Monday Movie Meme: Movie Marvels

Feature Presentation...

MONDAY MOVIE MEME

This week Molly and Andy at the Bumbles Blog are asking all about comic book movies, so here's my pick:

• Batman (1966) - I almost went for Batman Returns, but went for the movie spin-off of the '60s TV series instead, just because it's got the most memorable scene in all the Batman movies.
• Superman (1978) - The first blockbuster superhero movie and a great representation of the Man of Steel.
• Akira (1988) - I've not read the manga it's based on, but the film's a terrific visually-stunning bit of animation.
• V For Vendetta (2006) - Not all of it works, but the Valerie segment, which manages to be pretty faithful to the Alan Moore comic book original, certainly does. Also, there's lots of cool classic music explosions.
• Stardust (2007) - Terrific fairy tale movie by the team who later did Kick-Ass, based on Neil Gaiman's novel which started out as a comic book (well, more of a story with pictures) illustrated by Charles Vess.
• Wanted (2007) - High octane popcorn fun which is based on a comic book but with the supervillain element sucked out. I actually prefer it to the comic book, but that could be because I saw the movie first.

Sunday Stealing: The Ninja Meme, Part Two

You can play here.

26. Whose responses to Stealing do you want to read the most?

Those of the person currently reading this. Yep, that's right, yours. Honestly. Would I lie to you?

27. What color shirt are you wearing?

Grey.

28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?

I don't know. Not sure I ever have done.

29. Can you whistle?

Yes, but not to any tuneful extent.

30. Favorite colors(s)?

Blue.

31. Could you be a pirate?

No, just because I don't think there's that many openings these days. Plus, I sucked at the Monkey Island games.

32. What songs do you sing in the shower?

I once sang Rod Stewart's "Sailing" but that was decades ago when I was a student, and I was both dressed and a tad drunk; can't recall singing anything recently.

33. Favorite girls name?

Lynette.

34. Favorite boy’s name?

Mine, but I could be biased.

35. What’s in your pocket right now?

I have a variety of pockets; one's got various pieces of paper and a pen in it, the second a handkerchief, the third my wallet.

36. Last thing that made you laugh?

My niece being sarcastic.

37. Best bed sheets as a child?

None stand out in particular.

38. Worst injury you’ve ever had?

Being hit on a head by a rock, but that wasn't that bad.

39. Do you love where you live?

No, I like it rather than love it (probably because it's not got a HDTV).

40. How many TVs do you have in your house? How many HDTVs?

One. None.

41. Who is your loudest friend?

I don't know; I rarely listen to what they're saying anyway.

42. How many dogs do you have?

None at the moment.

43. Does anyone have a crush on you?

Not that I know of.

44. What are the most fun things you ever did?

Answering these meme questions. Yep, I lead a boring life.

45. What are your favorite books?

Comic books.

47. Favorite Team?

The A-Team.

48. What songs do you want played at your funeral?

Hopefully it's so far off, that the songs I'll want played at it haven't been written yet. Failing that, William Shatner's "You'll Have Time".



49. What were you doing at 12 AM?

Never sure whether 12 AM is midnight or noon. If the former, I was sleeping, if the latter I was doing this meme.

50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?

I've no idea, I was completely on autopilot.

Sunday Stealing: The Ninja Meme, Part One

You can play here.

1. What do you add to your coffee?

Milk.

2. What are you reading now?

This question. Oh wait, no, now I'm reading this answer. If you mean books, I'm reading three at the moment, Skunk: A Love Story by Justin Courter, Confessions of a Conjuror by Derren Brown, and finally reading the proof of a novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo two years ago.

3. Do you own a gun?

No, fortunately the law here prevents such things.

4. Are you registered to vote?

Yes, but I never do (though of course I'll feel really bad about it the next time the result rests on a single vote).

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?

No.

6. What do you think of hot dogs?

Yum, tasty.

7. Favorite Christmas Song?

At the moment it's Tim Minchin's White Wine In The Sun.



8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?

If it's a work day then coffee, otherwise I like to avoid morning all together.

9. Can you do push ups?

Yes, but it requires a planet with lesser gravity so I usually avoid it.

10. What was the name of your first boyfriend/girlfriend?

Her name was Catherine, though she might have spelled it differently; I'll spare you her last name since she may still in denial.

11. What’s your favorite piece of jewelery?

Of the minimal amount I possess, I'll have to go for my Spider-Man cufflinks. If you mean of all the jewellery in the world then I quite like the total impracticality of this Gotham City ring.

12. Favorite hobby?

Giving ambiguous meme answers.

13. Do you work with people who idolize you?

Yes, though they hide it incredibly well.

14. Do you have ADD?

No, and since I wouldn't want to upset any sufferers I'll avoid making any lame bad-taste joke here (or at least leave it till the end of the sentence).

15. What’s one trait that you hate about yourself?

My gift for procrastination.

16. What’s your Middle name?

I've not got one, we couldn't afford such things, though my girlfriend kindly came up with a middle name of Chester for me.

17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.

What shall I answer? Hasn't this meme finished yet? Hope they don't ask me about three things I bought yesterday.

18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday.

Coffee, a bacon barmcake, chicken curry.

19. Name 3 beverages you regularly drink.

Coffee, drinking chocolate, Vimto.

20. Current worry right now?

Falling asleep before I finish this meme.

21. What side do you dress to?

The outside.

22. Favorite place to be?

Wherever my girlfriend is.

23. How did you bring in the New Year?

It tends to bring itself in; not wanting to get older, I tried to barricade the door, but it got in anyway.

24. Where would you like to go?

The final question.

25. Name three people who will see today.

Lots of people will see today, so I'm stuck to name just three. Hopefully they'll all live to see tomorrow too.

Sunday Stealing: The Dwight Twilley Meme

You can play here.

1. The latest book or movie that made you cry?

The latest book was Leigh Brill's A Dog Named Slugger.

2. The fictional character most like you?

The one in green eggs and ham who isn't Sam I Am.

3. The greatest album, ever?

Voice of the Beehive's 'Honey Lingers'. Possibly just my view and not the general consensus.

4. Star Trek or Star Wars? Why?

Star Trek, just because there's more to choose from, and it hasn't got Jar Jar Binks.

5. Your ideal brain food?

Fish.

6. Everyone is proud of a certain accomplishment, which one for you??

Answering this meme despite the onset of man flu.

7. You want to be remembered for ...?

My longevity.

8. Let's talk about recording artists. Who do you find the most inspirational?

The Inspiral Carpets. I also find them the most carpety.

9. The creative masterpiece you wish bore your signature?

Alan Moore's Swamp Thing story "The Anatomy Lesson". Failing that, something which would pay me lots of royalties.

10. Your hidden talents . . .?

I can play air guitar.

11. The best piece of advice you actually followed?

Probably something Charley the cat told me; he was always giving me advice as a youngster.



