Empathy

Saturday Centus time again! The prompt is in italics, courtesy of Mr Jenny!

I settled into the comfortable movie theater seat with awkward 3D glasses perched on my nose, a small tub of popcorn on my lap, and a bottle of water lodged into the seat holder, although it was dark I felt self conscious. I was not used to going out on my own and wondered why I had chosen a 3d movie. I needed to share my feeling of looking stupid with the glasses, but those days were gone.

The room was almost empty. I snuggled down in the seat and prepared to be entertained. I became aware of somebody sitting next to me. “Do you mind?” she asked. I shook my head. “I feel so stupid coming here alone, I just had to make an effort”she said. “I’ve never done this before”.

Sunday Stealing – The Clown’s Meme 1

Sunday comes around so soon – off we go with this week's Sunday Stealing I've just noticed it says '1' after the title, which suggests there's more to come – there's 33 questions in this one – my answers may be brief!!
As it's Valentine's day I've chosen an image to suit the occasion!

1. How old will you be in five years? Old enough not to want to share it with the world!

2. Who did will you spend at least two hours with today? John – it's Valentine's day – it would be wrong not too!

3. How tall are you? 5 foot 7 inches

4. What do you look forward to most in the next six weeks? My next holiday!

5. What's the last movie you saw? Nine

6. Who was the last person you called? John – to ask for a lift home on Friday

7. Who was the last person to call you? John – to see if I was ready to come home on Friday!

8. What was the last text message you received? 'I'm sorry L but thank you x' – don't worry – just a friend who is continually losing/breaking her phone and needs to be reminded of our numbers!

9. Who was the last person to leave you a voicemail? John!

10. Do you prefer to call or text? Depends on who to!

11. What were you doing at 12am last night? Sleeping!

12. Are your parents married/separated/divorced? Both no longer with us

13. When is the last time you saw your mom? About nineteen years ago

14. What color are your eyes? Brownie/greeny combination

15. What time did you wake up today? 5.27 am

16. What are you wearing right now? My PJs!

17. What is your favorite christmas song? Sure I answered this before but can't remember what I said and can't be bothered to go back to check!

18. Where is your favorite place to be? Home

19. Where is your least favorite place to be? Nowhere in particular

20. Where would you go if you could go anywhere? Can't think of anywhere specific – but if it was somewhere warm on a big ship, that would be great

21. Where do you think you'll be in 10 years? Probably still here – but hopefully retired!

22. Do you tan or burn? Burn if I'm not careful but tan if I'm sensible

23. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child? Whatever it was that was making the strange noises I could hear!

24. What was the last thing that really made you laugh? Mmmm – really laugh? There was a quiz show on TV last week and the contestants were so dense they could hardly answer any questions – that was hilarious!

25. How many TVs do you have in your house? Four!

26. How big is your bed? UK King size – just big enough for two!

27. Do you have a laptop or desktop computer? I use a laptop mostly but we also have a desktop.

29. What color are your sheets? White – boring!

30. How many pillows do you sleep with? Two

31. What is your favorite season? Spring

32. What do you like about Autumn? The smells as the leaves start to fall

33. What do you like about winter? Shutting the door and keeping warm indoors!

The Pretentious Blogging Meme – Part 2

I'm quite glad that Judd found he'd missed of some questions from last week – I thought it was a bit short! Here's my response to this week's Sunday Stealing.

If you're reading this and I haven't visited you or left a comment, please excuse my laziness! I'm struggling to keep up with it all at the moment – hopefully normal service will be resumed shortly.

12. How many drafts of potential blog posts do you have right now? Just one! I started a rant a few months ago but decided not to post it!

13. In what medium do you draft your posts? I use the templates in Word 2007 – only trouble is I can't work out how to add photos, so if anybody can help please let me know!!

14. How often do you completely scratch or delete drafts or blog post ideas? Not very – most of my posting is as it comes into my head. The only time I really delete anything is if it won't publish properly – for instance when I end up with a huge hyperlink like last week – that was the fourth attempt and I gave up!

