Five on Friday #11: On the Boards

1. What types of board games do you like to play, if any?
   I'm not so big on games of chance or game of strategy. I prefer games of brains.
   
   
2. How often do you play board games?
   Rarely, but I generally enjoy it when I do.
   
   
3. What is your absolutely favorite game?
   Taboo or Cranium
   
   

4. Describe your Monopoly strategy.
   I haven't played Monopoly in years, but I generally goet my ass kicked when I did, so I don't suppose I have much of a strategy.
   

5. Do you feel that board games are becoming obsolete with the rise in computer and video gaming?
   I hope not, because board games seem to be a much more social activity.

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Five on Friday #10: Achoo!

1. Do you experience any seasonal allergies? Are you allergic to anything else?
   I don't think I have seasonal allergies, although everytime I get a cold (at any time of the year) everyone always wants to tell me it's allergies.

   Me: "Sniffle, snort, sneeze."
   Them: "Allergies?"
   Me: "No, just a cold."
   Them: "Yeah, my allergies always act up around now."
   Me: "No, I think I have a cold."
   Them: "Right. Must be the pollen."

   I guess the fever and the predictable pattern of progression from throat to sinuses to chest over the course of 5 to 7 days, and the fact that Shrike often gets exactly the same symptoms a week later, isn't enough to convince them.
   
   Other allergies: Penicillin, Antihistamines, Decongestants, Cough Suppressants

   
   

2. What kinds of symptoms do you experience during your allergic reactions?
   Penicillin: Twice, I've gotten hives a few days after finishing a course of Ampicillin or Amoxycillin, or one of those A...cillins.
   
   Other things: Anonymama can tell you better, because I was a tiny thing, but it involved being completely freaked out and possibly (based on LadyKay's similar reactions, when she was old enough to recognize them) hallucinations.

   
   

3. How do you manage your allergies?
   Avoidance. The antihistamine allergy is a serious incentive for avoiding the penicillin which will give me hives, and the stories of my reactions as a kid keep me away from the cold meds.
   

4. What is the strangest allergy you've ever heard of?
   My "anything one might possibly take to feel better when one has a cold" allergy.
   
   The upside: When I had a cold a few weeks ago, at about 6 six weeks pregnant, all the drugs that are "no-nos" during pregnancy were already on my "can not take" list, so unlike most pregant women with a cold, I was no more miserable than I usually am when I'm sick. Yeah, it was a small consolation.
   

5. How do you feel about school and social policies banning peanuts and other allergens?
   If there's a kid in a class who has a serious peanut allergy, it seems reasonable to ban them from that classroom, or the lunchroom or whatever. It would be one thing if we were talking about something he'd have to actually eat to be affected, or something that might cause a few sniffles, but a serious peanut allergy can kill a kid, just from being around it. I don't think that's something that you should take chances with. It's not going to hurt the other kids to save their PB&Js for after-school snacks, in order to protect the health of their classmate.

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Five on Friday #9: Let Me Hear Your Body Talk

1. What does your body tell you when you get out of bed in the morning?
   Get back in bed, dumbass!

   
   

2. How well do you treat your body? Do you feed and exercise it well? Go for regular check-ups?
   Better than I used to, but still not as well as I should. The check-ups I've got covered, though.

   
   

3. What part of your body feels strongest?
   Does my brain count?

   
   

4. Which is the weakest?
   I don't have alot of upper-body strength.

   
   

5. If you had to live without the use of one body part for the rest of your life, which would it be? Why?
   My left pinky-toe. It seems fairly dispensible.

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Five on Friday #8: Hold It!

1. When feel the urge to use the bathroom, do you hold it or go right away?
   If I'm in the middle of doing something, I might hold it, but generally, I prefer to go sooner rather than later.

   
   

2. When was the last time you held hands with someone?
   This evening, Shrike and I were holding hands in the car on the way to dinner. Then the light turned green, and I needed my hand back, for shifting and steering.

   
   

3. Do you hold in your emotions or let them out?
   I'm more likely to let them out.

   
   

4. If you play blackjack or poker, are you more likely to hold or fold on any given hand?
   I don't play either one very often at all, so I don't know, but whatever it is that a chicken would do, that's what I do.

   
   

5. In general, can you hold your tongue? When you have a secret? When someone says something you don't agree with?
   Nope, not at all.

