I am herby declaring today survey day. In the order they came out…

First up, Eric’s Psycho Survey.

1) You are forced to listen to music for 24 hours straight at a high enough volume to make conversation impossible without shouting. It has to either be boy band/Britney Spears type music or ultra heavy speed/death metal. Which do you choose?
I can not stand death metal. I would have to go with the ultra pop. I must admit to enjoying it in very small doses anyway.

2) You have to go three days eating one of two things. Either a single small meal of something you really like or three meals a day each day of something you dislike.
I’ll take the food I like. I could stand to loose a few pounds anyway.

3) Would you choose to run 12 sets of 200 meters sprints as fast as you can with about a minute off between each, or a five mile continuous run?
I’m going to have to say the sprints. I think I could survive that. Definitely couldn’t survive a five mile run. I barely survive two mile runs (which I haven’t done for a week or two.)

4) Would you rather be forced to stay in the Sahara desert a day with a heavy jacket on, or in the Arctic for a day with shorts and a T-shirt on.
I can take heat much better then cold. I’ll take the desert, thank you very much. (Hey, look where I live.)

5) Balanced crowd co-ed Strip Poker or no holds bared, can't turn down a dare style Truth or Dare?
So one of the dares could be to strip? Hmmm. Actually, my life is an opened book as it is, so the truth or dare would be safer. And I’m such a bad poker player I’d be naked before too long.

6) You are being forced to drink until you literally throw up. Do you choose to simply drink a lot of something relatively weak that tastes good, or something really really strong that will get the job done quickly?
So who’s holding the gun to my head? Other wise, I’m not drinking a thing.

7) Would you rather have to listen to Eric tell jokes for 24 hours straight, or sprayed with mace and zapped with a stun gun once.:)
I noticed Eric conveniently forgot to answer this one himself. :) I’d have to say the jokes. They can’t be that bad, can they? Can they?

Then, Mary’s Tuesday Two.

1. I have been having a recurring dream since my early teens: I am on the ground, watching an airplane either a) fly into a building (I know...freaky!) or b) suddenly nose-dive into the ground and burst into flames. What recurring dream(s) do you have?I
’ve got the usual being chased by something or someone. And the falling off a huge height. I always wake up about the time I hit the ground.

2. Sleeping - left side, right side, back or stomach?
I try to sleep on my right side, but I often seem to wind up on my stomach. Not the best position, or so I’ve heard.

And finally, today’s Thursday Threesome, brought to this week by Claude Lévi-Strauss and The Back Porch.

Onesome: View- What is your favorite scenic site, either around your place, where you've traveled, or just that one special picture (like that Ansel Adams"Half Dome" shot)?
Bryce Canyon was spectacular. I took a ton of pictures of Half Dome when I was there in September. And yes, I’ve been known to be captivated by sunsets.

Twosome: From- How far is it from home to work? Are you a long distance commuter or do you just schlep on into the dining room/office?Two miles. Takes me about 5 minutes to drive. Have I mentioned recently how much I love my commute?

Threesome: Afar- for the travelers out there, just how far have you gone? I mean, is the trip to Grandma's about it? ...or have you made it farther abroad?
I’ve been to Europe and Israel. It’s been a few years. Maybe a trip to Australia soon?

Just a brief note to end my work day. (Ok, so I've eaten already, too. Don't confuse me with the facts.)

I have good news and I have news, which do you want to hear first?

The news: My apartment building has been sold. It's now owned by a management company. I really don't know if this is a good or bad thing yet. Hopefully they won't decide to drastically raise the rent. That's my biggest fear. If they come in and replace the pipes like was supposed to happen a year ago I'll be very happy.

The good news: I got all the forms in to the government that I've need to get sent in before the month ends. Actually, some of them were very much overdue, but I finally got the information I needed this afternoon, so I completed them right away. Now we'll just see if we get fined for being so late.

Yep, I'm safely back in Santa Clarita inspite of the weather's best efforts. I hit pockets of rain all the way down yesterday, even running into hail at least once and possibly twice.

Friday night, I got quite the earful. Seems things in Santa Rosa were worse then I realized by far. Mom and Dad were getting very little sleep each night, so we slept in every day and got late starts. Heck, I didn't get out of bed myself until after 9 on Saturday.

The place they have Grandma seems very nice. The staff especially. But the other residence seem much worse then she does. Still, it's the best place they can put her since she's been diagnosed with dementia.

Frankly, every time I go home it's hard. There have been so many changes in the last year. We went by Grpop's place to see the changes. It looks very nice, but it's hard not seeing Grmom and Grpop there.

Still, got to hang out with the Irwins. Had a blast at Mike's girlfriend's 21st birthday party. And Easter dinner was lots of fun with family, etc. Frankly, we were doing so much the weekend just flew by. And I had a nice lunch with Donald on the way back Monday.

