I'm a Bette.....

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Bette!

You are a Bette -- "I must be strong"

Bettes are direct, self-reliant, self-confident, and protective.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Stand up for yourself... and me.
• * Be confident, strong, and direct.
• * Don't gossip about me or betray my trust.
• * Be vulnerable and share your feelings. See and acknowledge my tender, vulnerable side.
• * Give me space to be alone.
• * Acknowledge the contributions I make, but don't flatter me.
• * I often speak in an assertive way. Don't automatically assume it's a personal attack.
• * When I scream, curse, and stomp around, try to remember that's just the way I am.

What I Like About Being a Bette

• * being independent and self-reliant
• * being able to take charge and meet challenges head on
• * being courageous, straightforward, and honest
• * getting all the enjoyment I can out of life
• * supporting, empowering, and protecting those close to me
• * upholding just causes

What's Hard About Being a Bette

• * overwhelming people with my bluntness; scaring them away when I don't intend to
• * being restless and impatient with others' incompetence
• * sticking my neck out for people and receiving no appreciation for it
• * never forgetting injuries or injustices
• * putting too much pressure on myself
• * getting high blood pressure when people don't obey the rules or when things don't go right

Bettes as Children Often

• * are independent; have an inner strength and a fighting spirit
• * are sometimes loners
• * seize control so they won't be controlled
• * figure out others' weaknesses
• * attack verbally or physically when provoked
• * take charge in the family because they perceive themselves as the strongest, or grow up in difficult or abusive surroundings

Bettes as Parents

• * are often loyal, caring, involved, and devoted
• * are sometimes overprotective
• * can be demanding, controlling, and rigid

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at

Christmas Card Photo....

After many attempts this afternoon, here is the winner. I've been sick with a horrible head cold....so, I really should be thrilled!

Books I've Read this year...

I convinced my friend, Tracy, to start a book club earlier this year. It has been fun and I've read more this year than in recent years past.

The Measure of a Man, Sidney Poitier
Don't really recommend it. Although many like his writing style, I found it very elementary, with the occasional superfluous Webster's dictionary word. Had he a better editor or writing partner, his story could have been wonderful.

The Lemon Tree, Sandy Tolan
There was LOTS of history in this book. This is a true story. Most times I felt like this book was over my head. However, the point of view of the author was very interesting and not one most Americans would take. An interesting, intellectual read.

Gracelin O'Malley, Ann Moore
This was my pick the month I hosted. I read this book a few years ago and fell in love with the story and characters. It was so good, I wanted to read it again. My book club buddies fell in love with the characters as well. This was the author's first novel and it is very well written.

Irreparable Harm, Randy Singer
Great mystery. Although, I've been told that once you read a few of Singer's books you can easily figure out the story line. This was the first one I read and didn't figure it out until near the end. Singer is a christian author, and his G rated writing style is refreshing.

A Land Remembered, Patrick Smith
This is a must read for Floridians. However, I must admit, I read the Student Version. The library was all out of the regular version. I didn't think it would make much difference, but during our discussion I quickly learned it did. I missed some story lines, ones that were taken out to make the story rated G.

East of Eden, John Steinbeck
Loved it. Many do not like Steinbeck's writing style, but I do. This is a long novel, but I breezed through it. I was drawn to each character and truly loved being swept into this novel.

Lake in the Clouds, Sara Donati
This was part of a series, that we didn't realize was a series until after we read it. It was good, some racy parts, but overall good. Someday, maybe I'll read the first and second novel.

The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd
It was okay. Not really sure what all the hype was about.

Redeeming Love, Francine Rivers
Beautiful retelling of the biblical story of Hosea and Gomer. Another story I loved being swept into. Rivers' gives layers to her characters, causing you to immediately identify with and root for. Highly recommend this novel.

What novels have you read this year?

Why Not....

My cats have offically taken over my house. Tigger doesn't like it if doors are shut...so he claws at the doors. I now have paintless strips on almost every door in my house. Both couches have threads pulled from the cat claws. I have cat hair flying everywhere and have to actually vaccum the couches weekly.

I want to have the cats declawed but Michael is very reluctant. Why not, you ask? Probably because the cost of the 'procedure'.

So, I'm thinking....I should get the cats declawed and get a maid and then I'll be set.

Why not, right?

Ramblings

Per Emily, I must blog.

I've been busy and so, not much has been going on, other than regular day to day stuff....nothing interesting....at least not to me.

After much searching, I finally found a watch I like and that fits. I spent more than I wanted to, but figured had I stopped looking a month ago I could have saved at least $10 in gas going from store to store.

Speaking of gas, Michael filled up for $2.09 a gallon yesterday and today it is $2.08. I felt like dancing a jig when I saw that price. Mental picture....Me, dancing a jig. What is a jig? I picture high knees, hips moving and fingers snapping. Is that your mental picture, also?

Michael and Jacob went to the FSU v. Clemson game this afternoon. They didn't have tickets, but that never stops them. Michael is a great haggler. The last game they went to he paid $23 for 2 tickets and they had great seats. I expect nothing less this time.

