Booking Through Thursday - Horror!

Here's this week's Booking Through Thuirsday question, and it'll be a quick easy answer for me!

What with yesterday being Halloween, and all . . . do you read horror? Stories of things that go bump in the night and keep you from sleeping?

I thought about asking you about whether you were participating in NaNoWriMo, but I asked that last year. Although . . . if you want to answer that one, too, please feel free to go ahead and do both, or either, your choice!

I absolutely hate horror novels. I am a complete wimp as my husband will attest. I can't stand scary movies or books and avoid them all. If I accidentally start a book and realize it is too scary, I'll put it down immediately. I hate being scared! I'm not talking just blood and gore - I'm not good with the really psychologically twisted stuff either. I've never read or seen Silence of the Lambs, and I avoid Anne Rice novels! I'm sure horror novels are well-written, but they are not for me.

Saturday's Six - Halloween Spookyness

1. If you’re all alone on a dark and stormy night when a particularly scary movie comes on, will you watch it or change the channel?

Absolutely change the channel. I still remember one of my first baby-sitting jobs as a teenager. I made the mistake of watching a really cheesy horror movie and freaked myself out so much that I wouldn't open the door for the child's parents until they called me on the phone. Also, movies like The Sixth Sense give me nightmares for days. All someone has to do is go by me and whisper "I see dead people," and I'm doomed.

2. If you could remake any old horror movie, which one would you choose and why?

I don't like most horror movies, but I would like to see a modern remake of some of the Hitchcock classics like Rear Window or The Birds.

3. If you had the chance to spend the night in a room that you really believed was haunted by a malevolent ghost, would you?

Malevolent ghost - no way. I truly do believe that there are souls who have not crossed over, but I would be much more comfortable with a benevolent soul. I don't think that would flip me out at all.

4. Take the quiz: What is your Halloween personality?

What Your Halloween Habits Say About You

You're a friendly person, but not the life of the party. You like making someone else's day - and you'll dress up if you think of a really fun costume. Sneaky and devious, people should really watch out for you. You are usually underestimated and forgotten. Your inner child is stubborn and a bit bossy. You fear people taking advantage for you. You are always worried about protecting your own interests. You're prone to be quite emotional and over dramatic. Deep down, you enjoy being scared out of your mind... even if you don't admit it. You are a traditionalist with most aspects of your life. You like your Halloween costume to be basic, well made, and conventional enough to wear another year.

What's Your Halloween Personality?

5. Who is your favorite horror writer/novelist?

I don't really like horror novels. I get too scared, too easily. I recently read two of dean Koontz's Odd Thomas novels, which I did end up enjoying.

6. How many years has it been since you last went trick-or-treating?

Since I have an eight year old daughter, that would be last Halloween. Actually, we trick or treat in an area that gets an average of 700 - 900 (Yes, that's seven hundred to nine hundred) people at each door. It's quite a scene. We spend some time out amongst them, but have just as much fun helping to hand out candy. It takes three to four people to man the door at any one time all evening.

Saturday's Six - Numbers

Today is Saturday so it's time for Saturday's Six. It's all about numbers today.

1. If you were to count to three on your fingers, would you hold up your thumb, index and middle finger, or your index, middle and ring finger?

I actually had to try it just now, and I definitely use my index, middle, and ring fingers. I tried it the other way, and it's very uncomfortable.

2. What was the last thing you remember counting in your home?

I think it was for one of my daughter's homework assignments last year. It seems like we had to count the number of windows and doors in our house.

3. When you are listening to someone who uses repetitious phrases when speaking, such as, “you know,” how many of them do you generally need to hear before you begin subconsciously counting the occurrences?

I'm sure I do subconsciously count because I get really annoyed by repetitive language. I also know I count Ums and Ahs in conversations as well. I'd say I probably start counting after the third or fourth time.

4. Take the quiz: What is your expression number?

Your Expression Number is 11

You tend to be associated with idealistic concepts and spiritual issues. You have high potentials that are somewhat difficult to live up to. You have very strong intuition and you can be a bit psychic at times. Highly inspirational, you can lead merely by your own example. You have an inborn inner strength and awareness that helps you advise others. Although you have what it takes for a successful career, you belong outside the business world. Overly sensitive and temperamental, you tend to have a lot of nervous tension. You dream a lot, so much so that you may be more of a dreamer than a doer. Fantasy and reality tend to get intermingled for you, and that leads to impracticality.

What's Your Expression Number?

The last part of this doesn't fit me at all ... at least I hope not!