15. If you had to leave your blog in your will to another blogger, who would you choose? I don't think I would. I think it would be best just to let it be.

16. Are there other blogs that you feel are similar to yours in content, style, or voice? Mmmm good question. I'm not really sure. There are some similar blogs that I follow but it would be hard to be specific I think.

17. Has anything surprised you since you started blogging? Oh yes! Friendships made all over the place, especially from memes like this, we tend to 'speak' to other participants on a weekly basis.

18. What are your goals or plans for your blog going forward? Just more of the same really, I have no grand ambitions.

19. Do you make any money from your blog? (optional) about how much a month? LOL – I had an adsense bar and the last time I looked I think I'd made about 20cents – I'm obviously not in it for the money!

20. What blogging system do you use? Blogger – it was the first one I tried. Sometimes I look at the systems on other blogs and think I might prefer the layout but I'm quite happy with what I've got – just like to do a bit of decorating and tidying occasionally.

21. How did you come up your blog name? I thought I was really original. I knew the content would be totally random and that I'd just ramble on about anything and everything and Random Ramblings was born – along with loads of other blogs with the same name!

22. How many blogs do you have? What was your peak? Just the one – I don't have time for any more!

23. Are you having as much fun as when you started? More fun! I know more now and it's more adventurous!!

24. Where do you find other bloggers like you? I started just by using the 'Next Blog' function as the top of the Blogger page, found a few I liked and then picked a few others up to follow from those blogs.

25. What's your one wish when it comes to blogging? Oh difficult one to finish. Dare I say I'd be chuffed to be the Blog of Note one day?

Sunday Stealing – The Pretentious Meme

I think this is a strange title for a meme! But as it's all about my favourite waste of time, I'll go along with it – check out the others over at Sunday Stealing

1. How long have you been blogging? Since May 2009 – this is my very first post!

2. What made you start? I receive a lot of 'funnies' through email and I'm not a great one for sending them on to 'ten people and something good will happen in ten minutes' type of thing, so I thought that this would be a great way of sharing them. I had absolutely no idea that it would run away with me the way it has!

3. Who inspired you? Nobody really. I had checked out the odd blog from news sites and didn't actually know anybody who blogged – either in person or on the Blogosphere. When I first started, the friend that I call Julie (there's that overdue mention J) encouraged me no end and then other people found their way to the Ramblings and it just grew from there.

4. About how many hours a week would you estimate you spend on your blog? On my blog probably no more than a couple of hours now but I do spend an inordinate amount of time blog-hopping from site to site, envying the creative ability of many of those that I visit.

5. What kind of experience or background do you have with writing? My experience is limited to school and work! I hadn't written anything remotely creative for over 30 years when I started (apart from a holiday journal which I only started about five years ago). My work writing is limited to formal letters and reports containing facts and figures – I guess that could be interpreted as creative at times!

6. Talk about how you come up with blog topics. Where do you get your ideas? A lot of my posts are related to my life so are autobiographical in content. Sometimes when I'm hopping I pick up on an idea and credit it back to its source.

7. What or who inspires you and your blog? My life, friends, family – other bloggers!

8. Where and/or how do your brainstorming for your blog? I don't really brainstorm – however a lot of my ideas do arrive at times of sleeplessness, sadly a lot of them don't stay in my mind until the cold light of day!

9. Do you have any blogging rules or guidelines you follow? I tend not to share any political opinions and try not to rant too often.

10. Is there anything you will not blog about? Politics!

11. Do you have any sort of a publishing schedule in terms of day of week or topic? I've just started a meme on Thursday's which I picked up at Jenny's blog – Alphabe-Thursday, so I've committed to that for 26 weeks (yes – one week per letter of the alphabet!) and of course Sunday Stealing! I also like to write about the other stuff so I suppose at the moment I'm trying for three posts a week which, compared to when I started, is lightweight!!