12. The best thing you ever bought, stole, or borrowed?

My blackberry phone.

13. What is the most comfortable clothes that you wear?

Shirt and jeans.

14. Your dinner guest at the Ritz would be?

I've got an online friend called Riz (short for Boris) so probably him, just because Riz is similar to Ritz but with the T missing (maybe I'll have to invite Mr. T along as well, just for completeness).

15. Time travel: where, when and why?

Here, there and everywhen.

16. Stress management: hit man, spa vacation or Prozac?

Just stop answering meme questions like this one.

17. Essential to life: coffee, vodka, cigarettes, chocolate, or . . .?

Vimto.

18. Environment of choice: city or country, and where on the map?

A bit of both (just the city's too loud, just the country's too quiet).

19. What do you want to say to the leader of your country?

David backwards is diva with a capital D.

20. Last but certainly not least, what are you working on, now?

Answering this meme.

The Queen's Meme #62 ~ The Crazy Question Meme

To avoid getting thrown into a dungeon, here's my answers to this week's Queen's Meme

1. Why doesn't McDonald's sell hotdogs?

Because a sign saying "McDonald's hotdogs" might be misread as "McDonald shot dogs". Ronald McDonald's already scary enough as it is being a clown, without kids mistakenly thinking he's responsible for pooch shooting.

2. How far east can you go before heading west?

Well, from a scientific point of view, ignoring the fact you're always going east due to the Earth's rotation, and the obvious practical limitations that mean you'll probably end up heading west when the tide takes you in that direction, it'll be once you reach the East Pole (where the Easter Bunny lives).

3. What happens to the missing socks?

I've got them all! Bwahaha!! They're mine, all mine, I tell you!

4. Does love = sex or does sex = love?

They're totally different. For instance, I love apple pie, but I've never - ... Oops, bad example.

5. How much wood did the woodchuck chuck?

Such an amount that if you placed all that wood end to end it would be the same length as a piece of string.

6. Why do prison buses have emergency exits?

To give the prisoners a sporting chance of escaping, although, to be fair, with the bus in motion, they're fairly hazardous to use (though nowhere near as dangerous as those plane emergency exits).

7. Do you believe that an alien ship stole question #7?

If they did, they clearly put it back, or changed this from number 8 to hide their dastardly deed.

Sunday Stealing: The Baker's Meme

You can play here.

1. If you could interview anyone on your blog (alive or dead) who would you chose and why?

I'd probably interview someone alive, since it'd be a lot easier getting answers.I guess it would be writer Alan Moore since I'm substantially in awe of him and he tends to give great interviews.

2. What do you feel is your strength as a blogger?

My surplus of sarcasm.

3. Can you share a little bit about yourself that you have not already mentioned on your blog?

I moved into a new flat earlier this year, which I think I failed to mention. It's by a canal so I've got these cool Canadian Geese as neighbours. It's also got possibly the loudest washine machine in the world, which makes a sound like an angry jet engine.

4. If you were forced to change the name of your blog, what would you change it to? Why?

I'd change it to Blog because that's the imaginative kind of guy I am.

5. What do you think is the most fulfilling part of being a blogger?

The fame and fortune.

6. What would you do with your last day if you found you had only one more day to live?

I'd no doubt spend all day trying to figure out some memorable last words.

7. You’ve been doing medical research for decades and have finally found a cure. What was it that you found a cure for and why did you choose this particular ailment?

Either back pain, because that plagues the love of my life, or whatever killed me in a day back in question six.

8. What is your most guilty pleasure?

Blogging.

9. Answer only one. What is your favorite book, movie or TV show?

Do you mean only give one answer for each of the three options, or only answer one out of the three? If the first then Imzadi by Peter David, Broadcast News and Press Gang respectively; if the latter then ignore two of my previous answers.

10. What do you think is the very best smell in the world? The one smell that can take you back to a time and place of a very vivid memory in your past?

It's got to be the smell of bacon that takes me back to the vivid memory of having a bacon barmcake last Friday.

Sunday Stealing: Questions a la Randomness, A Meme

You can play here.

What was the last thing you put in your mouth?

That would be drinking chocolate.

How late did you stay up last night and why?

I stayed up till about 11:30 pm, trying to make some progress with NaNoWriMo; hopefully by the end of the month I'll have expanded it to haiku-length.

If you could move somewhere else, would you?

Yes.

Have you ever been kissed under fireworks?

No, but it's felt like there were fireworks.

Do you believe ex’s can be friends?

Yes, and enemies too.

When was the last time you cried really hard?

Not cried really hard since I was a child; probably the last time was when a stone landed on my head.

What items could you not go without during the day?

My cell phone, my pens, my lungs.

Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?

I think it was my sister, just after she'd given birth to my nephew.

How do you feel about your life right now?

Super duper happy scrappy.

If we were to look in your facebook inbox, what would we find?

A year old message that would be of no interest to anyone now.

Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass?

Yes.

Has anyone ever called you perfect before?

Yes, I have.

Someone knocks on your window at 2:00 a.m.: who do you want it to be?

Anyone but my girlfriend, since I'm bound to sleep through it at that time of morning.

Do you think too much or too little?

Way too much, unless I'm answering meme questions.

Do you believe in fairy tales?

Yes, I believe fairy tales exist.

Have you ever licked the back of a CD to try to get it to work?

No, it had never even occurred to me to try it.

What’s the largest age difference between yourself and someone you’ve dated?

Eleven years, three months, and four days, or thereabouts.

Have you ever been on a blind date?

No.

Do you have any friends that you’ve known for 10 years or more?

Yes, most of them.

Have you ever had a crush on a teacher?

No.

What song do you want played at your funeral?

The one where it says "I'm coming up, so you better get the party started."

Would you tell your parents if you were gay?

I'd hope I would.

What would your last meal be before getting executed?

One that took a ridiulously long time to prepare as well as to eat.

Do you walk around the house naked?

No.

What do you do as soon as you walk in the house?

Lock the front door.

Who is the person you can count on the most?

My mother.

What is your favorite Holiday?

That would be when I visit America and see my girlfriend; it whizzes by.

Would you ever get plastic surgery?

I don't think so.

Have you ever caught a fish?

Never, despite my grandfather being a fisherman; guess those genes didn't get passed on.

What is the first thing you notice about people?

Usually their faces.

What is the farthest you’ve been from home?

Around three and a half thousand miles.

How did you meet your spouse or significant other (or most recent one)?

We were both writing novels for National Novel Writing Month, and she posted looking for a writing buddy and I answered.

Where was the last place you drove (other than home/school/work)?

I drove about in my girlfriend's car for a few minutes the last time I was in America.

Sunday Stealing: Another 14 Question Meme

You can play here.

1. Lots of pillows or just one? Describe your pre-sleeping rituals.

My pre-sleeping ritual involves having two pillows under my head and being awake.

