Digital Wilderness

A couple friends posted this on Facebook, so I thought I’d follow their lead as I procrastinate on some other posts I should be working on…

***********FOODOLOGY***************

What is your salad dressing of choice?
Thousand Island

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
O’Charley’s

What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
Breakfast foods

What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Bacon, Ham, Sausage…basically any meat

What do you like to put on your toast?
Butter

***********TECHNOLOGY***************

How many televisions are in your house?
2

What color is your cell phone?
Black

***************BIOLOGY******************

Are you right-handed or left-handed?
Right

Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
Wisdom teeth

What is the last heavy item you lifted?
Um, a table I guess

Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
Not that I can remember

************BULLCRAPOLOGY**************

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
Nope

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
Not really sure…

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1,000?
Why not, I’ve done worse for free

************DUMBOLOGY******************

How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
One

Last person you talked to?
Gina

Last person you hugged?
Becky

**************FAVORITOLOGY****************

Season?
Fall

Holiday?
Halloween

Day of the week?
Sunday

Month?
October

***********CURRENTOLOGY*****************

Missing someone?
Yes

Mood?
Pretty good lately. Warmer weather certainly helps!

What are you listening to?
House of Heroes new album

Watching?
Nothing

Worrying about?
Too much…school, deadlines at work, busy upcoming schedule, vacation plans, dating, etc.

***************RANDOMOLOGY*****************

First place you went this morning?
Shower

What’s the last movie you saw?
Watchmen (not recommended for everyone)

Do you smile often?
Yeah, even when I don’t feel like it

Sleeping alone tonight?
Yep

***************OTHER-OLOGY*****************

Do you always answer your phone?
Nope

It’s four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?
Don’t know, I’d ignore it

If you could change your eye color what would it be?
I’d keep them blue

What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?
Not sure, haven’t been to Sonic all that much, at least for drinks

Do you own a digital camera?
Yep

Have you ever had a pet fish?
Nope

Favorite Christmas song(s)?
Sleigh Ride, Greensleeves

What’s on your wish list for your birthday?
Books and time to read them

Can you do push ups?
Yep

Can you do a chin up?
I hope so, but it’s been a while

Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
Trying not to think about it so much

Do you have any saved texts?
Yep

Ever been in a car wreck?
Yep, prom night

Do you have an accent?
Don’t think I do…

What is the last song to make you cry?
Not really cry, but Love Is Not a Fight by Warren Barfield really gets to me emotionally

Plans tonight?
Class

Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
It’s sure felt like it a couple times

Name 3 things you bought yesterday:
Didn’t buy anything

Have you ever been given roses?
Nope

Current hate right now?
Don’t really hate anything, but I am still bitter about some things

Met someone who changed your life?
Yes, I’ve been blessed to have crossed paths with some amazing people, many who don’t realize the difference they’ve made in my life. I should do something about that.

How will you ring in the New Year?
At the Maddox’s house, which has become an annual can’t miss event

What song represents you?
Wilderness by the Supertones

Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?
As much as I have felt like I wanted to at times, I wouldn’t actually do it

Have you ever dated someone longer than a year?
Yes

Do you have any tattoos/piercings?
No

Will you be in a relationship 4 months from now?
That’s up to God, and that’s my prayer every day

Ever cheated on anybody?
No

Would you be a pirate?
Rather be a ninja

What songs do you sing in the shower?
Don’t sing in the shower

Ever had someone sing to you?
Not to me, but when I’ve been around

When did you last cry?
Mid-February

Are you afraid of being alone?
Yes

Do you like to cuddle?
Yes!

Have you held hands with anyone today?
No

Who was the last person you took a picture of?
Jenee and Jennifer

What kind of music did you listen to in elementary school?
Oldies. Parents choose the radio stations then

Do you believe in staying close with your ex?
It takes time, sometimes a lot of time, but yes, I “believe” in keeping in touch with exes, as long as it’s not forced or bad motives

Do you like pulpy orange juice?
Yep

What is something your friends make fun of you for?
Being “old”, bad jokes (“daddy” humor), my laugh, movies I quote too much (baby steps, laugh it up fuzzball)

From Kiplinger, another list

10 Things We Overpay For
[Sidebar – seriously, ending the title in a preposition?]

Afternoon snacks. Do you munch protein bars as a healthier alternative to a chocolate pick-me-up? You could easily be paying more than $2 per bar and consuming just as much sugar as you would with your favorite candy bar. Stock up on fruit for a fraction of the cost when you do your grocery shopping. You’ll be fitter and save a bundle.