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Five on Friday #7: Food Fads

What are your thoughts on the following food fads? Are they diet gospel or modern quackery? Do you find yourself following any of them?

I guess my short answer to all of these is "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know that's what I'm supposed to do," but it doesn't always happen.

1. 100 calories
   I love 100 calorie snacks! They help to control calorie intake, and the portions are just right for my little post-gastric bypass tummy.

   
   

2. Low Carb/Sugar Free
   Having had gastric bypass surgery, should be eating a low-sugar, high-protein diet. I do pretty well at getting my protein in (and I'm paying particular attention to it, now that I'm pregnant), but I don't do as well with the sugar thing as I should. Some people can't tolerate it at all but fortunately (or unfortunately) it doesn't make me sick at all. I don't buy this whole "carbs are evil" and "don't eat anything white" crap, though.

   
   

3. Low Fat/Fat Free
   Hmm, see above, re sugar :-) I do try to go with lower-fat options when possible, unless I'm just being bad, and eating whatever the hell I want.

   
   

4. Trans-Fat Free
   That's the stuff that's supposed to kill you, right? I couldn't begin to tell you what it's in and what it's not.

   
   

5. Whole Grain
   When I'm being "good" I'll try to go for the whole grain option, but it's not a big deal for me.

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Five on Friday #6: That Springtime Feeling

The Five on Friday folks are asking for some help coming up with topics. Submit your suggestions here.

1. Other than the official start of spring on the calender, what really signifies the start of spring for you?
   Warm weather, flowers in our backyard and Easter.

   
   

2. How severe is your spring cleaning bug this year?
   Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

   
   

3. What one thing says "spring" to you more than any other?
   Flowers - crocus, then forsythia and daffodils, then tulips.

   
   

4. What are your springtime traditions?
   Hosting our family Easter party / egghunt - but we're doing that two weeks late this year, because of people's work schedules.

   
   

5. When do you break out your spring and summer wardrobe? Do you follow the "no white before Easter" rule?
   Any "seasonality" of my wardrobe is strictly weather-related. I don't even know the "rules," let alone follow them!

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Five on Friday #5: Top of Mind

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you read each of these words and why?

1. Ice: Snow - We've seen some of each this week.
2. Primary: Undecided - Because I am.
3. Dirty: Dishes - There are a lot of these in our sink.
4. Green: Spring - That would be very nice to see some time soon.
5. Fly: Airplane - Well, duh.

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Five on Friday???

Hmm, no topic posted yet for this week. I guess they're on vacation.

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Five on Friday #4: Chicken Soup

1. How often do you get sick with a cold? The flu? Something else?
   I usually get colds 3 - 4 times a year, but I think I've had that more than that in the past six months, probably because I've been around germy children. I don't know that I've ever actually had influenza (most people who say they have "the flu" don't), and I don't often get sick with other things.

2. Are you the sort of person who goes to work or school no matter how sick you are or are you willing to stay at home when it gets bad?
   I would much prefer to take a day off, but I usually can't.

   
   

3. How do you like to treat a cold? What remedies do you like and why?
   As I've mentioned before, I'm allergic to antihistamines, decongestants and cough suppresants, so pretty much all I can do is take Tylenol for fever and aches, take hot showers to steam my head and chest open (now with Shower Soothers!) and whine a whole lot.

   
   

4. What do you do to keep from getting sick in the winter?
   Nothing, really, except that I generally try to get a flu shot. Anonydaddy is a doctor, so I was back home, it was flu shots all around at Thanksgiving dinner, but since I've moved to BlueState, it's a bit more of a challenge, now that I have to actually go looking for it - especially in years when there's been a shortage.
   

   
   

5. What is your favorite thing to do when you stay home from work or school?
   Pretty much the same as always, messing around on the computer or watching tv - plus lots of whining and complaining.

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Five on Friday #3: Sweet Stuff

1. Cake or Pie?
   A small slice of each, please.

   
   

2. What is your favorite kind of candy?
   Chocolate, just about any kind. I am particularly fond of Hershey's Kisses.

   
   

3. Do you actually like conversation hearts?
   You know, we were actually just talking about this at work yesterday. The concensus (and I agree) was that they are fun, but don't taste very good at all.
   