2. What kind of books do you read?

All sorts, though most of the time I tend to stick with reading the same authors.

3. What are your neighbors like?

Far nicer than their neighbors.

4. What's really creepy to you?

Scary insects.

5. What's your current fandom/obsession/addiction?

I'm currently attempting to be obsessed with NaNoWriMo, where I try and write a novel in a month, but my addiction to the internet gets in the way slightly.

6. Do you prefer your junk food sweet, salty or savory?

Actually I prefer my junk food unsavoury.

7. What was the last thing you expensive bought?

The last thing I expensive bought probably my Kindle was.

8. What is your greatest fear?

An endless meme.

9. Do you get cravings? If so, what do you crave?

Yes. My girlfriend.

10. What do you do to change your mood?

I don't have to do anything, it just changes of its own accord.

11. What was the last meal you ate that you loved?

I had a nice donner kebab a week ago.

12. Do you want to learn another language? If so, why?

No.

13. What's something that you'd like to say to someone right now?

I'd like to say sorry to whoever's reading this for the dullness of this answer.

14. What are you looking forward to?

The next time I visit my girlfriend at the end of the year.

Sunday Stealing: The 14 Question Meme

You can play here.

1. What do you consider your hometown to be?

Fleetwood because, well, that's my hometown.

2. What’s the hardest part of your average day?

Not being with my girlfriend.

3. The easiest? Why?

Sleeping tends to be pretty easy.

4. What beverage do you reach for to quench your thirst?

The nearest.

5. What is one not-so-secret goal you have for your life? I’ll let you keep your secret ones to yourself.

To be with my long-distance girlfriend im a full time capacity.

6. What physical pain do you fear most? For example, I’m trying to decide how bad my jaw pain needs to get before I risk a potential needle from my dentist. So, for me, throbbing is preferable to jabbing.

Severe pain I guess I fear the most, though extremely slight pain's scary enough. Regardless, you should go to the dentist.

7. Where do you find solace?

In the dictionary. There are all sorts of other words there too, it's like it's got all of them.

8. What makes you the saddest when you read/see the news?

I tend to get sadder afterwards when I read/see what the weather has in store.

9. What do you eat for a favorite snack?

It depends what I've got, though I've usually eaten anything snacky that was lying around already.

10. What movie could you/would you watch more than two or three times and still enjoy just as much as the first time?

The Blues Brothers or Little Shop of Horrors (the musical version).

11. What boy/girl first made you cry?

Probably my sister, since we were always fighting when we were kids.

12. What brand of coffee/tea do you drink most often?

Whatever brand they use in the coffee machine at work.

13. Dig in the dirt with or without garden gloves?

Without, I'd dig with a spade instead.

14. James Taylor or Carly Simon?

While I really like James Taylor's version of The Second Star To The Right; I've got to go for Carly just because she wrote a song about me.

Sunday Stealing: The Presuppose You're Living in New England Meme

You can play here.

1. Have you turned the heat on in your house yet this fall?

Yes, because I live in the cold world of the UK.

2. Do you allow your pets on the furniture?

I haven't got any pets, though when I did, I never let them on the furniture. Then again, they were goldfish.

3. What were your final words for September?

Unbelievably I can't remember.

4. What are your first words for October?

Unbelievably I can't remember.

5. Do you think you’ve ever seen a ghost?

No.

6. What is the one color that represents this time of year?

Grey or blue (the sky seems to either be all one or the other from day to day).

7. Which of your senses do you think is most sensitive this time of year?

My sense of panic, since NaNoWriMo starts in just over a week and I've no idea what I'm going to write about.

8. What is your favorite thing to do at the county fair?

I've never been to a county fair. Do they have a fairground there? If so, it's definitely not that. If my girlfriend were ever to take me there, then my favorite thing would undoubtedly be just being with my girlfriend.

9. What do you like when you have a cold?

A cure.

10. Are you willing to spend over $100 for a piece of winter clothing, like boots or a coat?

No, I believe that's a tad expensive.

12. What do you have too much of in your kitchen?

Washing up to do.

13. What gripes do you have about this time of year?

The clock changes in a week and that causes me all sorts of extra work as a computer programmer, plus when I set off for work in the morning it will now be darker than dark. Not to mention that this meme missed out question eleven.

14. Other than yourself, are you responsible for getting anyone ready in the morning?

No, which is good, since I canbarely get myself ready.

15. When was the last time you cleaned your gutters?

That would have been never.

16. So, it’s after Labor Day. Will you still be wearing white?

We don't have Labor Day here in the UK, which is just as well since we wouldn't be able to spell it, plus having a holiday called Labor Day seems counter-intuitive. Anyway, I'm not wearing white now so I guess the answer must be no.

17. What shows are you most looking forward to this Fall?

I live in the UK where the TV shows don't all arrive in the Fall, but in dribs and drabs throughout the year, so I've no real idea what's coming up this Autumn.

18. What three things have you just not gotten around to from the summer, but probably should do before snow flies?

Things I should do (but may not): Clean the windows of my new apartment (which I'm supposed to do once a month); Finish unpacking all the boxes I moved from my old apartment. Figure out how the timer on my heating works.

Sunday Stealing: Another 50 Questions Meme, Part Two

I abandoned my blog recently while me and my girlfriend were visiting each other, but now I'm back to play Sunday Stealing, leaping into the second part of a fifty question meme. You can play here.

26. Do you like someone?

I like everyone, with the possible exception of meme writers.

27. The last song you listened to?

It was the last song sung on the X-Factor last night, but I've no idea what it was called, and I'm sure that if I looked it up it wouldn't be of any interest to anyone.

28. What time of day were you born?

I don't know.

29. What’s your favorite number?

At the moment, 1729.

30. Where did you live in 1987?

A flat in Manchester, whereas now I live in another flat in Manchester. How things change.

31. Are you jealous of anyone?

People who don't have to do this meme.

32. Is anyone jealous of you?

People who've had to do both parts of this meme.

33. Where were you when 9/11 happened?

I was at work.

34. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?

Sometimes I just walk away, although if the coins get stuck I tend to drop more coins in hoping they'll dislodge the first coins until all my carried coinage is exhausted. Also, if some chocolate/crisps haven't quite fallen down, I'll try buying another one in the hope of them both falling down (or maybe order the thing above it, in the hope that it'll knock down the original item on its way down).

35. Do you consider yourself kind?

Yes.

36. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?

On my girlfriend.

37. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be?

American, so my girlfriend could understand me.

38. Would you move for the person you loved?

Yes, I'd also move mountains and move Heaven and Earth for the person I loved.

39. Are you touchy feely?

No.

40. What’s your life motto?

One day at a time.

41. Name three things that you have on you at all times?

I'm not sure I have them on me at all times, but I've usually got my phone, watch and wallet.

42. What’s your favourite town/city?

Fleetwood, because it's my home town.

43. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?

