired

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: quizzes

Fifteen Films

I did this for books, but don't think I did it for films. I got this on Facebook.

---

Rules: Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen films you've seen that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall -- they don't have to be the best films of all time. Tag 15 friends, including me because I'm interested in seeing what films my friends choose.

---

However, I have to think about it. Remembering titles, let alone the movies since I have to go back decades, takes a bit of time. Some of these are movies I've seen dozens of time. Others, just made an impression.

1. Laura. I can't begin to remember how often I've seen this. A perfect mystery, one that has been copied in both movies and on TV and probably elsewhere.
2. A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. One of the funniest, funnest films ever.
3. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. My other favorite comedy. Zero Mostel and Jack Gilford at their best. I've seen this on Broadway, too, back in the '60s.
4. Wait Until Dark. One of many "scary" movies I saw while growing up in the '60s with my friends. I don't want to lose slots here, so I'll add Psycho and Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte, two other scary movies from that time that have stayed with me.
5. 2001: A Space Odyssey. A family plus outing. We were 4 families seeing this when it opened, totaling 20 adults and kids, and we had at least that many theories -- discussed over dinner at Mama Leoni's -- re: what it was about.
6. Serenity. Because it was wonderful that Joss Whedon got to bring Firefly to the big screen.
7. Young Frankenstein. Mel Brooks' best, along with The Producers (first version) and the odd but wonderful The Twelve Chairs and Blazing Saddles.
8. Some Like it Hot. Great cast, great film. Nuff said.
9. Star Wars. The first one, because it was the first one, despite being chapter 4.
10. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Because it brought back memories of watching random chapters of serials when I was a kid going to the old neighborhood theater with my friends.
11. Star Trek (2009). Because it reinvented the franchise without destroying what came before. This will stay with me for the rest of my life, I suspect.
12. To Kill a Mockingbird. The best book to movie adaptation. Ever.
13. Alien. For scaring the crap out of me. Not a movie that should have been seen at midnight, which is when a friend and I saw it. The walk home in the dark after was almost as scary.
14. Little Miss Sunshine and Best in Show. A tie for just pure quirky fun.
15. Animal House. Still the best of its kind.

There are plenty of others. And I'm not tagging anyone. Do it if you'd like and leave a comment so I'll know to go read your choices. :)

Feeling: hot

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: films

A Grand Day

A friend and I went to the High Line park today and I can report that it's very nice. The city did a great job and it'll be even nicer when it's extended to 34th St. But it was too hot and humid to stay out for long.

After, we went to Le Grainne Cafe for lunch and had crepes, then ice cream for dessert. I didn't have my macro lens with me, so this picture isn't as well focused as I would've liked. But the restaurant was nice and cozy and the food was wonderful. You can get the crepes with a choice of 3 fillings. I had chicken, egg, and bacon.

Finally, we ducked into the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church which has lovely gardens and is one of the hidden wonders of the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan. You have to leave a photo ID to gain entrance, but it's worth it.


Feeling: content

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: chocolate

Random Survey

Found this on Facebook and it was a mostly grown-up one, so I did it and am reposting my answers here.

What is on your desktop wallpaper?
A spacescape.

What is your favorite zoo animal?
Uh, any of the big cats, I guess. And penguins.

What was your favorite toy as a child?
hmmm.... Hard to remember back that far. I was partial to my Slinky and my Hula Hoops.

What food do you eat too much of?
Most foods, actually. ;)

What kind of hairstyle do you have?
Shortish, layered.

What was your favorite activity in gym class?
I liked senior year in high school when we did folk dancing.

What is on the shirt you are wearing right now?
A blue tank top.

What is the picture nearest to you of?
I have some fan art prints on the wall. A Xena and a La Femme Nikita next to each other.

What kind of salad dressing do you like?
French, Russian, Italian.

Whats your least favorite food?
Avacados, seafood, liver...

What do you do on a Sunday night?
Play Pet Society! New items on Sunday nights!

If you could only use one condiment on your food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Ketchup.

What color are your sheets?
Currently on the bed: blue.

How big is your computer display?
I haven't measured it. It's a widescreen.