   Here's a funny story about them, though:

   When Shrike and I were "dating" (talking online, before we met in real life), I sent her a "care package" just before Valentine's Day.
   
   I bought a big bag of conversation hearts, but I went through it and only picked out the best ones to send to her, keeping all the ones that didn't convey the right message - like "Maybe Later" or "No Way" - or "My Guy."
   
   Shortly after that, LadyKay's Kiddo#2, who was 10 at the time, spent the night with me, and found the bag of leftover hearts in the fridge. We were eating them, and of course, she was reading them all.
   
   I kept worrying that at some point she was going to notice that they almost all said really negative things!

4. Would you prefer chocolates or flowers from a loved one?
   Definitely chocolate, unless I'm trying to behave, diet-wise. In which case, I'll take cash.

   
   

5. What is the sweetest thing someone has ever done for you?
   I don't know that this is the sweetest thing ever, but it's awful sweet and it's the first thing that comes to mind:

   I am very involved in my local Democratic Party and other political stuff,
   and sometimes Shrike gets a bit annoyed by it all.
   
   (Especially when I want to "invite a bunch of strangers to our house," which I do from time to time. )
   
   A couple of years ago, I participated in a statewide fellowship that was a long-term training program for progressive political leaders, and those who'd like to be.
   
   It involved monthly trips to big citys three and four hours away, either for all day on a Saturday, or sometimes over night. It also cost a good bit of money.
   
   Needless to say, I love it, but it was a bit of a sacrifice on her part for me to participate.
   
   As I was preparing for the first weekend, I realized that I didn't have a decent briefcase or anything similar to carry my stuff in. I'd been carrying my lunch and other things to work in an old tote bag from a school where I used to teach (complete with mascot logo) but that just didn't seem to project the image that I was looking for.
   
   She loaned me an old leather satchel / briefcase of hers for the weekend, but it had seen better days. I appreciated it though, and it was much better than anything I had available. But that's not the sweet part yet.
   
   When I got back home on Sunday, she was at work, but sitting on my chair was a brand new black nylon bag, with room for all my papers (and, later, thanks to Anonydaddy, a laptop) and just about anything else I could possibly carry in it.
   
   It was exactly what I needed - functional enough to be useful and professional enough to make the kind of impression I was going for.
   
   Most importantly, though, she'd gone out of her way to find it and pick it out and get it for me, and to me it's not just a bag, but a symbol of her support of me and of my goals and interests - even if they are not things that she would choose herself.
   
   And that's pretty damned sweet.

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Five on Friday #2: Thinking Warm Thoughts

1. What is your favorite hot beverage?
   Coffee and Kahlua, with whipped cream
   
2. Describe your favorite hot food?
   Chili con queso dip, from Casa Ole'
   
3. What piece of clothing makes you feel warm and snuggly the moment you put it on?
   Shrike's big purple hoody, shown here
   
4. Do you warm up your car on cold days? Do you run the heat all the time or just enough to defrost the windows?
   If I'm clearing ice or snow, I'll start the car / heater and let it warm up while I do that. If not, I'll just hop in and go, cursing the cold (and the woman who's making me live in it) for the first few minutes until the heat kicks in. The new car actually warms up pretty quickly, though. I run the heat full-out at first, then switch it from dash to mixed to floorboard, and then turn it down, as it gets warmer.
   
5. What is your ideal warm-weather vacation spot?
   Hmm, the Caribbean?

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Five on Friday #1: Healthy Habits

Because I don't have enough memes to play with!

1. Do you wear sunscreen? Do you use it everyday or just when you're at the beach?
   At the beach, and occassionally at an all-day outdoor type of even (like PrideFest), when I remember. More likely, I go without and my forearms and ears get burned (and, if I'm not wearing a hat, my scalp, through my spikey-dykey do.
   
2. How often do you brush your teeth? What about floss and flouride?
   I brush at least twice a day, morning and evening. I rarely floss and never flouride.
   
3. Do you get at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day?
   Rarely, but I'm trying to do better about this. A trip to the grocery store would help.
   
4. How often do you exercise? What do you do?
   I walk the dogs with Shrike on the weekends. That's really about it right now.
   
5. Do you use a seatbelt every time you get into a car?
   Absolutely. Anonymama taught me well. (Although we used to ride around, unbelted, in the "back-back" of the station wagon as kids. We didn't know any better then.)

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