Bottled water. Yes, it’s important to drink water every day. But picking up the bottled variety with your lunch is an expensive way to stay hydrated. Rather than spend $2 a day for water, buy a pitcher and a filter for about $20 and drink as much as you want for pennies a glass.
A caffeine fix. Can’t get through the day without at least one cuppa Joe? Stopping at Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts can set you back as much as $1.65 per cup. Splurge on a pound of gourmet coffee for $8 to $13 and you can make 40 cups for about 20 cents to 33 cents each.

Favorite tunes. Do you rush out to buy the latest CD by your favorite group even though there are only one or two songs you really like? Instead of paying up to $18 for the CD, download those cuts you want from iTunes for 99 cents each, or from Amazon for as little as 79 cents.

A night at the movies. An evening for two at your local theater costs an average of about $20, including the popcorn — and closer to $30 in major cities. And that doesn’t even count the babysitter. For just $5 a month, you can watch two movies from Netflix or pay $9 for unlimited viewing. If you’re willing to wait a little longer for new releases, borrow them free from your local library. (See Cut the Cable Cord for other inexpensive entertainment options.)

Fresh flowers. A bouquet of spring blooms brightens up a room and your mood. But purchasing it from a florist at $25 and up can quickly put a dent in your budget. Check out your local grocery store, which offers a selection of seasonal bouquets for $5 to $10.

Fruits and veggies. Sure, precut vegetables and salad mixes that are washed and bagged save a little time. But you’ll pay for the convenience. Broccoli florets and sliced peppers cost $6 per pound, compared with one-third to one-half the price for the uncut versions. Lettuce varieties that are pre-washed and bagged sell for $5.98 a pound. But it takes just minutes to wash and spin dry enough arugula for your evening salad, and you’ll pay one-third as much. Buying whole strawberries rather than sliced ones that are prepackaged cuts the price by 75%.

Credit-card fees. Every month, millions of credit-card customers pay their bills late, and they’re assessed as much as $39 each time. Set up an automatic debit and you’ll never incur another late fee.

ATM fees. Each time you use an out-of-network ATM you pay an average of $3.43. Do that once a week and you’ll rack up almost $180 in ATM fees every year. Avoid those charges by selecting a bank with a large ATM network or an online account that reimburses your ATM fees — such as the eOne no-fee account from Salem Five Direct bank. Another alternative: Get cash back at the grocery store.

Fax and mail services. Instead of paying FedEx $1.49 to fax one page, sign up to send free faxes from a provider such as faxZero or K7.net. Save on shipping with the U.S. Postal Service’s priority mail service. You’ll pay just $4.95 to mail an envelope or small box anywhere in the U.S., and your parcel is likely to arrive within two days. Larger packages cost $10.35. That saves at least 50% compared with UPS’s two-day service, the cost of which varies by weight and distance.

How much do you know about America’s heritage? What’s your civic knowledge?

Take this civics quiz at americancivicliteracy.org and find out.

My results:

You answered 31 out of 33 correctly — 93.94 %
Average score for this quiz during November: 78.0%
Average score: 78.0%

I was certainly surprised by results. Being back in school and taking MBA classes helped out with a several of the questions. The two questions I did miss were #7 and #8.

How did you do?

It’s election day (in case you’ve been living under a rock and weren’t aware) so go vote!

And when you’re done, use your “I Voted” sticker for some Election Day Freebies.

Starbucks – Free coffee
On November 4, 2008, Starbucks will give voters a free tall brewed coffee at participating U.S. stores. After voting, voters must go to a Starbucks store, where they’ll be given a tall (12 oz) cup of brewed coffee at no charge (limit one per customer).

Krispy Kreme – Free star-shaped doughnut
Krispy Kreme will celebrate National Election day by offering all retail customers with an “I Voted” sticker a free star shaped doughnut with patriotic sprinkles.

Ben & Jerry’s – Free ice cream
Come to participating scoop shops on November 4th from 5-8pm, and you’ll get a free scoop of ice cream.

Chick-fil-A – Free chicken sandwich
At participating stores, bring in your “I voted” sticker into your local Chick-Fil-A on Tuesday, November 4th and get a free chicken sandwich.

Books-A-Million Bookstores – Free coffee
Wear your “I voted Sticker” to Books A Million on election day and receive a cup of Joe on us!.

I gave a quiz to my Bible study group this past week. The purpose of that quiz was to challenge things that are often heard in the church and are considered Biblically based, but are in fact not in the Bible. I also wanted to use this to expand our knowledge on facts about and in the Bible. I thought I’d share that quiz on my blog. We had some good discussions on these items and I’m hoping for a bit here as well. Answers and Biblical references will be posted in the comments tomorrow. Good luck and enjoy!