Pizzas.

44. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?

That was last year, when I sent some to my girlfriend.

45. Can you change the oil on a car?

No.

46. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?

Haven't heard about her at all since I last saw her.

47. How far back do you know about your ancestry?

Not far at all; just back to my grandparents.

48. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy?

That was ages ago, in a black suit, for the funeral of one of my aunts.

49. Does anything hurt on your body right now?

I've got a cold, but no real aches or pains.

50. Have you been burned by love?

No, even despite the intense hotness of my girlfriend.

Sunday Stealing: The Sunday Stealing Player's Meme

You can play here.

1. :::sniff, sniff::: Is the dog in the house?

I don't think so, unless my girlfriend's two dogs have followed her here.

2. What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?

Don't talk to strangers; but then I just didn't listen and started blogging anyway.

3. What's the worst experience you've ever had involving alcohol?

There's been a couple. They both involved suddenly waking up somewhere (my room and a bus shelter respectively) and wondering how I got there, because a second prior to that I was merrily drinking away dazzling everyone with my drunken bon mots and savoir faire.

4. What's the worst thing you've ever done to another person?

When I was a kid, five or six maybe, I once accidentally threw a dart into another kid's head (he had the audacity to walk in front of the dartboard while I was throwing). Fortunately, there was no major damage, just a surplus of blood and me not getting to play darts again for a long time afterwards.

5. Who do you think started the concept of memes?

I'm guessing Bud, judging by his age he's been doing it for centuries.

6. Give a song title or line that describes how you are feeling right now.

Happy Happy Joy Joy. Mainly because my girlfriend's here right next to me (though she fell asleep because I was taking forever to do this meme).

7. What's your favorite search engine? Yahoo!, Google, Ask, Bing? or something else?

Google, because it can be read as "go ogle" (snicker), and is also a misspelling of a coolly big number. It's also quite good at finding things too.

8. If Paul is the Cute One and John is the Smart One and George is the Quiet One and Ringo is the Funny One, which Beatle are you?

Sounds like I'm all four.

9. The democratic government decides that, not only do we have to share our money with people who choose not to work, we also have to share our children with those who do not want to ruin their bodies with being pregnant. Which child do you give up?

The one who keeps asking questions like this one.

10. When should you procrastinate - now or later?

All the time.

11. What is your favorite fast food?

It's got to be a kebab calzone, which is sort of donner kebab meat wrapped in a pizza. A combination of cultures, with more calories and cholesterol than anyone could possibly imagine.

12. What was your favourite game as a child?

I remember there was a pop-o-matic game (similar to Frustration) that I liked, called Headache, though I might just be remembering that because my aunt used to delight in telling the story of how she asked me what I wanted for Christmas, and I kept saying "Headache! Headache!"

13. Why terrible twos have to be terrible

Because otherwise they'd just be twos.

14. Describe your favorite family member.

What? Pick a favourite family member? That's like Sophie's Choice (except no one dies admittedly). I couldn't possibly choose one over another. Of course, if you'd asked me my least favourite, that would have been no problem.

15. What does your favorite breakfast consist of?

Skipping breakfast and getting more sleep.

16. What food is better the day after it was made?

Food that was cooked just before midnight and was too hot to eat then.

17. What was your last big purchase?

Either all the stuff I've been buying for my new flat (if you lump them all together, like my credit card bill will) or my new Kindle.

18. When was the last time you kissed someone and really enjoyed it?

Just before I started doing this meme.

19. Why are there memes?

Because Bud invented them back in question five.

20. Described yourself using two words that rhyme. (i.e. fuddy-duddy)

Sarky Marky

21. If you were given the option of a "do-over" in life .. would you take it?

No way.

22. What movie makes (or has made) you cry? What touched you about it?

Terms of Endearment where Debra Winger's saying goodbye to her sons, because it's oh so very very sad.

23. What is one big mistake that you did in your life? And what did you do to make it right?

I started this meme. I finished this meme (or I will in a few hours' time).

24. When Life Gives You Lemons, What Do You Do With Them?

Open a fruit stall.

25. How different are you in real life as compared to the online identity you have created for yourself?

I'm quieter, and I don't spend as much time thinking about how to answer questions.

26. Do you know what your parents would have named you if you had been born the opposite sex?

No idea. Maybe Sheila, since that's what they called my sister who born the year after me.

Sunday Stealing: The Majorly Personal Meme, Part The Last

You can play here.

41. What are your plans for this weekend?

Playing with my new Kindle and catching up on stuff.

42. Do you think someone might be thinking poorly about you? Why might that be?

I'm sure there must be; maybe because they think my meme answers suck.

42. What features don't you have that you would like on your cell?

A meme-answering app would be useful. Either that or a teleporter.

43. How many people can comfortably sleep in your bed?

None, because I'd keep waking them up to explain to me what exactly they were doing in my bed.

44. What are you hoping happens by the end of 2010?

That I finish this meme.

45. What was the last video you watched on YouTube?

I think it was a video about cleaning ceramic hobs that my girlfriend gave me a link to.



Aren't you glad you asked?

46. Would you ever agree to an open relationship with someone?

No, I'm way too possessive for that.

47. Is there something that you could never give up?

Breathing.

48. Would you, (or did you) prefer a small, intimate wedding reception, or a big-scale, over-the-top reception?

Small and intimate.

49. What’s bothering you right now?

The fact that there were two question 42s; I really hope there aren't two question 52s, that could push me over the edge.

50. Do you hate anyone?

No, my life's fairly hate-free.

51. What were you doing at 12 am last night?

I was fast asleep.

52. Was this summer a good one? How warm was it where you live?

Yeah, temperature-wise it was a great summer. It was nicely warm most of the time.

52. Is the last person you kissed before your current situation mad at you?

No, or at least that's what she wants me to think.

53. Can a man and woman be friends without having feelings for each other?

The fact they're friends means they have feelings for each other, but the feelings can be platonic, if that's what you mean.

54. Do you think long distance relationships work? If you’ve had one, tell us about it.

They can work. I've had one for over a year, and it's working great, though I'd far rather be with her all the time.

55. Do you know why it’s called “Random Boredom“?

No, I didn't even realise it was called that. Does that mean there's only a possibilty it's boredom?

56. Do you thing that it’s always the man’s responsibility to initiate sex?

No, otherwise lesbians would have a really bad deal.

57. Have you ever made love while you were in the same room with another couple?

No; either that or they were really well hidden.

58. Tell us the best thing about your current or most recent S/O.

My current S/O consists solely of best things, and her whole exceeds the sum of those parts. Hyperbole doesn't do her justice.

59. Tell us the worst thing about your current or most recent S/O.

The worst thing is that she's an ocean away.

60. Would you write one question in today’s comments so that we could have our followers allow us to steal their questions? We’ll need at least 15.

Maybe, I'll see what I can do.