Sunday Stealing - The Trivia About Me Meme

This is more like it – I think I can answer most of these! Have a look at some of the others over at Sunday Stealing

Opening…

Do you get regular massages? Not massage but I do have monthly reflexology – the only way I can have my feet touched!

Do you have an answering machine? Yes – but I never notice it flashing!

What cuss word do you use the most? Oh bother J

Are you underweight or overweight? Oh – seriously overweight, diet will start tomorrow!

Can you see your veins? Yep – very prominent in the backs of my hands!

Favorite…

Soap? I only watch Eastenders these days – although I don't know why as it's so depressing! (After writing this I saw that other people had mentioned soap as in washing! In that case Dove!)

Fruit? I'm bad at eating fruit but do like pineapple – shame it's a bit messy to prepare!

Kind of red meat? Beef – cooked just so!

Fish? Again, I'm bad at eating fish but do like haddock from time to time.

Candy bar? Most of them!

Have You Ever…

Eaten a whole bag of potato chips? Oh yes – sometimes even those really big ones!

Eaten lobster? Yes – but only on a cruise when I don't have to pay separately for it!

Climbed a mountain? Only in a cable car!

Been skydiving? No!

Been water skiing? No!

Do You…

Wish you could change something about your life? I don't think so – not right now, there have been times in the past though...

Like your nose? It's alright!

Like salt and vinegar chips? Yes!

Eat salsa? Not often

Own a boat? No!

What Is…

A small thing that people let slide but that actually has dire consequences? Health – screening's out there people – use it!

Your most macho trait? My love of football – the soccer kind!

The longest relationship you've ever had? My current one – nearly 27 years!

Your most embarrassing thoughts? Do you think I'd share them here??

Your most shameful moment? Nothing springs to mind...

This/That…

Bath/Shower? Shower – never seem to have time for the luxury of a bath!

Markers/Crayons? Either

Pens/Pencils? Pencils

Jelly/Cream Cheese? Cream Cheese

Bagel/Toast? Toasted Bagel!!!

Finish…

My greatest weakness is…the time I spend on line!

I wish I was…still sleeping!

Three things I wouldn't do for a million dollars are…sky dive, water ski or abseil!

The oddest thing I've ever put in my mouth is…again would you expect me to say???

Firsts…

Credit card you had? Was a long time ago, took me forever to pay it off and I no longer use them.

Loan you got was for? My first car

Paycheck was for how much? I think about £90 but that was 34 years ago!

Time you had stitches? Apologies but when I had my first son – probably too much information!

Time you went to the hospital for something? To have my tonsils removed

Lasts…

List everything you ate in the last 24 hours? There is not enough space here for that!!!

Last thing you used a credit card for? See above – can't remember!

What was your job previous to the one you have now? Similar role - always done the admin type thing!

Last thing you celebrated? Christmas

Last time you were at a sports bar? Only been once, ended up in Hooters in St Loius – not realising what sort of bar it was, my 18 year old son loved it tho' – can't think why!!!

Sunday Stealing The Can’t Sleep Meme

It's that time again, I know I often say this but I was going to give this one a miss but changed my mind! So here's this weeks Sunday Stealing – with my tongue planted, well and truly, in my cheek for a lot of them!

Would it be hard to kiss the last person you kissed?

- No – strange question, is it deeper than I'm thinking?

When is it hard to kiss someone?

- When they're not there, doh!

You're trapped in a room with your most recent ex for three days, what do you do?

- No idea – such a long time ago. Perhaps compare notes on the past 27 years???

Does it matter to you if your significant other smokes?

- Yes – disgusting smelly habit

Have you ever regretted letting someone go?

- No

Where would you go if you were butt naked and locked out of your house?

- To pieces! I would have to have been sleep walking or something for that to happen!

Do you want to please everyone?

- No, sadly I can't.

Have you ever been called heartless?

- Not to my face

Someone calls you at 3:00 AM, who do you expect it to be?

- I hate phone calls at that time, it's generally bad news..

Does it matter if your significant other drinks?

