Chronic Listaholic

From Chasing Vincenzo, Blogography, Avitable and Kaply, Inc.

1. A strange combination of food you like to snack on: Peanut butter and pickled onions on cheese crackers. I’m serious. No one ever believes how good it is.
2. Something you do that other bloggers who read you might find odd if they saw you doing it: Watching Chinese films. I would totally turn lesbian for Gong Li.
3. When you were a kid, what you wanted to be when you grew up, that you never told anyone about: My dream of becoming a famous artist was so short-lived that I don’t think I ever mentioned that ambition to anyone until recently.
4. The thing you don’t tell people at work about yourself: That I actually have another brother besides Jonnie. Well, technically he’s my brother. And that’s enough about that.
5. What you like to do when no one else is going to be home for a stretch of time: Eat. Because calories don’t count if no one sees you eat them.
6. The thing you believe — politically — that you don’t admit to people who think you think like they do: That I have absolutely NO interest in politics of any kind.
7. The one thing from your childhood, outside of your parents, that you try to maintain some kind of connection with, and how: My childhood years in Libya. It’s not so much that I try to stay connected; more that I have a deep affinity for Arabic music and decor.
8. A song or group or singer you secretly like that everyone else groans about: Yanni, but it’s not a secret since I’ve blogged about it before.
9. A secret shame you’ve never revealed: I once totally faked having whiplash in order to get a Vicodin prescription for a loved one who was (at that time) addicted.
10. Do you close the bathroom door when you’re the only one home? No. Should I? Is someone watching?

1. One word: Waffles.
2. All the waitresses call you “darlin’ .”
3. They still have jukeboxes. And the songs range from “Last Night I Saw Elvis At The Waffle House” to “Scar Tissue.”
4. Two words: Cheese Eggs.
5. Their condiments include Casa de Waffle Picante Sauce.
6. They serve apple butter with their cinnamon-raisin toast because they just know it’s right.
7. Three words: Classic Southern Style.
8. There’s always one around when you want it. And if the one you go to is full, there’s another a block down the street.
9. “Do you want grits with that?” No matter what you’re ordering.
10. Four words: Scattered. Smothered. Covered. Topped.

Inspired by Chase and Karl

1. “Hey, guess what? I bought myself a pet cockatoo!!!”
2. “When you go to the store, could you pick me up a package of licorice drops?”
3. “Holy shit, it’s pitch black in here. I think I’ll lay down and take a nap.”
4. “I’m so excited — tonight’s the season premiere of ‘American Idol’!”
5. “I’ve always wanted to ride that roller coaster on top of the Stratosphere.”
6. “I’m thinking about selling my Nikon. I never use it, anyway.”
7. “Honey, let’s go on a harbor cruise for our anniversary dinner.”
8. “We have too many cats.”
9. “Woo hoo! The new Jessica Simpson CD comes out Tuesday!!!”
10. “Are you kidding me? Clive Cussler couldn’t write his way out of an open checkbook!”

Following in the blogsteps of Bec, Kapgar and Chase

The rules are simple:

1. Go to Wikipedia.
2. In the Search box, type your birth month and day (but not year).
3. List three events that happened on your birthday.
4. List two interesting birthdays and one interesting death.
5. List one holiday or observance (if any).

My birthday: December 7

Events
1941 - World War II: The Imperial Japanese Navy attacks the U.S. Pacific Fleet and its defending Army Air Forces and Marine air forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
1971 - The Montreux Casino in Switzerland is set ablaze by someone wielding a flare gun during a Frank Zappa concert; the incident would be immortalized in the Deep Purple song “Smoke on the Water.”
1972 - Apollo 17, the last Apollo moon mission, is launched. The crew take the photograph known as “The Blue Marble” as they leave the Earth.

Birthdays
1761 - Marie Tussaud, French-born museum proprietress and waxwork modeller (d. 1850)
1949 - Tom Waits, American singer, composer, and actor [!!!!!]

Death
43 BC - Cicero, Roman politician and author (b. 106 BC)

Holiday/Observance
United States - Pearl Harbor Day (observance)

Because no, it wasn’t all bad by any means!

