DawnPapuga.com — Reality 101

~*Flower petals tumble from the sky.  Cheering crowds clamor for a glimpse.  Clear tones from silver trumpets usher back the return of ……*~  Oh hi there!  You missed me.  I know that you did.  It’s okay.  I missed you too.  Promise.  Those other blogs meant nothing to me, baby… I swear!  Ha!  No really, I did miss you… it’s good to be home.  I’ve returned from the world of corporate confusion and some changes are in the works for me, I think, but we’ll see.  Have you been watching the Olympics?  Yeah, I have too.  That shouldn’t be a surprise to you–I’m a competition addict!  But you knew that already.  See how well we know each other?  It’s nice….like a warm furry blanket. 

Yes, I watched Michael Phelps and his abs set record after record.  Yes, I watched diving and “shushed” and “OMGshutupbeforeIchokesomeone-ed”  through the diving events (Only Men’s Platform finals are left, and while I’d love for the Americans to get a medal here, I’m kinda rooting for the Chinese to sweep the whole thing.  We didn’t win a single medal in diving.  Not. One.  And we had returning gold medalists on our team!  Oh, the pain is just too fresh, boys and girls… I need a minute here…), and I watched all of the men and women’s beach volleyball (w00t!).  I have learned that most track stars attitudes disgust me, and that watching someone’s dreams shatter before their very eyes isn’t as exciting as it used to be.  Okay… that’s a lie.  I forgot who I was talking to here…

So while I’m gathering guest posts and kicking my own writing bones back into gear, I give you today’s Friday 5 for your viewing pleasure. 

1.  What’s something really, really stupid you’ve done that could easily have resulted in your own death?   I once pulled a very drunk old man from a car accident where the car was still running and gas was leaking all over the ground.  I didn’t think it was stupid, but my family disagreed.  Hey, we got out of there before the fire started.  It was fine. 

2.  What makes you feel stupid?  Simple things.  Ask me to do 3-dimensional calculus and I’m on top of that!  Ask me to do basic algebra and I don’t even know where to begin–there are just too many options and my brain siezes.  Same with cooking.  I can roast a mean Rock-Cornish Hen stuffed with apples and fruits and nuts with a delicious from-scratch glaze, but ask me to make a grilled cheese sandwhich and it’s an epic failure. 

3.  What’s something that’s stupid in a very smart way?  Reality TV.  I still hate it, but from a marketing perspective, and a business perspective… brilliant.

4.  What’s an example of a stupid idea working out in a way that solved a problem?   Q-tips.  Think about that.  Cotton on a stick. 

5.  There is apparently a brand of packaged popcorn called Smartfood. What might be found in the package labeled Stupidfood?  I don’t like this question.  I don’t like this question because the product referenced is, in no way itself, smart.  But to keep in line with the question, I’d say you could slap a “Stupidfood” label on pretty much any fast food bag.

There you have it kids!  Done and done.  And now I’m off to find my Muses.  I could have sworn I left them around here somewhere….

(Psssst…. another Gratuitous Michael Phelps Photo HERE and HERE… ~*eyes shift*~  Again… you’re welcome)

Chances are you’ve heard people bemoan the horrible state of the world and future, and just how wonderful things were in the “Good old days.”  This week’s Friday 5 deals with things from days past.  Enjoy!

1. Of television programs that aired before you were born, what’s your favorite?

By far, my favorite TV show from the 60’s was Dark Shadows.  It was a classic gothic soap opera full of vampires, the undead, and campy drama.  Every episode started with the incredibly creepy, “My name is Victoria Winters…” and because my cousin and I buy my grandmother another season every year (which means we sit through hours and hours of these episodes at the same time), I’ll never forget that theme music. 

2.  What person of historical significance was from your neighborhood or city?

Uhm, none?  I guess?  I grew up with a number of individuals who each have become famous and successful in their own right, but they aren’t of important historical significance (At least not yet).

3.   What’s a story that’s often been told about someone in your family in the years before you came along?

There were plenty of stories about my grandmother that I heard from others over the years.  Some of the intention was different, but the facts always remained the same.  The story that most comes to mind involved my uncle going to school, a priest hitting him as a means of discipline, him coming home upset, my grandmother, her big blue Aquamarine ring (which I now have), that same priest, the phrase “Take off your collar, I don’t want to hit a priest…”, a jab to the mouth, and one disciplined priest.  Yeah.  Wonder where I get my temper…

4. Which of previous generations’ dumb mistakes (in deed or thought) baffles you the most?

This could be a novel, so how about I just sum it all up by saying all of the “-isms” that existed (and some continue to exist even now). 