- I hope he does, otherwise he'll dehydrate! Oh – I think you mean alcohol, that's OK in moderation!

Could you go the rest of your life without doing drugs?

- What is it with the drugs obsession? Never have done, never will do – stop asking!

Which is better, amazing eyes or an amazing smile?

- Oh, both equal I think

Do you want to get married and have children one day?

- Been there, done that thank you!

Are you easy to get along with?

- I like to think so

Do you ever want to go to sleep and not wake up?

- I'll amend that to 'not wake up until morning' and the answer is yes – every night!

Are you shorter than your Mom?

- I wasn't no.

Describe your life currently in one word:

- Good

Are you on medication for anything?
- Yep – High blood pressure

Who would you allow to read your thoughts for one day?

- Too weird!

Are there things in your life that you will never be able to get over?

- Probably – not sure I'd want to share them here though!

If you woke up naked next to the last person you kissed, what would your reaction be?

- Good morning!

Sunday Stealing - The Party Mummy Meme

Strange title for this one – not quite sure where the party or the mummy comes into the equation – I'm sure I must have answered virtually every question ever asked in some form or another by now! Excuse the image – try searching photo bucket for 'Party Mummy' – some very interesting suggestions....

Here we go – this week's Sunday Stealing:

1. Name someone with the same birthday as you. My friends mum and a colleagues daughter!

2. Where was your first kiss? On my front door step – not a great success!

3. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex? If yes, why? Probably – can't really remember.

4. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people? When? Way back in primary school days!

5. What's the first thing you notice about your preferred sex? Strange question – I guess it's aimed at people who are on the lookout for a new significant other of the preferred sex!

6. What really turns you off? Smelly feet!

7. What is your biggest mistake? Not a mistake, but a regret at not going on to higher education when I was younger.

8. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose? No.

9. Say something totally random about yourself. Errrr – such as?

10. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity? No.

11. Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows? No.

12. Are you comfortable with your height? Yes – I'm stuck with so what else can I do?

13. What is the most romantic thing someone of the preferred sex has done for you? Proposed to me!

14. When do you know it's love? When you can't sleep after a date and they never leave your thoughts

15. What's something that really annoys you? My addiction to trying to answer stupid questions in memes!

Sunday Stealing – The Over The Top Meme

Back to reality! This week's Sunday Stealing is an interesting one. I'm starting to have de ja vue with some of these questions as they appear in other forms quite regularly, anyway here goes with this week's meme:

Part One - Describe:

Your hair? Naturally mousey brown with a very slight sprinkle of grey – enhanced with a touch of red!

Your mother? Died about 19 years ago

Your father? Died about 2 years ago

Your favorite food? Depends on my mood! I love anything cooked by somebody else – even if it's just a takeaway!

Your dream last night? Weird – but can't remember the content

Your favorite drink? Cup of Earl Grey tea – easily pleased!

Your dream/goal? Health, wealth and happiness!

The room are you in? Living room.

Your hobby? Errr – blogging! Anything to do with the internet, reading when I have the time to devote to it and crochet when I can keep my eyes open for long enough!

Your fear? Failure – professionally in the coming months!

Your TV? Does this mean what you watch – if so anything that isn't too taxing!

Your Pets? None at the moment although we have had cats in the past.

Friends? Several, all important

Your life? Pretty good, thank you!

Your mood? Also pretty good! Full of optimism at the moment as my son prepares to buy his first home.

If you're missing someone? No one springing to mind.

Your best friend? I could echo the previous BFF answer but instead will say as new friends are made daily, all are equally important.

Part Two - The Where's?

Where do you want to be in 6 years? Can't think that far ahead!

Where were you last night? At home

Where did you grow up? Borehamwood, Hertfordshire in the UK

One place that I go to over and over? Work!!!

Your favorite place to eat out? Have several but probably anything pasta and Arlingtons.

Wish list items? Nothing really – oh apart from a new boss as good as the one that's leaving!

Last time you laughed? Probably yesterday but nothing obvious is coming to mind!