1. Exploring Red Rock Canyon with a sibling who also loves the desert. Stunning nature on a perfectly beautiful day. Plus, we had our first taste of yummy prickly-pear jelly candy.
2. Floating in the “lazy river” pool at a relative’s fabulous condo complex. When I get rich, I am so going to have one of those pools in my back yard!!!
3. Learning to play video poker with the patient coaching of a family member (who also staked me all week). And I even won more than I lost (overall with all eight days averaged in).
4. Going to the Luxor for the first time (and second, and third). I love Egyptian stuff, and in my opinion, that place is the most beautiful of the casino-hotels. Plus, their buffet is killer.
5. Sitting in Quark’s Bar with my Star Trek-hating daughter and proving to her it’s a very cool place. And that you don’t have to be a Trekkie to have fun there.
6. Discovering the Mermaid Lounge at the Silverton, a favorite of some family members. Hands down, the most relaxing bar I’ve ever visited, with an ambience of undersea tranquility.
7. An afternoon break from the heat at the Nine Fine Irishmen pub in New York New York, where the charming bartender upstairs served me a scrumptious drink called the Nutty Irishman (Bailey’s and Frangelico).
8. Eating very expensive French chocolat, and discovering it’s not even as good as Hershey, much less Godiva! Sometimes cheaper is better.
9. Remaining sunburn-free all week, despite temperatures being upwards of 105 degrees every day. And yeah, it was a dry heat.
10. Seeing my West Coast family for the first time in four months (except for Juli, who visited me in May), and some East Coasters whom I hadn’t seen in more than a year. We may not be perfect, but we’re still family.

1. Mikey. Possibly the sweetest human being in existence, Mikey doesn’t dwell on his own burdens. Instead, he is all about making the world a happier, more loving place. He makes me want to be a better person, to reject the negative and embrace the joy of life.
2. Belinda. I am in awe of how this woman remains upbeat while suffering unspeakably. Although her blog has made me weep more than once, I am compelled to keep reading. And she has given me greater understanding about my sister, another victim of endometriosis.
3. Kevin. A prime example of what dedication to your craft can accomplish. In the past year, Kapgar has progressed from a little-known blog with few regular readers to a daily addiction for hundreds, solely because of Kevin’s talent and commitment to excellence.
4. Suze. One of the most entertaining writers to grace the blogiverse, this gifted Canadian motivates and inspires me. There’s nothing like reading well-crafted writing to give you an itch to craft some of your own.
5. Miss Snark. What every aspiring writer needs: Ruthless advice from someone on the inside. I’ve learned more about the process of becoming published from Miss Snark than all the Writer’s Digest books I ever bought put together.
6. Kim. An architecture student currently studying in Rome, Kim’s blog allows me to experience a lifestyle I wouldn’t have had the courage to try myself. Whether she’s homesick, struggling with the cultural differences or relating her adventures at the cat sanctuary, Kim shares her life with openness and warmth.
7. Dave2. Since my early days as a blogger, Dave2 has been my staunchest supporter. He is usually the first to post a comment, has offered valuable advice and given me an example to strive toward. Because as I once told him, when my blog grows up, it wants to be just like Blogography.
8. Karl. Another example of how blogging success will find you, even when you’re not looking for it, when you remain true to your inner voice and allow your personality to shine through. I doubt anyone has been more surprised than Karl himself to see him rocket to blog-crush status. Is there anything sexier than the combo of wit and intelligence?
9. Bec. A charming young Brit, Bec’s chatty blog feeds my Anglophile cravings while reminding me that even the most humdrum daily events can be presented in an entertaining, readworthy way.
10. Russ. One of my “recess” blogs, The Shade Replied prods me to step away from the computer, grab my camera and head outside. It’s also a constant tickler that I want to start posting some of my own photos on The Write Coast.

Related column: Blogging’s blessing: the kindness of strangers

1. Ham On The Street. You could call this Food Network’s version of “Jackass.” Cuddly host George Duran likes to do unusual things with food, like handing out “corn dogs” and challenging tasters to guess what’s really inside. Or bowling with frozen turkeys in a supermarket at 3 a.m. Or stumping GIs with “Name That MRE” (hmm, probably not so hard, actually). Funniest food show EVER.
2. Velveeta. Processed “cheese food”? My tastebuds don’t care if it’s not real cheese. Made into sauce, it’s the only way to make broccoli edible. Hell, I love to just hack off a slab and nosh on it. Say it with me now: Velveet-ahh!
3. In Touch Weekly. Sort of a People-Star hybrid. Crammed with all the latest, hottest celebrity gossip and pics, all in glossy glorious color. Because if Patrick Dempsey ever divorces his wife, I want to be the first to know!!! (Of course, I only read it that one time . . . )
4. Pedicures. There is nothing lovelier than having your feet soaked and scrubbed and massaged and polished while you recline in languorous repose. Sure, I could paint my own toenails but . . . why?
5. Tequila Rose. Strawberry-tequila cream liqueur. Yummy but kind of expensive, so it’s an occasional treat. Delicious with dark chocolate. Scrumptious when drizzled on ice cream! Or naked body parts.
6. Almond Joy cookies. I’ve been a big Almond Joy fan since childhood (chocolate + coconut = mmmmm), and when I saw these in the grocery store I squealed out loud. I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but they are BETTER than the candy bar. Just ask my big fat ass.
7. Nora Roberts romance novels. Nora rocks! She’s a gifted writer, spinning tales rich with dimensional characters, appealing settings and intriguing storylines. Oh yeah, and steamy sex, too. Just exactly like my own life, you know?
8. eBay shopping. I love eBay. I’ve gotten some unbelievable bargains on there, but I’ve also had some heartbreaking losses. Mostly because I forget to keep an eye on items I’m bidding on. I used to be a compulsive eBay shopper, but I’ve developed more self-control since Bret took custody of the credit card.
9. I Want That! HGTV’s visual wishlist of the latest cool stuff. I keep a list of everything I see on there that I want to buy. A LONG list.
10. Jack In The Box tacos. The ultimate junk-food tacos — I adore them in all their greasy goodness! When I worked at the T-A, every time Jack In The Box had their 2-tacos-for-99¢ sale, we’d send someone over to buy 40 for us all to divvy up. Alas, there are no JITBs in Georgia, and Bret stubbornly refuses to drive to South Carolina for tacos.