• True     False     01) God helps those who help themselves.
• True     False     02) Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
• True     False     03) Money is the root of all evil.
• True     False     04) Jonah was swallowed by a whale.
• True     False     05) Eve ate an apple.
• True     False     06) Eve told the first lie.
• True     False     07) God “hated” Esau.
• True     False     08) Noah took two of every animal on the ark.
• True     False     09) A rainbow appeared as a sign of a covenant between God and all living creatures.
• True     False     10) The archangel Michael fought with the devil over Moses body.
• True     False     11) The sun stood still for a full day for at Joshua’s request.
• True     False     12) Psalms is the middle book of the Bible.
• True     False     13) Jesus was born on December 25.
True     False     14) Mary and Joseph traveled by donkey to Bethlehem.
• True     False     15) Three kings visited Christ at his birth and presented him gifts.
• True     False     16) Jesus was laid in a manger.
• True     False     17) Three wise men came from afar on camels to visit Jesus at his birth.
• True     False     18) The Wise Men found Jesus in a house.
• True     False     19) Herod wanted to find Jesus to worship him.
• True     False     20) The contents of the Ark of the Covenant are the stone tablets on which the 10 Commandments were written and Moses’ staff.

1. There are _____ books in the Bible, _____ in the Old Testament and _____ in the New Testament.
2. ___________ is the longest book of the Bible. ___________ is the shortest.
3. ___________ lived to be 969 years old.
4. ___________ did not die; he “walked with God, and he was not; for God took him.”
5. ___________ was stoned to death for preaching that Jesus was the Savior and is often considered the first Christian martyr.
6. ___________ was released from the ark and brought an olive leaf back to Noah.
7. ___________ is more important than beauty in a good woman.
8. ___________ was the first disciple called by Jesus.
9. ___________ was the first tribe to set foot in the Promised Land.
10. ___________ was chosen by lot to be the twelfth disciple in place of Judas Iscariot.

From Stuff Christians Like – How well do you know Indiana Jones and the Bible?

1. When the ark was opened up, everyone’s face melted.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

2. When the ark slipped and someone tried to steady it, that person died instantly.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

3. In a plot twist, the hero is thrown into a pit full of lions.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

4. In a plot twist, the hero falls into a pit full of snakes.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

5. Someone is rescued by an eagle.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones
C. The Lord of the Rings (ohhh trick question)

6. Poisonous snakes come out of no where and a brass snake must be made to help ward them off.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

7. The natives are restless and in a fit of worship pull the still beating heart out of a human sacrifice.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

8. The natives are restless and tell their king they’ve turned into cannibals.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

9. The ark is mistreated, forgotten and lost somewhere no one will find it.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

10. As if by a miracle, a character is able to walk across a terrifying expanse as if on an invisible sidewalk.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

11. As if by a miracle, a character is able to walk across a terrifying, watery expanse as if on an invisible sidewalk.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

12. Through selfish greed, the villain falls to an unexpected death, essentially killing herself in a canyon.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

13. Through selfish greed, the villain falls to an unexpected death, essentially killing himself in a field.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

14. One of the main characters receives a painful scar on his hand when he gets burned.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

15. One of the main characters receives a painful scar on his hand so we won’t get burned.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

16. A tag team of bears kills more than 40 people when they make fun of a bald guy.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

17. An angry man disarms a bad guy with a whip.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

18. An angry man clears out some bad salesmen with a whip.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

19. A huge boulder chases the main character down a hill.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

20. A giant whale swallows someone and pukes them up a few days later.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

21. A hooker with a heart of gold helps the good guys escape out of a window.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

22. At dinner, someone brings in a monkey head on a platter.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

23. At dinner, someone brings in a human head on a platter.
A. The Bible
B. Indiana Jones

I felt like a Pablo Picasso painting much of the day, out of whack and disjointed, and just couldn’t shake it. It was a very weird and uncomfortable feeling. Ever felt that way? The day’s over, though, and the weekend – an extended weekend – is here. Yay! Maybe some sleep will get me straightened out…

April is regarded as Financial Literacy Month. How financially literate are you? Test your financial IQ with the Federal Reserve’s Personal Financial Literacy Quiz.

My classes, reading and listening to podcasts must be sinking in – I only missed two, #13 and #24. How did you do?

This test was given to high schoolers and the mean score was 47.5% (see results). I didn’t expect high schoolers to necessarily score high, given they still have a lot to learn and many personal experiences to have, but 47.5% is still awfully low. The lessons they are learning now will shape how they act in college and their life after. Apparently many are not paying attention to or are missing these lessons. Or maybe they’re not having any lessons at all from parents, teachers or others – who would probably score the same.

***You Are a Frappacino***

At your best, you are: fun loving, sweet, and modern
At your worst, you are: childish and over indulgent
You drink coffee when: you’re craving something sweet
Your caffeine addiction level: low

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

What Car Would You Be?

You would be a Volvo Station Wagon. You may never be the snazziest, but who cares what others think about you? You power-steer your way to soccer practice with assuredness and confidence.

Not what I was hoping for…