Rob, aka Bob, aka Hubs, Roger, Ronald, Ribbon, Rupert, RuPaul, and a million other things I've called him over the last 13 years... is back in the hospital. The kids are asleep, the cats are passed out, and the house is quiet. I can't sleep, and I can't seem to focus enough to get anything else of import accomplished, either.
And so, I am going to catch up on some memes I missed this summer. Feel free to skip over this post if you find those boring, but I promise you some entertaining answers to follow...!
The Autumn Meme
First of all, is autumn your favorite season? Why or why not?
Heck, no. In order of favorites, they are: Summer, Spring, Autumn, Winter. I hate the cold, and I hate the impending cold. I am fairly certain I suffer from some degree of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Thankfully, here in Miami, it matters little anymore. Dodged that bullet!
Is it ‘autumn’ or ‘fall’, to you?
It depends on whether I'm in a snooty mood or not. "Fall" is for the layman, is it not?
What kind of weather does your area get during this season?
As mentioned, we live in Miami now, so if memory serves (and, admittedly, I haven't lived here in Autumn since - gosh! - 1997), it's pretty much just Late-Summer weather. In other words, more sun, more rain, more heat. I went outside last night at 2200, when it was still 83ºF. I can live with that!
Were you born in an autumn month?
Sorta-kinda. I was born September 8th, so not really, but yeah.
Do you pay attention to any ‘fall fashions’?
Ha. I was just "lamenting" this to Rob the other day. I have oodles upon oodles of free magazine subscriptions, and of course right now they're all filled with the latest Fall fashions, none of which apply to me. I look, but I can't touch, y'know? It doesn't really interest me, anyway, other than to flip pages quickly while I knit. Someone who is a slave to fashion is most probably not one of my very best chums.
Which leaf color is your favorite?
I like them all, except green. Nothing wrong with green, but it's like the ubiquitous white walls of an apartment. Change is good.
Is it still fun to rake the leaves and jump in piles of them?
The day I get tired of that, shoot me dead.
When can you really tell that it’s autumn?
Well, around here, it's when the calendar says so. Anywhere else, I'd say it's when the stores stop filling up with berries and drupes and start filling up with apples and gourds. (What? I like produce.)
Do you enjoy carving pumpkins?
I love it, but I have no particular talent for it. I'm always looking for something new to do with pumpkins, though. The year we did the puking pumpkin, we got a lot of neighborhood attention. People loved our stolen idea! I have thoughts about this year's pumpkin(s), too, but I'm not spilling yet!
Do you eat the pumpkin seeds? If so, do you put any kind of flavoring on it?
Yes, and no. I love roasting them, and except for salt - and not even always, then - they're good enough on their own. I never did understand eating something solely as a conduit for other flavorings.
Are you planning to go to a pumpkin patch this year?
I guess I better get on Swagbucks (okay, Google, for you regular folk) and investigate! I lurve a pumpkin patch; it's probably the kids' favorite annual tradition.
Which was your favorite Halloween costume to wear?
I was a dancer as a tween, so I always loved to wear the previous recital costume(s) when I went out, whether to parties or trick-or-treating. It was simple, after all.
Are you planning to go trick-or-treating? Why or why not?
If Rob is home, he'll probably take the kids. I adore staying home and passing out the candy. I'm a control freak; I love to make sure each handful is evenly dosed. Aside from that obvious nonsense, I love seeing all the cute kiddos! (And yes, I get annoyed by the teens in their daily street clothes.)
Are there any county fairs or festivals held nearby during this time?
I don't rightly know. Our county fair is in February, but who knows what goes on down in the Keys, just a few minutes south of here?
What is your favorite dessert for this time of year?
There is absolutely NOTHING better, in my mind, than a Dutch apple cream pie. Oh, my God. I can't even wait! ::drool::
Is your Thanksgiving Day in October or November, if you even celebrate it?
We do, in Thanksgiving. Who doesn't celebrate it? It is (or can be) completely secular. What's not to love about having gratitude for one's blessings?!
If you do celebrate it, where do you usually have Thanksgiving dinner?
I can't remember a Thanksgiving we had with anyone but ourselves, at home, aside from a disastrous attempt to share it on base when I was pregnant with the boys, in Guam. We went home and fixed ourselves some chicken and sides and called it good. Best Thanksgiving ever that year!
Do you remember any crafts you used to do that were autumn-themed?
You mean aside from the obvious hand-turkey drawings and pilgrim hats? As a kid? No, but I do get into it with the kids each and every year. I can't wait until Tuesday! We took a family vote: spread Halloween out over the whole month, day by day, or splurge at the end on one big hurrah? The former won by one vote. Yay!
Are any of your favorite bands doing a fall tour this year?
(Just kidding!)
I don't have TV, I don't have any budget for that, and so yes, I'm sure they are.
Which new TV show are you looking forward to this season?