Sunday Stealing: The Majorly Personal Meme, Part Two

You can play here.

21. If you were to live your life without your best friend, what would change?

My best friend.

22. Tell us about a era of your life that you really miss.

There's bits I look back to with fondness, but I'm not sure I really miss them. They didn't have the internet, so probably sucked in retrospect.

23. Have you ever been betrayed by someone that came as a complete surprise? Without revealing the person, if yes, tell us about it.

No, I haven't.

24. Do you ever think that is a good idea to hide your feelings?

Yeah, especially if you're playing poker.

25. Tell us about your favorite year when you were a student.

I've no idea, they've all got their pros and cons. My last year at school was good from an academic point of view, though my University years were outstanding from a laziness point of view.

25. When was the last time you were in a very good mood? What caused it?

Just now, I spotted there were two number 25s. I love being pedantic.

26. Have you ever had a romantic relationship with a sibling of a good friend?

No.

27. Tell us about the last thing that you did that you truly regret.

Started this meme.

28. When did you laughed today?

I haven't yet. Still got that to look forward to.

29. Do you trust easily?

Yes, unless it's a stranger on the street, or on the phone, or in an email. Once a stranger on the street tricked young me out of a packet of Rolos and these things stick with you.

30. What do you care about that you wish more people would?

Me.

31. Is it easier for you to go without food or go without sleep?

It's a lot easier to go without food; it requires no effort to not buy food, whereas it requires a lot of effort to stay awake.

32. What non-alcohol beverage do you enjoy drinking the most?

Vimto.

33. When you walk into a room full of strangers, generally how is your confidence?

The only time I tend to do that is when I'm going to the cinema, and my confidence remains unaffected then.

34. Does talking about sex with anyone but your lover make you uncomfortable?

Yes.

35. Do you tend to believe members of the opposite sex mostly behave the same way?

No.

36. Did you drink any alcohol this week? If yes, what?

No, I didn't. When I do, it's usually lager and lime.

37. Would you ever consider being a vegetarian?

Yes, but only part-time.

38. Do you believe that there’s always room in your heart for someone?

Yes, providing that someone's my girlfriend.

39. Do you believe in the concept of soul mates?

More and more.

40. Last week, we had a few players criticize our victim’s questions. Which is fine to do and we value your opinion. Would you ever consider writing questions for Bud and me to post on a Sunday Stealing?

But then it wouldn't be stealing, and where's the fun in that?

Sunday Stealing: The Majorly Personal Meme, Part One

You can play here.

1. Are you happier now than you were five months ago?

No, I'm a bit sadder because I've just realised I've now got five less months to live than I did then.

2. Have you ever slept in the same bed with anyone that you shouldn't have?

No.

3. Can you sleep in total darkness?

Yes, and before you ask, I can also sleep horizontally, not to mention with my eyes closed.

4. Your phone is ringing. It’s the person you fell hardest for, the one who got away, what do you say?

How did you get my number?

5. What do you think about the weather this summer?

I liked it, though I live in the UK where the weather doesn't really ever get too hot, plus it always seems a lot better than the weather in the US that my girlfriend talks about where, if I was exposed to it, I'd no doubt be on the verge of either melting or spontaneously combusting.

6. How many people do you trust with everything?

None, especially myself.

7. What was the last thing you drank?

A can of Coke.

8. Is there anyone you want to come see you?

My girlfriend Lynette, but I have to wait twenty days.

9. Name one thing you love about winter?

Christmas.

10. Have you ever dated a Goth?

No, though I wanted to once.

11. What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

I'll be at work tomorrow, so I'll be mostly looking forward to things like coffee time and lunch time and getting home.

12. Name something you dislike about the day you’re having?

Well, I've only just got up, so I guess having to get up; the day always goes downhill after that.

13. What's the longest that you have committed to one person and one person only?

Just over a year.

14. What’s the first thing you did when you opened your eyes today?

I looked at my phone to see if I'd got any emails or texts, and I had, yay.

15. Has anyone ever told you they never want to ever lose you?

If they have, I've forgotten them saying it, so apologies to them for that.

16. Is there anybody that you wish you could fix your relationship with?

No.

17. Could you go out in public, looking like you do now?

Yes, though the public would no doubt point and snigger and wonder what I was doing out in my pyjamas.

18. Do you think things will change in the next 3 months? How?

Yes, I'll get older.

19. Do you believe that you never know what you got until you lose it?

Only in some cases.

20. Do you have a friend of the opposite sex you can talk to?

Yes, my girlfriend.

Sunday Stealing: The Crafty Fifty Meme, Part Two

You can play here.

26. What do you normally smell like?

Me.

27. Do you like Carrie Underwood?

No, but I don't dislike her either. I don't really know much about her to be honest.

28. Been to “The Vegas”?

No, but I might be going to "The Atlantic City" the next time I'm in America.

29. How far away do you live from your parents?

Fairly near my mum, a long way away from my dad.

30. Are you happy with your job?

It's okay, but I'd rather be a lumberjack.

31. Where do you work and what do you do there?

A computer company. Not a lot.

32. What did you get in the mail today?

There's no mail delivered here on Sunday.

33. How do you like your steak cooked?

By someone other than me.

34. Britney Spears…is she back?

Yeah, but I'm busy answering this meme so I had to send her away.

35. What do you usually order at Taco Bell?

I've only ordered there once. I think I got a taco and a burrito and they were both painful to eat because of some weird mouth cooties I had at the time.

36. Have you ever sat all the way through Gone With the Wind?

It's possible I might have done, since we used to have it on video (my sister got it free from somewhere or other). I remember someone wanting to watch it (either my grandmother or my aunt) and then falling asleep during it, but surprisingly I managed to stay awake.

37. Have you ever been to Mt Rushmore?

No, but I saw a cool Don Martin cartoon about it once in Mad Magazine.

38. Is it just me, or was The Marine (w/John Cena) a really horrible movie?

Probably just you, suspect no one else has even seen it.

39. Are surveys like the cocaine of myspace?

No, surveys are a lot cheaper.

40. Where is your favorite place (that you have actually been to)?

Home.

41. What is your favorite candle scent?

Candles should be seen and not smelt.

42. Do you believe places can really be haunted?

Only by memories.

43. Do you smoke cigarettes?

No.

44. Have you ever been to NYC or LA?

I went to NYC back in May and almost got as far as blogging about it.

45. How many states have you been to where all you saw was the airport?

None, though the only bit of Copenhagen I've seen is the airport.

46. Do you think 50 questions is enough?

Clearly it's way more than enough.

47. Are you currently planning a trip?

Yes, I'm back in NYC in October.

48. Is Ryan Seacrest gay? Should anyone care?

I don't know. Nobody, with the possible exception of Ryan Seacrest, should care.

49. Do you take anti-depressants? Sleeping pills?

No, if I want to stave off depression, I can stop doing this meme; if I want to go to sleep, I can carry on doing it.