An original Kapgar meme

1. Driver’s seat or passenger seat? Passenger’s seat, so I can take pictures en route.
2. What was the first car you owned (could have been purchased by someone else)? AMC Hornet, blue and white. Its name was Livingston. Drove it for 11 years.
3. What is the first car you paid for yourself? See #2. No one’s ever given me a car.
4. How many cars are currently housed in your place of residence? How many are still operable? One, a 2003 black Nissan Sentra. We only need one car. It runs fine, thank God.
5. If money were not a factor, what kind of car would you own? A Pontiac Solstice, because I like the looks and the name. I might change my mind after I drove it!
6. If a police investigation was not a factor, what kind of car would you destroy any time you see it? Why? Dodge Omnis. Oh wait, they self-destruct on their own. Never mind.
7. Does driving in big city traffic fill your veins with adrenaline or your pants with something a bit worse? Neither. I rarely have road rage, but I definitely prefer driving where I can romp on the accelerator!
8. What is your biggest pet peeve regarding driving and/or your fellow drivers? People who drive slow, but won’t get over into the slow lane. And idiots who are too busy yacking on their cell phones to pay attention to their driving.
9. What’s the most expensive traffic ticket you’ve ever received (could be monetary or jailtime)? Don’t remember the exact amount ($300+), but it was for getting my third speeding ticket in two weeks — and it was after my eloquent explanation of why the judge should allow me to retain my license. Second-biggest ticket was $285, for my second driving-without-a-seatbelt offense. Yeah, I’m a serial scofflaw.
10. What is the name you’ve given to your current vehicle (be honest, everyone names their car)? Morpheus, because that’s the name it whispered to me the first night I drove it. Swear to God.

(Kevin, you might want to save this for future reference . . .)

1. Read a book. The Stolen Child. Island Of The Sequined Love Nun. Or even Theoretic Arithmetic Of The Pythagoreans — it couldn’t possibly be more mind-numbing than AI.
2. Go for a walk. I’m in training for Vegas. Hey, I’m up to 6 laps around my yard!
3. Play Scrabble. Or gin rummy. Or Twister. Hell, I’d rather play Rock-Paper-Scissors for who cleans the catbox.
4. Listen to my iPod. But since I don’t have one, I’ll settle for just listening to paint dry.
5. Write. Blog. Haiku. A grocery list. Anything.
6. Surf the ‘net. As long as I stay away from E! Online, which is heavily infected with AItis. Erp.
7. Take photos. Last week, I got some really nice pics of the dust bunnies behind my fridge while AI was on.
8. Call a friend. Tonight I had a lovely phone conversation with Bret during the entire AI timeslot. He was in the computer room blowing up stuff and I was making brownies.
9. Get laid. Actually, this tops pretty much any TV show ever shown. Except maybe … nope, not even that.
10. Have a root canal. Without anesthesia. Believe me, my teeth would hurt less.

Technorati: American Idol

Google the phrase “[your name] needs.” Then list the top 10 results that come up. (Borrowed from Kapgar)

1. Suzi needs to get some sleep. Yes, I do. Two bad nights in a row make Suzi a pissy girl.
2. Suzi needs to have her batteries charged on a weekly basis. That’s because Bret lost my adapter cord.
3. Suzi needs to deal with . Come on now, I’ve been dealing with (and everything in between) all week!
4. Suzi needs to do a really amazing performance to win this. I’m golden. Been practicing my triple toe-loop reverse machiatto blogging for hours.
5. Suzi needs no blurb; Suzi is simply Suzi. Well, it’s about time someone recognized my uniqueness!
6. Suzi needs to offer some kind of windscreen for the USA model. An adapter cord would be good, too.
7. Suzi needs 120 days for payment. Hey! I just today told the clerk at our gas station this very thing!
8. Suzi needs all box tops by February 22nd. I’m saving up for a new battery charger.
9. Suzi needs more comment love! That’s for sure!!! Where are all my doting fans?
10. Suzi needs two heads. I sure hope the second one has more sense than the first.

(… and I am SO glad you only use the top 10 results. Yikes!)