5. You’re calling a friend on the telephone and he’s not home: assuming he didn’t have voicemail, do you actually count how many rings go by or do you just hang up after a time you feel is sufficient for him to answer?


It's so rare to get a phone that rings more than about three times that I do count. I know that I've let a phone ring twenty times in the past because I was so amazed that it would ring that many times. Normally, though, I'd give up after about five or six rings. But I guess I am counting rings no matter what.

6. You go out to eat and you order a plate of twelve chicken wings. Do you actually count them before eating?

It would never occur to me to count. I've probably been shortchanged on food all my life:)

What a Coincidence!

OK ... I normally participate in the Saturday's Six meme at Patrick's Place. But this week, between soccer, ice skating, and a Girl Scout event, I didn't get to the computer much at all on Saturday, so I just passed on it this week.

Here's the irony. (Remember what events kept me away from this meme on Saturday?) I just took this week's Halloween costume quiz, and here's my answer:

Your Halloween Costume Should Be

A Girl Scout

What Should You Be For Halloween?

Saturday's Six - Carnivals

Here is Saturday's Six. It's raining here and has been on and off all day so I feel sorry for anyone at a carnival or the county fair today. It did mean soccer was canceled (YES!) so I guess there is some good out of the rain. Anyway, here are my answers:

1. What is your favorite carnival ride?

I actually don't like many carnival rides. My husband had an uncle who worked the carnival circuit, and he told my husband stories about how awfully maintained the rides were. I think I'm getting more cautious in my old age.

2. What is the biggest prize you ever won at a carnival or fair?

My husband won my a stuffed octopus in the arcade at Excalibur in Las Vegas. He got it on the second try, and we've never won anything since.

3. What is the most you ever spent at a single carnival game?

Maybe $10 - and that was probably with my daughter, and I had a weak moment and gave in.

4. Take the quiz: What carnival ride are you?

You Are a Haunted House

You are a deeply complicated and sometimes deeply disturbed person. You can't help but be attracted to the dark side of life - even when it's pretty gruesome. In relationships, you are honest and real. So real that it's definitely a little scary. You don't fake it or play along just to get along. And people either respect this... or deeply resent it Your life is thoughtful, deep, and even philosophical at times. You see the world as it is. You don't sugar coat anything. Facing and fighting your fears is important to you. You believe that too much of life is whitewashed. You're not too morbid... you just believe that you can't enjoy life without exorcising a few demons first! At your best, you are brave, intense, and fearless. Not only do you face the abyss head on - you challenge your friends to do the same. At your worst, you are depressed and morose. If you're not careful, your thoughts take over your mind... and they aren't pretty!

What Carnival Ride Are You?

This doesn't at all reflect me - at least I don't think so. Maybe I've been kidding myself :)

5. If you went to a typical carnival and realized you weren’t in the mood to ride the rides, what would you be more likely to want to do to amuse yourself?

I actually would rather go to the carnival, buy a treat, and watch the people go by. People watching is great fun at these kid of things. I especially enjoyed it at our local Renaissance Faire.

6. What job would you least like to have at a carnival or fair?

I think most of the jobs are awful. I wouldn't want to have to clean up the grounds after everyone has been a slob all day. I also think I'd hate having to work in the parking lot - what's the point of that. It might be fun to run a ride or attraction, though.

Saturday's Six - Restaurants

1. As a general rule, how much of a tip do you leave on a normal night of satisfactory service at a restaurant?

I tend to leave 20%. I feel sorry for most servers, who I think have a completely difficult and demanding job. Actually, I have added to other people's tips if I feel they are too low. I've become very good at being the last person away from the table, if I need to be.

2. What happens when the service and/or the food is completely unacceptable: how much of an impact does that have on your tip?

I will probably drop the tip to 10%. I do have a friend, who at times, tips in quarters. He puts the quarters, in a stack, on the table at the start of the meal. He tells the server that this is there tip. He will take quarters off the pile if the service is slow or mistakes are made. That's way too severe for me.

3. What was the last food you picked up from a restaurant and ate at home?

If fast food counts, it was probably Jack in the Box after a late night. If it's a "real" restaurant, I think we ordered Chinese a few weeks ago.

4. Take the quiz: What’s your pizza personality?

Meatball Pizza

Unusual and uncompromising. You're usually the first to discover a new trend. You appreciate a good meal and good company. You're an interesting blend of traditional and modern.

What's Your Pizza Personality?

This is horribly ironic because I don't eat red meat and have never had a meatball pizza in my life.