50. What do you think about space travel?

Underfunded, cool, not as interesting as time travel.

Sunday Stealing: The Crafty Fifty Meme, Part One

You can play here.

1. Introduce yourself.

Hi, I'm An Eerie Tapestry, thrilled to meet you. Let's skip formalities and leap straight to question 5.

5. Did you ever get into a bar and drink before you were 21?

Yes, but I'm from the UK where you can go into bars and drink at 18, so that's no big deal.

6. What countries have you been to?

The nearby ones (Ireland, Scotland and Wales), some of Europe (France, Holland, Spain and Norway) and America,

7. Do you watch MTV anymore?

No, but then again I never did.

8. What do you think about Oprah

Not a lot, since she's not on much on TV over here, and when she was I never watched her.

10. You need a new pair of jeans: what store do you go to first?

The nearest one that sells jeans and the prices look reasonable.

11. Did you ever watch The O.C.?

No.

12. What kind of car do you drive

I've failed my driving test numerous times, so most of the time I'm chauffeured around by bus.

13. Honestly, is that car insured?

Which car? I travel by bus. Haven't you been listening?

14. Do you like sushi?

Yeah, it's okay.

15. Have you ever been to Tiffany & Co. or Saks 5th Ave?

No. The only shops I've been to in New York are souvenir shops, a Hello Kitty shop, and some pizza place that sold Water Ice.

16. Did your parents spoil you growing up?

Not as much as I spoil my nephew and niece.

17. Do you like roller coasters?

They look cool, but I'd never want to go on one.

18. What magazine(s) do you buy regularly or subscribe to?

I buy Radio Times (TV listings magazine), Empire (film magazine), PC Gamer, PC Zone (computer games magazines), SFX (science fiction magazine) and Dodgem Logic (strange magazine covering all sorts of stuff edited by Alan Moore). I also buy Doctor Who Monthly for my nephew.

19. Do you remember the old WB show “Popular”?

No, I don't think they showed it over here.

20. When you go out do you prefer to go to a dance club or to a bar?

I guess a bar, because I've not been to a dance club in years and they probably play music I don't recognise now.

21. What do you think about gay marriage?

I've got no problems with it.

22. Who do you think will be the next president?

Probably someone I've not heard of yet.

23. Are you registered to vote?

Yes.

24. Do you own an iPad?

Yes, but only if you've misspelled iPod.

25. Is your bathroom filled with beauty stuff?

No, just stuff.

Sunday Stealing: 28 Questions Meme

You can play here.

1. Was your dad named after anyone?

I believe his surname was handed down through the generations, no idea about his christian name.

2. What do you think is the minimal age to get married?

Legally it's sixteen, but it depends on the persons involved. I'm sure there are those who've married at that age and it worked out great, whereas others need more time to find the right person or reach the right stage of their life to make marriage work.

3. What’s the longest time that you‘ve been involved with the same person?

Just over a year.

4. What actor/actress do you consider hot at the moment?

Karen Gillan from Doctor Who.

5. What is your favorite album by a band?

Not sure, maybe Honey Lingers by Voice of the Beehive.

6. What is your favorite album by an individual artist?

Again not sure, maybe Suzanne Vega's eponymous debut album.

7. What is something that you‘d rather be a bit dirty?

My dreams, that way there's a chance I'd remember them.

8. What was the last TV show that you watched?

It was called House Gift and wasn't interesting in the least. I'm watching Columbo now, which is a big improvement.

9. How many people have you met from the blogosphere? Who are they?

I've met three people who I know write blogs, but I didn't meet them as a result of their blogging. My girlfriend, who I met through Nanowrimo (A Blog In The Rough/http://www.delgalreviews.com/>DelGal's Book Reviews) and a couple of friends I met through work (Plastic Mancunian and Scars Beneath The SKin).

10. What's your philosophy on life?

I've no real philosophy on it, though I'm fairly sure it's not just a bowl of cherries.

11. Do you think prescription drugs are over prescribed?

In some cases, I'm sure they are, in other cases they're no doubt under prescribed.

12. Would you keep a secret from me if you thought it was in my best interest?

If I was going to keep a secret from you, then you're the last person I'd admit it to.

13. What is your favorite memory in the last year?

Being with my girlfriend as she nursed me through the horrors of man flu.

14. What is your favorite guilty pleasure?

Blogging.

15. Tell me one odd/interesting fact about you:

I once managed to hit my head with a javelin at school while attempting to throw it. Fortunately just the side hit my head rather than it embedding itself in my head or anything too grisly.

16. You can have three wishes (for yourself, so forget all the 'world peace etc' malarky) - what are they?

I'd wish that I was with my girlfriend, that I had an infinite number of wishes, and that I could answer meme questions better.

17. Who would you want to get together with and make a cake?

Hopefully someone who was really good at making cakes, because I'd not have a clue what to do.

18. Which country is your spiritual home?

I'm guessing the UK since it's where I come from, though I'm not that spiritual.

19. What is your big weakness?

Spider Solitaire (though I'm weaning myself off it onto Bejeweled 2).

20. Do you think Judd Corizan is a good person?

I don't know, though I'd like to think so because "Judd is good" rhymes nicely.

21. What was your best/favorite subject at school?

Mathematics.

22. Describe your accent:

I think I've got a generic UK one, though if I'm in America it tends towards the incomprehensible.

23. If you could change anything about yourself, would you?

No, because whatever it was, at the moment it's making the rest of me look good by comparison.

24. What do you wear to sleep?

Pyjamas (or my normal clothes when I fall asleep watching TV).

25. What is your favorite casual outfit to wear?

Jeans and a shirt.

26. Do you use cigarettes or alcohol?

No and yes respectively.

27. If I only had one day to live, what would we do together? (If you have no idea, just say something crazy, it'll entertain me!)

Something crazy.

28. Rate the memes that you play generally. Use any scale or just in order.

These days this tends to be the only meme I play generally, just because I've got more time around Sundays.

The Queen's Meme #46 ~ The Song Lyrics Meme

To avoid getting thrown into a dungeon, here's my answers to this week's Queen's Meme

This week Queen Mimi has used a random word generator to find some words, and our job is to find a song that uses this word either in the title or lyrics. Here we go.

1. Want

I'll go for Avril Lavigne's punky "I Always Get What I Want" which neatly manages to sum up my niece's whole philosophy of life. I could only find live versions of it on YouTube so apologies in advance for the sound quality and dodgy camera work.



2. hell

It's got to be Meat Loaf's "Bat Out Of Hell", just because I loved the album as a teenager.



3. smack

I can only think of Prodigy's Smack Your Bitch Up, and I'm not even sure how that song goes or if it's got lyrics, so I'll pass on this one.

4. ugly

I'll go for "Ugly" by The Sugababes, which has a similar theme to Christina Aguillera's "Beautiful", despite having a diametrically-opposite title.



