Plan B. Stealing, plagerism, and pulling out a win. Right?

So, the usual Wednesday check in.  232.8.  I didn't go up, nor down, I figure this was great, considering I had been on the go, and there were the candy temptations all around. 

I was planning a nice little blog on my meditation area, pics and all.  The weather wouldn't co-operate, and so all of my pictures look like grey colored fog.  Which, in fact, was what I had.  So, perhaps I will get a pic or two up soon, but the blog today will be a... meme?  Anyway, it's questions from Sunday Stealing, I thought it looked like a good way to "Work out" my Wednesday.

1. What inspires you to blog?
Mostly items that interest me, things that I am doing, or even reading other people's blogs.  But mostly, I use the 'stuff' that happens in a day as blog material.  Unless, of course, my blog is based on a picture that is still stuck in the blinkin' camera...  >: (

2. What’s the best thing about blogging, for you?
Knowing that there are people out there reading.  And often responding.  I started my blog more for myself, as a journal, as I type a bit faster than I write.  I still have a private, hand written journal, but the blog has turned out to have lead to several friends and acquaintances!  That's the best part, for me.  Pleasant unexpected consequences...

3. What is your favourite book of all time?
I sometimes answer this by saying "Whatever I am reading now."  I suppose that's a little bit of a cop out, but I find that I have lots and lots of books that are favorites, for different reasons. 

A Donald Duck book, that was my 95 year old neighbors, she read it to me several times.  I love her for doing it, but can't tell you a thing about it except Donald got angry, as usual.  The Secret Garden, that Mom read to me, where I found out I could like a book, but think the main character was a total jerk, and not have that be a problem.  The books we put out at Christmas, some very old, with crinkled corners and faded pages, right next to the shiny, crisp and new books, all celebrations of the season.  History books, which always make me think of what I would be like, living in another time.  Science Fiction and Fantasy books, which make me think of what it would be like to live on another world, or have some great and mystic power...  Uh.  So.  ONE book, it's nearly impossible for me.  And that doesn't even cover the craft books, books on my other hobbies, even the occasional textbook! 

4. It’s 9pm and for some reason you’ve been hungry all day, despite the three square meals. What do you rustle up?
I try desperately to avoid doing anything that late, or I have gut bomb a mundo.  I would probably have a small glass of milk, or maybe an apple.  The rare exception to this is when I have a meeting, or get together where I know I will have a late night and need to drive.  Then I might have regular tea, some cookies, a caffinated soda, something on that order.  Still try to keep it on the light side, though.

5. Who are three of your style icons?
HAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA! (gasp!) HAHAAA!  Uh.  I don't think I have ANY style icons.  I try to dress neatly when I am going somewhere, I wear t-shirt and jeans at home.  U. biquitis, Joan Average, and A. Nonimous, I guess.

6. What’s your current favourite song/piece of music?
Mojo, by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (yeah, big surprise, I know.)  But, for exercise, I am enjoying "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga, and "Soundtracks and Comebacks" by Goldfish.  Good beat, and I can walk to them.  (Oh, G*d am I showing my age...)

7. What is the last book you read?
"So Sure Of Death" by Dana Stabenow.  It's the second book in a series my Mom introduced me to, about an Alaska State Trooper, Liam Campbell, and his adventures with murders, fishermen, old farts, bush planes, and boats that sink... Like the one he is living on.  It's a good read, and I think at this point I am on the third of the series.
8. What is your current favourite recipe?
Scratch Husband's back.  Tell him you would like to go to town and have dinner. 
Conversely, ask if he would make dinner if I act as Sous chef. 

I know the one that I use regularly, is... Well, I will call it Cat's Dish.  It has been passed from person to person, and you put your name on it, when you give it to someone else. (Cat's Dish?  That really sounds strange...)
Anyway, if you are interested...

Cat's Dish
Preheat oven to 325*

1 lb. hamburger, browned and drained
l 28 oz. can crushed, or diced tomatoes
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1/4 - 1/2 cup regular rice (not minute type rice)
1/4 - 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
garlic powder, salt, pepper, to taste
grated cheese

Prepare hamburger, and mix with other ingredients, except cheese.  Put into a 2 quart greased casserole dish Cover tightly with foil or lid.  Bake 1 1/2 hour.  Top with grated cheese.  Put into oven for 5 more minutes until cheese melts.  Serve with a salad. 

I have also found that you can make a different flavor by what you add, if you have flavored tomatoes (i.e. Rotel), add different types of BBQ sauce, etc., can make a lot of difference if you want a "kick" in your dinner.


9. Who or what first inspired you to set up your own blog?
It was as much reading other blogs, and finding that I was enjoying seeing people in far flung areas, that either had very different lives than I do, or had very similar interests.  Also, as I mentioned, I thought it would be easier to blog than journal.

10. What object could you not live without?
This is a hard one.  I would not want to live without my computer, because I enjoy blogging, email, and learning that I can do without lots of travel.  But I could live without it.  My knitting needles?  I just about lose it when I don't have a project, and have to sit, waiting mindlessly for something.  My watch?  Possibly the thing I would miss the most, I find that if my watch isn't on, I nearly drive myself bats checking the blank spot on my wrist for the time.  (Yes, I have a cell phone with the time.  I am old school enough to not remember this fact...)

11. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Having lost the extra weight, and travelled to Alaska.  Perhaps to other places.  Possibly having sold my book.  Or at the very least FINISHED the darn thing...  Probably waiting for the next Petty album.  Beyond that, anything good, is gravy.  Maybe having more fiber animals.  :)

12. Who or what made you into the person you are today?
My parents, Mom, who got to be the one to make sure that things were turned in, to concentrate on work until it was finished, that I knew what clean was, and tried desperately to get me to understand "girl" stuff.  (I really think it took, sorta.  Honest, Mom...)  Dad, who helped me learn that "boy's" work, wasn't, that climbing trees, setting antennas, and rebuilding engines took a different sort of energy, and concentration, and that being big, didn't ever have to mean being bad.  The stuff that I watched, like Star Trek, which always led me to the ethos, that no matter how strange or different someone was, there was always something interesting that you could learn from them (even if that was just avoid them at all costs).  Fantasy, that taught me that magic doesn't always take wands, candles and spells, (but that makes it more fun).  And Grandma and Grandpa E., who taught me a great garden and a fat fish you land yourself are really, really awesome!

13. What have your learned from blogging?
There are a lot of people in the world, with a lot of thoughts I don't know if I would have ever had, if I'd not read the blogs they write.  There are a lot of people who are funny, thoughtful, have scary jobs (or are married to people with scary jobs), are wise, and some that I just wonder about... (I mean that in a good way...)

14. Knowing what you know now, what knowledge would you pass on to your past self?
You mean other than to tell myself not to go out driving on May 28th, 1988?  (My car accident happened then.)  I don't know... Take more vitamin D, buy Nike stock, not just the shoes, that computer will be a lot more fun when you learn about the "Internet".  Oh, and that dork ass that you date in your sophomore year?  Run, do not walk to the nearest exit! He is an idiot, and will only go down hill from there...

15. Sunday roasts - lunchtime or evening meal?
We have it, generally as a late lunch.  Dinner on Sunday can vary from 2... ish, to about regular suppertime.  Then the left overs become lunch and dinner, depending on the size of the roast!

16. What has been your best blogging-related experience so far?
"Meeting" so many people in so many places that would have been physically and financially prohibitive to meet in most other ways.  Learning what other people see as valuable, and why.  And just seein' a whole lot of really cool pictures!