I have a pot of Cincinnati Chili simmering on the stove. I'm surfing my blog list, but really should be cleaning my house. Since I've been working full time, we've all tried to pick up the slack....but my clean is not the same as other's clean, specifically Jacob and Michael. Oh well.

I've been reading The Secret Life of Bees for book club. Hopefully I will have it finished before the meeting on Monday night. I ran across a quote the other day....It fits me to a tee! "If it weren't for the last minute, I wouldn't get anything done."

Have you noticed that PLUM is the color for Fall this year. Look around....shirts, skirts, purses....they are all plum. Do you have anything plum?

Emily's time wasters....

I read Emily's blog and then saw her time wasters and decided to check out a few...well, actually, I probably will look at all her time wasters....

However, on Anna Maria's blog I found this.....

(photo from Anna Maria's blog)

What do you think? I think it is wonderful....and think I'll have to make one or two or maybe a few. Think of the possibilities - for the beach, the pool, laying out by the lake. Okay, on second thought, maybe it is not that great of an idea. We rarely go to the beach, maybe once a year....we don't go swimming at anyone's pool very often and we NEVER lay out at the lake. Nevertheless....I think it's a great idea.

Don't you hate it when.....

You buy a cute watch, wear it every day and then look down one day and realize the watch that was once silver is now two tone because it was fake and the 'silver' has worn away?

I jumped on the blogs to catch up and looked down to see what time it was and noticed my now two tone watch. Urg....actually the watch I had, up until a few months ago, Michael gave me right after I had Jacob. I guess it lasted long enough. I thought it was the battery that needed replacing, but when I did replace the battery and it did not start ticking and was then told it would probably cost more to figure out what the problem was than to replace it, I decided to look for another watch. I found an inexpensive (obviously) one at Belk a few months ago. Oh well.

Is there really a need for watches anymore? We all have cell phones that display the time. I spend a good majority of my time in front of a computer, at work, that displays the time. I have a clock in my car, on my nightstand, on my microwave and even on my stove. However, I've worn a watch for at least 20 years and when I forget to wear it, I feel like I'm missing something. Actually, I feel that way about earrings, too.

Do you have something that you HAVE to wear?

Skip to My Lou

This blog is a must-see. She has collected all kinds of ideas for crafting, gifts, parties, holidays...just to name a few. I'm so glad I stumbled on her site and just had to share.

P.S. If you don't do halloween, just keep scrolling. Trust me!

A story for Mom

My mom left a comment on my previous post saying that she misses my blogging stories.

Well, not that I mean to keep blogging about rainy days.....

Tonight, as I was on my way home from work it was raining. I was on my cell phone, just about to leave a message on my friend's voicemail. As her outgoing message was playing my driver's side windshield wiper blade flew off! Since I'm a multi-tasker...I was able to turn off my wiper blades, leave a message and keep straight in my lane...all while laughing hysterically!

I called Michael and he asked me if I went back for the blade. Are you kidding me? I was in work clothes, it was raining AND I had to go to the bathroom. Not to mention the fact that it flew off on a busy road. Can you even imagine?

I was going to stop at Publix to pick up lunch snacks and cereal and almost scraped the idea and head home. However, the last time I purchased washer fluid I splurged and got the RainX fluid. All the water beaded off my windshield, so I stuck it out and stopped at the grocery.

On a side note...have you been watching Dancing with the Stars? My favorites are Warren Sapp and Brooke Burke. Who is your favorite?

Sister Fay brought the rain.....

A few weeks ago, our town was flooded by Hurricane Fay. It rained and it rained and then it rained some more. The bands of rain started Friday and continued on through late Saturday. We stayed indoors and watched movies and read books. Luckily, we had power throughout the storm, unlike others in town. We had lots of tree limbs down and a tree in our side yard couldn't take the saturation and is now leaning in the power lines. Late Saturday night, I received a call from a friend saying that church was cancelled. Wow, church, cancelled? I immediately flipped to the Weather Channel. Clips of Mike Seidel standing in water, people in boats floating down streets, and gas stations underwater immediately caused me to be very thankful that we had been spared any damage.

Fast forward to Sunday evening. We were going to play Mexican Train with neighbors but my trip to Wal-Mart took way longer than expected. (I decided to go to one closest to our house, which also happened to be the one that all the college students were buying their dorm room supplies at!) I digress.....I got home and made dinner. By this time, it is pouring down rain again. We decide to nix the game idea. Michael grabs an umbrella and heads outside to see if there is any damage. I was sitting in the living room and hear, "Jacob, go look in the garage to see if there is water in there." I immediately jump up, open the door to the garage and see this....2 inches of standing water.

Now, those of you who know me, know that our garage is not used to house our vehicles, but rather to house our junk. Boxes of things we packed up before moving in almost 3 years ago. Before you go thinking, what is wrong with them.....I admit it, I have a disease that so far has been incurable. It's called procrastination. I think I also have a twinge of laziness. Those two do not make a good combination.

However, when forced to take action, we are great! Michael, Jacob and our neighbor quickly sprang into action with push brooms. They pushed the water out of the driveway which immediately caused the water in the garage to recede. On Monday, Michael came home early and emptied the garage and reorganized. We went through boxes and founds LOTS of things for either a garage sale or Goodwill.

Life is an adventure, isn't it?