Last time you cried? I really can't remember.

Part Three - The What's?

Something that you aren't? Warm – my feet are freezing!

Last thing you did? Made a cup of tea and took it upstairs to John.

What are you wearing? Night shirt and dressing gown!

Something you're not wearing? Slippers or socks – hence the cold feet!!

Your favorite store? Don't really have one – if you asked my bank account it would probably be Sainsburys (supermarket) as that's where most of my money goes!!

The Strange Question Meme - Part 2

Prepared in advance 'cos I'm on holiday!! (Hope the timing thing has worked on Blogger!!) Sunday Stealing here we go... (just hope that they've gone with part two of last week's meme!!!)


26. What color is your watch? Love watches have several – black & silver, gold (coloured!), silver with sparkly crystal bits!
27. What do you think of when you hear "Australia"? Large expanse of land far away!
28. Would you strip for money? No – not for anything.
29. Do you go in a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? Don't often go to fast food places these days – unless I'm travelling
30. What is your favorite number? 28 – pay day each month!
31. Who's the last person you talked to on the phone? Number 1 son
32. Any plans today? (Pretending to write this while on the Red Sea) A bit of sightseeing, sunbathing and eating glorious food!
33. In how many states have you lived? I'm going to substitute that for Counties as I'm in the UK – four!
34. Biggest annoyance right now? I have a cold! Been brewing for weeks, I just knew it would come out when I finished work!
35. Last song listened to? I'll have heard many different songs by the time this is posted but on Wednesday morning Sex on Fire by Kings of Leon!
36. Can you say the alphabet backwards? Not without saying it forward first.
37. Do you have a maid service clean your house? Yes! I have a lady who does on a Tuesday afternoon, it's lovely to come home to a clean house once a week!
38. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? Given a choice it would be flip-flops, I hate winter when you have to wrap your feet in tight shoes!
39. Are you jealous of anyone? No, I don't think so.
40. Is anyone jealous of you? I wouldn't think so – they'd be mad if they were!
41. Do you love anyone? Yes, lots of people.
42. Do any of your friends have children? Yes
43. What do you usually do during the day? Monday to Friday work, Saturday and Sunday housey things, football if we're at home, generally chilling where possible though.
44. Do you hate anyone that you know right now? This one came up a few memes ago – no, hate is a very strong word.
45. Do you use the word hello daily? Yes – along with a lot of other forms of greeting!
46. What color is your car? Silver.
47. What size wedding ring do you wear? I discovered last week that my wedding ring was dangerously tight (UK sizes are alpha) when I got it off discovered it was N but need a P now. L
48. Are you thinking about someone right now? Not someone but lots of people. If this delayed posting has worked I'll be missing the folks back home!
49. Have you ever been to Six Flags? No but have seen them in the distance as we travel the interstates on our trips to the US
50. How did you get your worst scar? I had surgery on my jaw a few years ago – lovely scar from the top of my ear to my chin, barely noticeable really but I know it's there!

Sunday Stealing One Long Meme – part 1

Hehe found this really early this week – just as well 'cos I'm going to be tight for time tomorrow!

Here's this week's meme from Sunday Stealing given that it's name is One Long Meme (part 1) I think we can expect more of the same possibly next week!

1. The phone rings. Who will it to be? Son2 asking for a lift home from work – it's too expensive for him to park his car everyday!

2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart? Always – why wouldn't you?

3. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener? Ohhh – a talker mostly. I hate difficult silences so always start off the conversation

4. Do you take compliments well? Of course not – I'm British!!!

5. Do you play Sudoku? Oh no – my husband plays enough for two!

6. If abandoned alone in the wilderness, would you survive? Probably not – I'm a wimp L

7. Did you ever go to camp as a kid? Only to Guide (Girl Scout) camp – hated, hated, hated it!!!

8. What was your favourite game as a kid? Really can't remember it was soooo long ago

9. If a sexy person was pursuing you, but you knew she he was married, would you? No!!!

10. Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you? This isn't really relevant but probably when I was younger – yes.