5. What aspect of life in the good old days would you love to see a return to?

Slow simplicity.  Every generation calls the generations before them “the good old days,” and occasionally forgetting that every generation had their problems.  But the pace of daily life has sped up so much over the past few decades—perhaps because of technology and a growing need/desire/ability to be constantly connected and informed—and sometimes I think things could be solved by everyone just slowing down and being quiet for a bit.  I learned to appreciate that when I lived in the south, and it’s something I miss terribly. 

 *As always, the Friday 5 questions were taken from Friday5.org. If you join the fun, be sure to let me know so I can add you to the link list! And don’t forget to send those questions in that you’re itching for us to answer! Don’t worry, we’ll gladly pimp your blog for the effort.

It took me quite a bit longer to gather my responses for this week than usual, mostly because I’ve been passed out in pain.  But illness can’t stop the Friday Five for long!  This week is about metaphors and connecting them to your everyday life.  Here goes!

1.  When you go to the beach, lake, or pool, are you more likely to lower yourself gradually into cold water or to take a determined plunge and get it over with?

I take my time whether it’s hot water or cold.  I’m not a big fan of shocks to my system.

2.  How is this like (or unlike) your approach to other tasks or ordeals?

It’s exactly like my approach to everything else in life.  I’m careful, calculated, and I make sure I take my time and assess the outcomes (both positive and negative) before I take the final plunge into anything.  Once all of the foreseeable outcomes are in mind, and the possible outcomes leading from those choices are evaluated, I make my decision only after I accept the possible results of my choices.  I’ve “jumped in” without looking only a handful of times, and they never ended well.

3.  When someone gives you flowers, are you more likely to let them turn completely brown and gross before throwing them out, or to discard them the moment they take on that sick-flower look?

I’m more in between in my flower maintenance.  When someone gives me flowers I’m more likely to try and keep them alive for as long as possible–by trimming off dead blooms, giving them more light, removing suffocating foliage, etc.–than to just toss them the minute they look like they’re dying.  If certain blooms are healthier than others then it’s not uncommon for me to remove those blooms and keep them healthy for as long as possible in a separate vase.  If they’re roses, though, I’ll let them dry and either make potpourri or tea from them.  (Because my cats love to eat roses, I don’t get to do this very often anymore)

4.  How is this like (or unlike) your approach to other gifts, purchases, or relationships?

I treat any gift someone gives me with the same care.  In my mind when someone takes the time to give me something it means something to both them and me, and I like to try and keep that as precious as possible.  In terms of relationships, I treat them the same way as well.  They’re delicate and need to be treated with affection and care just like flowers do.  If you throw them (flowers or relationships) away at the first sign of them dying or wilting, then they mustn’t have meant that much to begin with.  On the other hand, you can notice things starting to wilt and ignore them. Just like a relationship, without attention and care, flowers will die.  The longer you leave them unattended, the faster they die (both relationships and flowers).  Both have a point of no return as well.  Once the flowers are brown and curled up, there’s no bringing them back to their former beauty.  They’re dead, and done is done.  Relationships, too, can be so far gone that no amount of emergency attention will help them.  In terms of purchases I make for myself… I don’t think I pay nearly as much attention to those as things other people give me. 

5.  Think of your favorite movie (or a movie you really like, if you can’t think of a favorite). Some people say that the reasons you love your favorite movie are related to what you value in romantic relationships. How is this true or untrue in your case?

Usually I would say The Godfather, but I don’t think it applies here, so I’m going to go with my number 2 favorite film, Casablanca.  I’d say Casablanca features most of what I value in romantic relationships:  passion, deep connections, sacrifice, and even tragedy.  I’m not so much a fan of the tragedy part, but loving someone enough to let them go for the greater good (or their own good), resonates powerfully with me.  Rick was haunted by Ilsa’s memory, and given the chance to be together he opted to send her off with Victor.  She loved two men for two different reasons, but ultimately had to make a choice.  She put the greater good ahead of her own happiness, and so did Rick.  It’s sad, but will forever connect Rick and Ilsa.  I suppose it’s the idea of giving everything to someone else and knowing they’re doing the same that attracts me so much to Casablanca.  It doesn’t always work out that way, but it certainly is something to aspire to.