5. beast

I'll go for the obvious choice; the theme from my favourite animated Disney film, Beauty and the Beast.



6. Romeo

I'm tempted to go for Voice of the Beehive's frothy poppy "I'm Shooting Cupid", with its lines "Romeo and Juliet, Anthony and Cleopatra, Adam and Eve, would have been much better off if you'd left them all alone".



On the other hand, B A Robertson's "To Be Or Not To Be" has the audacity to rhyme Romeo with homey-o and also probably doesn't feature on many memes these days.



7. God

I'll go for XTC's "Dear God". Great song, great video (which I'm sure I must have posted on my blog before).

Sunday Stealing: Meme Of Many Odd Questions, Part Three

You can play here.

45. Favorite color?

Blue.

46. Have you ever slapped someone?

Only in a give-me-five sort of way.

47. Is your hair curly?

Some of it is, but only in the curl up and die kind of way.

48. What was the last CD you bought?

According to Amazon, it was "I Tould You I Was Freaky" by Flight of the Conchords (that wasn't quite the last CD I bought, but I'm too embarrassed to mention the Glee soundtrack CD).

49. Do looks matter?

Yes, otherwise designers would be out of a job.

50. Could you ever forgive a cheater?

It depends what they cheated at.

51. Is your phone bill sky high?

No.

52. Do you like your life right now?

Yes, though it gets way way better in September when my girlfriend's visiting me.

53. Do you sleep with the TV on?

Only when I fall asleep in front of it, which is quite often.

54. Can you handle the truth?

It depends what the truth is. If it's that this meme has a part four then probably not.

55. Do you have good vision?

I assume so, since I've never needed glasses.

56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?

I do if I'm behind them in a queue.

57. How often do you talk on the phone?

Quite often if I'm at work, since customers do so like to moan; not much outside of work though, hence the low phone bill.

58. The last person you held hands with?

My groovy girlfriend Lynette.

59. What are you wearing?

A grey shirt with lots of pens in the pocket, and a pair of blue jeans.

60. What is your favourite animal?

I've no idea. Maybe a dragon.

61. Where was your favorite picture taken at?

The only one I've got on display is one of me with my girlfriend, and that was taken outside her house in Delaware.

62. Can you hula hoop?

Not in the least.

63. Do you have a job?

Yes, I mess about with computers.

64. What was the most recent thing you bought?

Pizzas.

65. Have you ever crawled through a window?

No, I've been through a window, but never while crawling. I'm guessing that the number of people who've actually crawled through a window in pretty low; maybe only the meme writer.

The Queen's Meme #45 ~ The What Would You Do Meme

To avoid getting thrown into a dungeon, here's my answers to this week's Queen's Meme

1. You start out on your road trip. You are 90 miles down the road with not a care in the world until you remember you forgot the most important ingredient needed for your vacation. What was it and would you turn around and go back to get it?

Oh no, I've forgotten my girlfriend, and since she's the one of us who can drive, I'm not sure if I'll be even able to turn around. Better step on the brake, oh wait, that's the accelerator; aaaarggghhhh!

2. You are standing in the checkout line at the grocery store. A homeless man walks by and asks for food from your grocery cart. What would you do?

Why's he asking for it before I've bought it? If he takes it now and walks out that'll count as theft. I'd probably explain this to him at such dull pedantic length he'd wander off and choose someone else's food (which will no doubt be a lot nutritionally healthier for him than mine).

3. The mailman delivers the wrong mail. It is your neighbor's. You can't stand your neighbor. You realize that inside the small brown package there must be something very secretive, very intriguing and possibly incriminating. What do you do?

I give it to my neighbor. I might not be able to stand them but that's no reason to open their mail. Besides it might actually be a lethal trap that the neighbor's set up, just knowing that I'd want to open it.

4. Photography Class 101. First exam. The slide show you are presenting is the wrong one. You accidentally left last weekend's party pics in the camera instead. The whole class is watching....

I'd swap the slides back to the correct ones once the class fell asleep. My party pics were pretty dull it has to be said, though forgetting to take the lens cap off improved them no end.

5. You find your boss's wife on Facebook. She is obviously carrying on with another man in blatant fashion and behind his back. What is the first thing that pops into your head when you see your boss the next day at work?

It depends if I'm the man she's carrying on with.

6. Your plane lands in the wrong vacation spot but you like this one better.

I see what the plane people decide. I don't want to anger the rest of the passengers or have the plane abandon me there. Plus I've already booked the hotel elsewhere. It's not as if I can't remember where the neat new place is and go there again sometime.

7. You walk out of the doctor's office. The news after your yearly checkup is very very good but the news for the person you'd been sitting beside and chatting with in the waiting room is very very bad. You see them in the elevator on the way out and they are in tears. You.....

Comfort them, talk to them, try to figure out whether their surname's similar to mine and there hasn't been some hilarious medical mix-up. Maybe I should also have checked whatever they've got isn't contagious.

Sunday Stealing: Meme Of Many Odd Questions, Part Two

You can play here.

23. Do you rent movies often?

No, never.

24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?

Nothing sparkling here, except for my wit.

25. How many countries have you visited?

Seven.

26. Have you made a prank phone call?

Only once when I was a kid, and it wasn't my idea. It wasn't very funny, so if the recipient's reading this I apologise for that.

27. Ever been on a train?

Loads of times. Usually twice a week.

28. Brown or white eggs?

Green, with ham.

29. Do you have a cell-phone?

Two; one from work, and a decent up-to-date one.

30. Do you use Chap Stick?

I've been known to.

31. Do you own a gun?

No, thankfully doing so is illegal over here.

32. Can you use chop sticks?

Yes, but only for dropping chinese food.

33. Who are you going to be with tonight?

I'll be all by myself.

34. Are you too forgiving?

Yes, at times.

35. Ever been in love?

I am at the moment, more than I've ever been.

36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow (or the next soonest week day)?

It's top secret, and if I told you I'd have to kill you. Or maybe I just don't know.

37. Ever have cream puffs?

I don't think so, but I'm not sure exactly what they are.

38. Last time you cried?

Didn't I answer this same question three weeks ago? If so, then my answer's still the same.

39. What was the last question you asked?

That would be "Didn't I answer this same question three weeks ago?".

40. Favorite time of the year?

Weekends.

41. Do you have any tattoos?

Yes, I have thousands of diminutive manservants in white suits who all shout "Ze plane, ze plane!"

42. Are you sarcastic?

That has to be the most rhetorical question ever. Yes, I am, ever so slightly.

43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect?

No, but if a butterfly had flapped its wings then I might have done.

44. Ever walked into a wall?

No, but I've walked into a lamp post and into the extremely clean glass wall of a bus shelter.

Sunday Stealing: Meme Of Many Odd Questions, Part One

You can play here.

1. First thing you wash in the shower?

I'm guessing my hair, since that's the first thing the water hits.