11. Do you like to pursue or be pursued? Too old to worry about either now!

12. Use three words to describe yourself? Good to have around (sorry – I know that was four)

13. Do any songs make you cry? It depends where they're being sung – if it were a wedding or a funeral most songs make me cry!

14. Are you Did you continue your education? No – I left school at 16, I'd had as much as I could take by then, haven't done too bad though considering!

15. Do you know how to shoot a gun? No!

16. Have you ever taken pictures in a photo booth? As a teenager – my that's a long time ago now!

17. How often do you read books? I always have a book that I'm allegedly reading – don't read anywhere near as often as I used to though.

18. Do you think more about the past, present or future? Probably the present

19. What is your favourite children's book? Percy the Park Keeper (that's the only one I can think of!)

20.What colour are your eyes? Green with a brown 'splodge' in one of them!

21. How tall are you? Five foot seven-ish (with an allowance for shrinkage due to old age!)

22. Where is your dream house located? I don't know – I don't think it exists yet!

23. If your house was on fire, what would be the first thing you grabbed? My phone!

24. When was the last time you were at Olive Garden? Now this will surprise some of my American friends but it was July 2008 in Branson, MO! I love Olive Garden but we don't have them here in the UK.

25. Where was the furthest place you travelled today? Just in to Town – about 3 miles.

26. Do you like mustard? I love it – but I mean English mustard – good and hot from a nice fresh jar!

Sunday Stealing – The Random Dozen Meme

Ok here we are again – Sunday comes around far too fast! Sunday Stealing has managed to track this one right back to its creator! I've had trouble formatting the bullets on this one – for some reason Word is not liking double digit bullets! (Scrap that - I've edited in Blogger now and removed all the numbering!)

When you go to Wowmart, what one thing do you get every single time, besides a funky-wheeled squeaking cart full of frustration?

I'm really lazy busy and don't often go supermarket shopping – I tend to opt for home delivery! Nearly always order the same stuff though!

What is something that people are currently "into" that you just don't get or appreciate?

Some of the reality TV shows – always used to watch Big Brother but this year it has totally passed me by and the Apprentice – never really 'got' it!

What is something that really hoists your sail that other people might feel "ho-hum" about?

Has to be Blogging – for my non-Blogging friends, oh – and Twitter –some people just don't get it!!

Favourite song to sing in the shower or car?

I don't really have one – never in either for that long that I have time to sing! Although last weekend I sang along to all the wonderful Beatles tracks that were being played on the radio – knew almost all of the words as well!

A really great salad must have this ingredient:

Radishes – grew some for the first time this year and they were delicious!

What advice in a nutshell would you give to new bloggers?

Write as if it's just for you! But always remember somebody, somewhere will find it!

What was the alternate name that your parents almost named you? Do you wish they had chosen it instead of the one they gave you?

I was going to be Christine – instead they chose it as my middle name. When I was younger I hated my name because people seemed to want to call me Helen or Hazel all the time!

What in your life are you waiting for?

The boys to leave home! Oh, that sounds really mean – I don't mean it to.

You get a package in the mail. What is it, and who is it from?

Just about the only package I get in the mail these days would be a book I've ordered from play.com. I've ordered loads lately and need to find time to stop blogging/surfing and get on and read good old fashioned books! The last one to arrive was A Thousand Splendid Suns.

Today–what song represents you?

D'ya know – I can't think of a single one – failure on this one I'm afraid!

What is one thing that blogging has taught you about yourself?

That I can (sometimes) be quite witty and entertaining? And that not everything will contain humour. That I use far too many exclamation marks!!!!!!!! And parenthesises ((((^.^))))!!!!!!

How are you going to (or how did you) choose the clothes you're wearing today? What do they say about you in general or specifically how you're feeling today?

Today being a stay at home Sunday will be jeans and a T shirt – they say that I really can't be bothered to make an effort at the weekend but that I am quite comfortable with myself (that is until they get too tight towards the end of the day)