Boohoo. Still no TV since the last question was answered.
How does autumn typically make you feel?
Wistful for Summer, until late October when holiday fever kicks in
What color do you always associate with autumn?
oranges, yellows, golds, and deep reds - falling leaf colors
Is there a song that always reminds you of this season?
"Wake me up when September ends" has been going through my mind all month!
Do you have any seasonal traditions?
Like I said, our best tradition is visiting the pumpkin patch. We always make sure to hit a hayride, do a cornfield maze, pick our gourds, have some warm apple cider (heh heh), and do the petting zoo thing. Not sure what Miami will visit upon us in that vein.
Do you spend a lot of time outside during this time of the year?
As much as at any other time, I guess. We love the outdoors - Rob, especially, is eager to get us more "hotel-friendly" folk (ie, me) into camping (ugh), fishing (blah), hunting (nope), and stuff, but he's just as happy going hiking, mountain biking or -climbing, and all manner of grizzly stuff by his lonesome. Well, with a buddy...
How can you tell that fall is over?
If there is a tree taller than my head in the living room, it's a sure sign that Winter has arrived.
What is a typical autumn outfit that you wear?
Here we go again. Hey, down here, you're lucky if I throw on shoes. And a brassiere.
Describe a perfect autumn day:
Let's pretend I'm in Central New York again, but this time I'm a parent, and my family is a happy one. We'll go do all the pumpkin patch things mentioned above, then go home and huddle in front of a fire, roasting chestnuts we picked up at the farm. One last glass of cider before baths and tucking in the kids, and that's a happy day.
Do you hate it when stores start promoting Christmas early?
To be honest, I'm pretty indifferent about it. I don't hate it, but I do think, REALLY?! Who are they kidding? I haven't bought my Halloween candy yet and you want me to buy ornaments. Crazily enough, this year, that's just what happened... ha!
What is your favorite thing about this season?
I'm going to take a stab at being healthy-ISH and stable-ISH now that SAD isn't going to be quite so, oh, over-taking this year, so I'll just say being with my family and celebrating the wonderful things that come with Autumn. I adore my little babes, and my guy, and just being together, no matter the season. <<mushy gushy>>
* * * * * * * *
Waking Up in Vegas
Thanks to Cat for recommending Katy Perry
1) As she sings about her night in Las Vegas, Katy wonders if she "got hitched last night dressed up like Elvis." Tell us about the last wedding you attended.
My BFF, Lisa, and her husband Faris, had a pretty traditional Arabic wedding. It was, in a word, AWESOME. Lisa was carried around on a chair, there was bellydancing, and the music! Wonderful. I loved every second of it and was sorry when it ended.
2) Whenever Crazy Sam visits Las Vegas, she stays at the Paris Hotel and Casino. Have you ever been to Las Vegas, Nevada? What about Paris, France?
I've been once, with my then-roommate, Marc. His parents sent us, and we stayed at the Treasure Island. We saw Cirque du Soleil's "O," which was amazing, and got comped for tons of meals. It was fabulous.
I have yet to go to Paris.
3) Do you enjoy gambling? Have you had any success at it?
I don't enjoy it; it's not fun to me to throw away money I don't have. When I turned 18, I bought a lotto ticket. I won $3 or $4! I bought a ticket the following week, too. I won nothing. I didn't buy another ticket.
4) Las Vegas is served by the RTC Bus Service and the Vegas Monorail System connects many of casinos on The Strip. When was the last time you rode a bus or a train?
In April or May, we took the Metrorail from the University of Miami campus in Coral Gables to Coconut Grove. We had fun running around in CocoWalk there, and then we took the bus back to the station, where we road the Metro back to UM. It wasn't much, but the kids adored it and keep begging to do it again!
5) It's not unusual for the mercury to hit 100º in Vegas in August. Which are you more comfortable in -- extreme heat or bone-chilling cold?
Answer your question? ;)
6) As a little girl, Katy Perry sang nothing but gospel. Do you remember any church songs from your childhood?
That was probably my favorite, along with several little-known hymns by Mary Baker Eddy. If you personally know any, color me shocked.
7) She made her film debut as the voice of Smurfette in The Smurfs (2011). Who is your all-time favorite cartoon character?
"Just keep swimming!"
8) Do you consider yourself a picky eater?
I'm not picky. I just won't eat:
- raw tomatoes
- mushrooms
- mustard
- most salad dressings
- mammals
- most birds
- any sea creatures that I have ever studied
- any other animals
- baked beans
- anything BBQ
and probably ten billion other things I'm forgetting.
9) You receive an invitation to a party that starts at 7:00 PM. When will you arrive?
It depends.
If it's a small gathering, I'm there by 7:15 PM. If it's a huge shindig where no one will notice whether I'm present or absent, I'll just get there whenever I can and slip out early unless I'm having a terribly good time.
And now I'm going to soak in a tub and read the latest issue of People.
Fin.