5. What was the last dish you tried to cook yourself based on a dish you sampled at a restaurant?

I don't know if cookies count by I've tried to duplicate the chocolate chip cookies from Mrs. Fields.

6. How close to the original recipe did yours get?

I've been told the cookies are very good and quite close to the original. The recipe is a pain in the neck, with a lot of ingredients including hand grated chocolate. I only try this once a year.

Saturday's Six - Grammar

1. How different is your speech pattern among your friends versus a stranger you’d meet on the street?

I've never really thought about it. I think I tend to speak the same to strangers as I do to my friends. I'm sure there are "lingo" words that I use with friends that I wouldn't use with strangers because they are unique to the background I have with people I know well. I'd hope I speak politely to everyone. I guess I'll be much more away of how I speak to people.

2. How often do you get asked where you’re from based on your accent?

I'm almost never asked because I was born and raised in California and still live in California so I guess I sound like everyone else. The last time I was asked where I was from from was in New York a number of years ago. Everyone I encountered didn't bother to ask they just knew I was from California so I guess I do have some type of accent or speech pattern. (I really want to add dude here!)

3. What word or phrase said by newscasters is your biggest pet peeve?

I hate how "slangy" the news has become. I can't think of an example right now because I tend to read my news since I find most newscasts very hard to listen to. I do feel the newscasters have become much too informal in their use of language.

4. Take the quiz: How good at grammar are you?

You Scored an A

You got 10/10 questions correct. It's pretty obvious that you don't make basic grammatical errors. If anything, you're annoyed when people make simple mistakes on their blogs. As far as people with bad grammar go, you know they're only human. And it's humanity and its current condition that truly disturb you sometimes.

The It's Its There Their They're Quiz

5. How often do you look up a word in a dictionary, either online or print?

I tend to look up words quite frequently. Since I teach first grade, I see so many words so dramatically misspelled that I start to doubt myself when I'm writing or editing student work and have to use a dictionary to confirm how things are spelled. My students think it is hysterical that I can't always spell simple words. I hope it teaches them, by example, that it's okay to look up words and that nobody can spell anything. Maybe I'm just kidding myself. I do use spell check whenever I can, even if I think I got it all right, but it doesn't catch everything. You really do need to read things through as well.

6. How many books or guides on grammar do you currently own?

I think I have one very dusty grammar guide on a shelf somewhere. I don't tend to use them. I rely on my husband, who has a very good sense of grammar, and I also tend to go with what looks right to me. Now I do have books of very basic grammar in my classroom all the time. Luckily, I don't tend to need these - I do remember how to start and stop a sentence.

Saturday's Six - Power of Ten

1. Twelve percent of Americans say they have never had someone of a different race in their home. Have you had someone of a different race in your home? Have you been in the home of someone of a different race?

Absolutely, I have had people of many ethnicities in my home. I have also been in their homes. It would never occur to me to issue, or accept, invitations based on race.

2. When asked if they think gay people are actually born gay (as opposed to “choosing” to be gay, 51% say that homosexuality is something one is born with. Do you agree?

I do not want to speak for anyone else, or for anyone else's experiences, so I really don't know the answer to this one. I have some friends who have told me that they knew from very early that they were attracted to the same sex, and others who were equally attracted to both sexes and made a choice to stick with one person because they had found their soul mate. So I do think there is a genetic component.

3. Given our society’s obsession with the “perfect body,” the number might be expected to be higher, but 33% of Americans say they’d leave their partner if he or she gained 100 pounds. Would you?

No, I would not. I love my husband. The only thing I would do is encourage him to see a doctor to make sure his health was not at risk.

4. This question was originally asked only of women, and 54% said they’d prefer to watch the Super Bowl over the Academy Awards. Which would you pick and why?

Absolutely the Academy Awards, but not for the awards themselves. The best part is watching the awful dresses many actresses select. I have never liked football, but if it were the Stanley Cup Finals - that's different story. I would find a sports bar to watch the Cup, if I couldn't get it on my cable system. That wouldn't happen with the Academy Awards.

5. We hear a lot these days about protecting the institution of marriage. Oddly enough, that phrase is generally used in efforts to prevent people who love each other and want a committed relationship from actually getting married. Fifty percent of Americans say that it would be a good idea to require couples eligible for marriage to undergo marriage counseling before they can walk down the aisle. Is this a good idea or a bad idea?

My husband and I were required to attend a day of counseling before getting married, and it was a joke. It was a group setting, and the couple presenting the information were very uncomfortable. The husband took the lead, and they had a great deal of trouble with the sexual part of the presentation. If someone could do it well, it would be a good thing. I think mandating marriage counseling would put a whole lot of bad programs out there that would do more harm than good.