What pair of shoes do you wear most often?
I alternate about 6 pairs on a regular basis, and occasionally wear one of my other pairs.

What is your favorite game?
Online: Pet Society. On the PC: Freecell. In real life: Monopoly.

What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?
Turkey.

What is your favorite pizza topping?
Extra cheese, bacon, meatballs.

What time do you plan on waking up tomorrow?
Whenever I wake up. It's Sunday, I can sleep til whenever.

What is your favorite day of the year?
My birthday.

Feeling: tired

~~~o0o~~~
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Flickr Picnic

AKA, flick-nic.



Today was the flickr group NYC Social's annual picnic, and my first outing with the group. I was disappointed only 5 of us were there, plus these "guys," and I knew 2 of the 4 already. It was nice meeting 2 new people and we had fun. I just wish more people had shown up. We had KFC and cookies. I had to take half my chocolate chip cookies back home. Not a bad thing, necessarily, but more than I'd thought I'd be carrying on the return trip. It was very hot and humid, a real NYC summer day.

Feeling: tired

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: flickr

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Not my best effort, but tasty enough. They're for tomorrow (well, today, now, actually)'s flickr picnic in Central Park.

Feeling: happy

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: cookies

New Shoes

Got new shoes: Clarks new Honey Locust (I couldn't make up shoe names like that!). They are comfy and roomy enough for nice socks. I love new shoes. And I love getting them delivered to my building and waiting for me when I get home.

Feeling: okay

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: shoes

Linkie Dinkie Do

Multicolr is an addictive way to find pictures on flickr by color. And you can combine up to 10 colors in a search. Found on Google Blogoscoped.

From J-Walk Blog, the Most Expensive Pencil. I wish I could afford to buy it, but then I'd be afraid to use it.

And one of those Blogthings Quizzes.

You Are Harvard

You are smart, ambitious, and hard working. Academic success has always come easily for you. You are responsible and conscientious. You don't mind hard work and never cut corners. You are very competitive and driven. You like to be the best at everything you do. And you also expect the best from any school you attend. You want to go to a top institution.

What College Are You?

If only. I went to one of the City University of New York colleges.

Feeling: stuffed

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: links

Reunion

I blogged before about having reunions with friends from school. Today, one of them (W) and I met up with 2 other old friends we'd lost touch with (A and S). A and I had been friends since 2nd grade. We lived around the corner from each other. The last I saw her was at my wedding in 1985.

So there the 4 of us were in the diner pictured to the left, looking nearly the same now as way back then, catching up, having fun. After lunch, A had to stop in to visit her parents who still live in the house she grew up in, so the rest of us went along and it was amazing how much her mother remembered about us.

We plan to do this again. I hope so. It's nice when you find you can go back, and I think for me, it worked because I left behind any lingering emotional baggage from the past. By not having so much invested emotionally in success, I can enjoy it and the friendships for what they are and not put anything more on them than is there. It's about reconnecting and having fun. I can't find fault with that.


Feeling: happy

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: friendship

Hazy, Hot, and Humid Equals Win

Day off. Got my hair cut, then went to the Mets game with a friend. It was brutally hot and humid, the first real 3-H (hazy, hot, humid) day this summer. The Mets won in a rout 9-0, but lost 2 more players to injuries. Really, it's getting way out of hand now.

Picutred: Jeero Ugly Doll pleading with the baseball gods to stop the Mets from getting hurt.

Feeling: comfortable

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: baseball

Avatar Yourself

 Another cool avatar site, this one based on Mad Men, which I don't watch, but it's a fun site: MadMenYourself. You can do face/head closeups and full scenes as above which make for fun wallpapers. That's me in the center.

Feeling: tired

~~~o0o~~~
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A New Addiction

 

I read about Poladroid in Newsweek, of all places, and it's rather nifty. It's freeware (they ask for donations) that you can download to create Polaroid-like versions of your digital photos. The software is that camera in the upper left corner and you drag an image into it. It makes the sound of a Polaroid camera and then it spits out the image to develop. You can save it. There's a flickr group (the link's there on their site) to post your creations if you're a member. I can see hours of obsessive playing with this in my future.

Feeling: Sad my one-day weekend is over.

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: photography