2. What color is your favorite hoodie?

I've not got a hoodie, let alone a favourite one.

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?

Yes, endlessly.

4. Do you plan outfits?

If I do, my plan always fails.

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?

A bit tired, if you must know, and I'm still only five questions into this meme.

6. What's the closest thing to you that's red?

My lips.

7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?

I can't remember much about it. I was at a Willy Wonka based theme park (not sure if it was the opening) and that's about all I remember, sorry. I'm fairly sure I didn't have anything bad happen to me (getting stuck in a tube, being a bad egg, going into a TV screen) but I'm fairly sure I didn't get to own the place either.

8. Did you meet anybody new today?

A few shop assistants and a guy delivering pizzas, but our conversations never got particularly deep. Having said that, I'll probably be seeing the pizza guy again.

9. What are you craving right now?

My girlfriend.

10. Do you floss?

No.

11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?

That old feature in Mad magazine, Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions.

12. Are you emotional?

I can be, but not often.

13. Have you ever counted to 1,000?

Yeah, that was one long game of hide and seek.

14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?

Probably a mixture.

15. Do you like your hair?

Yeah, I keep begging with it not to leave me.

16. Do you like yourself?

More than my hair seems to.

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?

If he was paying, sure.

18. What are you listening to right now?

Due to the paucity of TV programmes on at the moment, thanks to the World Cup, my mum's been reduced to watching opera (pretty much a first). At the moment, Placido Domingo's singing the lyrics "I hear the voice of eternity" in Italian (I'm guessing it's Italian).

19. Are your parents strict?

My mum's totally unstrict. I'm not sure about my father since I rarely encounter him.

20. Would you go sky diving?

Only against my will.

21. Do you like cottage cheese?

No, I'm fairly apathetic about it (I prefer normal cheese).

22. Have you ever met a celebrity?

I briefly met Dawn Acton, who used to appear as Tracy Barlow on Snoop Dogg's favourite UK soap Coronation Street, when she was DJ-ing at the Fab Cafe in Manchester. As is the way with soaps, her character was now played by another actress, so I told her she was the best Tracy Barlow (as indeed she was, my drunken words not being merely drunken words). Another time I was there, I looked up from my drink to see the surreal sight of two Tracy Barlows sitting there, as the new Tracy Barlow actress had popped in to say hello to the old one.

Sunday Stealing: The Eighty Meme, Part Two

You can play here.

23. Are your days fast-paced?

No.

24. What did you do last night?

My nephew came to stay the night, so I messed about with him installing and playing computer games a lot.

25. Do you use sarcasm?

I'm floating in a pool of sarcasm.

26. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?

Older than dirt.

27. Are you picky about spelling and grammar?

Yes, though it helps since I'm an editor over at a DC comics fanfiction site.

28. Do you get along better with the same sex or the opposite sex?

About equal; I don't get along with anyone.

29. Do you watch the news?

Not usually.

30. How did you get one of your scars?

I cut one of my arms on a broken milk bottle, though I was too young at the time to remember it.

31. Who was the last person to make you mad?

Probably myself.

32. What is the last big thing you purchased?

That would be a trampoline, which I bought for my niece's birthday yesterday. I suspect she'll be bored of it by now.

33. Who would you want to be tied to for 24 hours?

I'd say my girlfriend, but 24 hours just isn't long enough.

34. What is a rumour someone has spread about you?

Big Al, who I work with, was telling people I was going to get married in Las Vegas at the New Year.

35. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator?

It would depend on who I was stuck in the elevator with.

36. T or F: All’s fair in love and war?

F; otherwise crimes of passion and war crimes wouldn't be classified as crimes.

37. Do you know how to use some words correctly, but not know the meaning?

If I didn't know the meaning, how would I know if I was using them correctly?

38. Do you know which US states don’t use Daylight Savings Time?

I'm not even sure which US states use daylight.

39. Do you want a bright yellow ‘06 mustang?

Wow, yes, I've always wanted one of those.

40. What’s something you’ve always wanted?

A bright yellow '06 mustang?

41. Would you rather swim in the ocean or a lake?

I'd go for a lake, since there'd be less chance of being swept out to sea or being eaten by a shark.

42. Do you wear a lot of black?

I do sometimes.

43. Describe your hair:

It's sort of mousy and grey and runaway (and, in parts, ranaway).

44. Where is/are your best friend(s)?

They're probably at home now. If not, they'll be out somewhere.

Sunday Stealing: The Eighty Meme, Part One

You can play here.

1. What curse word do you use the most?

That would be 'Flip'. I'm pretty much an amateur curser.

2. Do you own an iPod?

Yes, my second (the first one stopped working after I dropped it once too often).

3. What person do you talk to on the phone the most?

I can use google chat on it, so spend most of my time chatting to my girlfriend. If you mean actually talking to a person then it's probably to my boss at work.

4. Do you still remember the first person you kissed?

Yes, but I'm sure they don't.

5. Do you remember where you were on 11/9/01?

Depends if you're using UK or US date ordering. If you mean September 11th, I was at work when I first heard about the attack on the Twin Towers.

6. What was the last movie you watched?

The last one I watched in full was probably "The Invention of Lying" which was a funny movie.

7. Has anyone ever called you lazy?

Everyone's called me lazy.

8. Do you ever take medication to help you fall asleep?

No, never. I just fall asleep naturally, even when I don't mean to.

9. Has anyone told you a secret this week?

Not quite, though someone's told me something in confidence, but I'd never mention it to anyone.

10. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?

Depends which way they're facing.

11. What are you looking forward to?

September, when my girlfriend's flying over to see me. Yay.

12. Do you own any band t-shirts?

Yes, numerous They Might Be Giants one, one Crowded House one, and one Lawnmower Deth one. I haven't worn any of them in years.

13. What will you be doing in one hour?

I've no idea, such is my unpredictability. Hopefully it won't still be this meme.

14. Is anyone in love with you?

Yes, my girlfriend Lynette and it's reciprocated so much every second of every minute of every day.

15. Last time you cried?

That would be while typing an email to my girlfriend, where I realised once more how much I was missing her.

16. Are you on a desktop computer or a laptop?

A netbook.

17. Are you currently wanting any piercings or tattoos?

No, I'm very adverse to pain.

18. Would you ever date anyone covered in tattoos?

Yeah, if I cared for the person.

19. What were you doing before this?

Answering the previous question.

20. When is the last time you slept on the floor?

Around 27 years ago, when I was a student, after I'd drunken wine for the first time. I didn't remember a lot about the night before, but I do remember waking up to find myself on the floor. There was a bed next to me, but the floor was bigger and so probably an easier target when I was looking for somewhere to sleep.

21. How many hours of sleep do you need to function?

I don't function that well, so probably more than I get.

22. Do you eat breakfast daily?

No, that would mean even more sleep I'd have to miss.