6. A popular potato chip’s ad slogan says, “Once you pop, you can’t stop.” But 39% of Americans claim that they can stop at just one chip. Are you one of them?

If it's a chip I like, then no I can't stop. But there are some chips I don't like, like Fritos, so one is definitely enough.

Saturday's Six

This week's Saturday Six seems a bit deep and, potentially, controversial, but I'm giving it a try.

1. Considering all possible factors about a person that make us different, like age, appearance, religion, race, origin, sexual preference, etc., with 10 being the most prejudiced and 1 being the least, how do you think you would rate yourself? I'd rate myself a 1 in all areas. I truly don't care about things like age, religion, sexual preference etc. I like to get to know people for who they are as individuals. I will start conversations with just about anybody and form my opinions based on the individual as a whole. I know that sounds like the politically correct answer, but it truly is the case for me.

2. You’re having a problem with a product or service and you call customer service. You are finally connected with someone who has a thick accent that sounds difficult to understand. What is the first thing that goes through your mind? I don't tend to think anything about it as long as I can understand the person, and they can understand me. My goal is to get the issue resolved. I only ask to be connected to a supervisor, or another representative, if the first person cannot resolve my issue. This would apply to anyone I spoke with on the phone, accent or not.

3. A co-worker you like tells you that his or her church is holding an “open house” and is encouraging people of other faiths to visit. You and your co-worker are of different faiths. How likely would you be to attend? It would depend on the individual involved - not the church. In the past, I have accepted invitations to a number of Jewish temples and Baptist churches and had a wonderful, uplifting time. I wouldn't accept the invitation if I didn't enjoy, and respect, the person who issued the invite.

4. Take the quiz: Are you prejudiced?

You Are Not Prejudiced

Not only are you color blind, but you're also ethnicity blind, gender blind, and sexual orientation blind. You don't judge someone until you truly know them. And even then, you're probably reluctant to judge. You try to treat everyone equally. Everyone has a fair chance with you. Good job - there's not a prejudiced bone in your body.

Are You Prejudiced?

5. You lose a big promotion to someone who you considered to be less qualified than you are, despite the fact that you are only going by instinct in making that determination. If your boss later pulls you aside and explains that because of a growing effort to promote diversity, the other person was selected over you. What would your first reaction likely be? I've never even been close to that situation. The key to the question is that I would be operating on instinct, which is not complete information. I hope my first reaction would be to support the person in their new position and give them the benefit of the doubt. I say "I hope" because I've never been anywhere near this type of situation.

6. Your car breaks down in a neighborhood in which everyone is of a different race than you: are you more likely to be uncomfortable? The racial issue wouldn't make me uncomfortable at all. I would probably be uncomfortable if my car broke down if I were alone, or just with my daughter, in any neighborhood or situation. I'd be more concerned about the vulnerability of a woman and child. In fact, I'd probably be uncomfortable with police assistance, as well, considering the impostor issues in my area. I would probably have my cell on and connected to someone I trusted the whole time, no matter where I was. I wouldn't be as concerned if I were with a group of people, or if my husband were there.

Saturday's Six - Karma

OK ... I almost skipped this one when I read the questions because it seemed kind of deep and metaphysical but .... if you believe in karma, and I do, then I'm meant to think about these things at this point in time. God, or whatever power source you believe in, led me to these thoughts. So here it goes:


1. What is the most unlucky thing that has happened to you all week?
I don't think it was "bad luck," but I did have to tell a small lie to my parents to cover for another small lie I had told them earlier. This really was a result of my being untruthful and, maybe, it was God's way of reminding me of that.

2. Do bad things happen more often to good people or bad people?
I think bad things can happen to anyone - look at Darfur or the Holocaust. I don't think that people attract these bad things to them either. I really believe that sometimes we are put in situations which are totally beyond our control, or comprehension, because we do not know what the Divine Plan truly is. I do believe we can control some things using theories of positive thinking and the laws of attraction discussed in The Secret.

3. How much do you believe that you can improve your outlook in life (from a “fate” perspective) by doing good deeds and correcting past wrongs? I'm not sure about this one ... the question could mean many things. However, I do believe that there is some kind of "karma bank." What I mean by that is that I can attract a positive outcome to an event by using energy in a positive way. Now, I may not always realize how the events are connected because I'm not a part of the Plan, but I do believe my actions have ramifications to my future.

4. Take the quiz: What will happen to you in the future?

The Quiz of Luck - What Will Happen In Your Future?

Seems like you are not in big trouble. Actually, this result is actually BETTER than average. You will have a perfect job. You will make a lot of money. The job that you will have is being a kind of doctor. You will not marry. Many (wo)men will like you or did like you in your college, but you don't think anybody is good enough for you. You will live in a two-story house when you are older. Two stories all for you is good enough for you! You will have many dinners in your house. The bad news is that you will be very lonely and sad - perhaps almost depressed when you are older. Yes, you will think that money is not everything in your life. Feel good young man. You will not bald /*_*\ Your hair will be the same as it is right now. You will feel that you are one of the prettiest/handsome (wo)man there is for your age /*_*\ You will be the over average (wo)man. In your future, nothing will hurt you. Only pain on the outside. When you are 87 years old, you will die of painful cancer.
Take this quiz!








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This is an odd quiz ... results don't truly reflect me, and the grammar is awful!

5. Do you believe in fate, coincidence, or both?I'm not sure I believe in either because if everything is fate then I can't make any changes, which I do not believe to be true. I believe that I can use positive energy to make changes in my life. So, if I believe I can make changes, then I don't think everything is a coincidence either.

6. Overall, when “bad things” happen, how often do you believe the victim generally “had it coming?”No, I can't believe that any merciful God would punish people with mass exterminations or painful illnesses. I find it difficult to blame the victim for events over which they probably had no control.

Saturday's Six - Ka-Ching!

Boy do this week's questions strike home. At the end of twelve days in Maui(and a few ka-chings!)I probably don't want to consider money but here it goes anyway:

1. If you had to leave your job on Monday, how confident would you feel that you could get another job paying close to the same amount quickly?

Since I'm a teacher, I feel pretty confident I could get something paying the same or even more. But, if I decided to leave my current employer, it would either be for a totally different position or for part-time work which would, obviously, mean less money. I'm actually quite happy where I work so I haven't thought about this for a while.

2. How many different employers have you worked for over the years?

Let's see ... I worked part time at a computer computer and hair cutting salon in college and a fast food restaurant in high school. I worked for a mail order video company and two different job placements agencies between college and grad school. I've worked for 4 different schools, and I also worked part time one summer for an educational day camp. So let's count ... that's 11 employers since high school.

3. Consider the employer you worked for the longest: how big of a factor was money in determining why you left or would consider leaving that employer?


I'm still at the place I've worked the longest (13 years now) and money has never been a factor in my job. (But I guess as an educator, that's almost the norm!)

4. Take the quiz: How good are you with money?

You Are Great With Money

You know the value of a dollar - and you save and spend wisely. By living below your means, you've set yourself up for a rich future. And while it may hurt to sacrifice now, you'll probably have plenty of money later on. You're on your way to riches - just keep it up.

Are You Good With Money?

Wow ... I'm proud of myself, and I didn't even lie!

5. When is the last time you actually were told what your credit score actually is?

About 2 years ago, we bought an investment condo, and during the financing part, I actually remembered to ask. I'm very proud that my score is two points higher than my husband's. It's been a family joke since I tend to be the shopper, and he's the saver.

6. Do you think that learning what your score would be would be likely to make you change anything you’re doing with money?

Well, since I did get my score, I didn't feel the need to make any changes because it was a fairly good one. I would probably check it again before I made any other major purchases, like real estate.

Thanks for this week's questions. I actually feel a whole lot better about my recent ka chings!

Saturday's Six

OK this one sounds like fun! This is Saturday's Six!

1. What is your absolute favorite dessert?

Any homemade and decorated cake

2. When is the last time you had it?

About one month ago

3. If you had to give up one of the following for life: cookies, cake, ice cream, pie, or chocolate, which would you choose never to try again?

I could easily give up pie ... it's not my favorite. But not chocolate ... I think chocolate should be a food group.

4. Take the quiz: What flavor of ice cream are you?

You Are Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

You are kind, popular, and generous. You tend to be successful at anything you try. A social butterfly, you are great at entertaining a crowd. You are most compatible with strawberry ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

5. If you attempted to make the dessert you like best, how well do you think it would turn out?

I make great decorated cakes ... out of the box but the decorations are great!

6. If you were going to invent your own flavor of ice cream to be carried by a company like Ben & Jerry’s, what ingredients would you require?

Chocolate. chocolate and more chocolate. No nuts or strawberries because that's just wrong. Maybe some whipped cream and cherries so it's more like a shake.