And now back to the boring routin. Work, home, 24. Well, that last one's not boring. :)

This is going to be a flying post because I need to get home and pack to leave for Santa Rosa ASAP!

It's official, my high school reuinion is the same weekend as Trixie Convention and a wedding. I'm going to Trixie Convention, just want to let you all know what I could be doing. (And what was wrong with the next weekend anyway?)

Worship time was awesome last night! I actually felt like I could relax and worship, and I certainly didn't feel the pressure to keep everyone together. And that was with adding a 5th guitar at the last minute. :)

And I got great news from Dad today. They've found a board and care place for Grandma and moved her in last night. She liked the place originally but hesitated last night. Still, she say she thought she get used to it and accept it in a few days. I'm certainly not critical, this has been very hard on her, too. But this means that my parent's lives have been destressed about 1000%!

And with that, I'm out of here. Have a great Resurrection Weekend, everyone! (AKA Easter Weekend.)

Actually, I'm starting of today with the Tuesday Two, found at Mary's blog.

1. What is, or was, your favorite comic strip?
Without a doubt, Calvin and Hobbes. That strip had the funniest and most insightful still ever in it. And the most imaginative, too. I so miss it. Current favorite would have to be FoxTrot, followed closely by Dilbert. And another classic I still enjoy is Peanuts. How can you go wrong with Good Ol’ Charlie Brown?

2. And who was, or is, your favorite comic strip character?
Hobbes, because of his use of sarcasms. Snoopy and Charlie Brown are right behind him, however.

And now, the Thursday Threesome you thought you were tuning in for. This week's is sponsered by a restaurant I've never heard of and The Back Porch.

Onesome: Family- Hmmm... It seems like this weekend is a get together time for some people. How about you? Do you have a family gig to attend this weekend? Hosting one? ...or are you spending the weekend doing weekend things?
Actually, when the college lets us go at noon tomorrow for Good Friday, I’m heading up to my parent’s for the weekend. Not sure what all will be happening when I’m up there, but I’ll be spending it with family.

Twosome: Waffle- Okay, here's the tough one: Waffles or Pancakes? You should hear the discussions in some households! ...and what about those Belgian things? Inquiring minds want to know!
Waffles are the better maple syrup holders because you can fill every square and therefore get more in. Not that I turn down pancakes at all. Actually, I very seldom wait for the waffles in the long line at brunch because it takes so long. Just go with the pancakes.

Threesome: & Grill- The outdoor cooking season is close at hand! For those who live large outdoors, are we talking grilling or barbecuing? If you enjoy cooking outside, what is your specialty? ...and for the indoor crowd: do you cook anything reminiscent of outdoor cookery?
I don’t cook indoors or outdoors, so it really doesn’t matter.

Today’s rant is actually a public service announcement. It’s written to all those who don’t understand one of our basic freedoms – freedom of speech.

This is actually a simple thing to understand. It guarantees that we can say whatever we want and the government won’t punish us for it. There are, however, several things it does not mean.

1) It does not mean that private business must respect our right. Let’s say, for example, that there is a public message board dedicated to one theme. For the sake of argument, let’s say its Amazon’s Customer Review board. It’s their dime, therefore, they get to say what we do and don’t talk about. If they decide to police it, they can delete any post that is off topic. That is not censorship, that is trying to rein in the monster that has gotten out of hand. Not all places are appropriate for all topics. We are promised the right to say what we will, not the right to say it any place we feel like.

2) It also does not mean we have the right to be heard. If I start saying the sky is red, and talk about that, everyone will ignore me. I still have my right to say whatever I want. Just because no one choose to hear it doesn’t mean my rights have been trampled on. If no one read my blog, it wouldn't mean my rights are being taken away. I'm still saying stuff, you just aren't reading it.

3) Finally, it does not mean we have the freedom from response. Several celebrities came out in opposition to the war in Iraq. They exercised their right. However, now they’re whining because people are boycotting them or asking them not to come and make appearances. If you’re going to take a stand, be prepared to live with the consequences. If you’re a public figure and talk about something that’s out of your realm of expertise, it just might negatively affect you. If you can’t handle that, then talk about it with your friends like the rest of us and don’t call news conferences to spout your view as if it mattered more then mine.

Yes, this is the result of several different issues going on in the last 24 hours.

And while I'm on the subject, just because you say something doesn't mean I have to pander to you. I watched an old interview with Norman Lear on TV Land Sunday night. During it, the subject came up of his sueing to have reruns of his shows put on during the "Family Hour." If they weren't, then he'd loose money on the shows. So, in order for him to make more money, he is sueing a private company (only networks. No "censors" involved) for treading on his "rights." Please. You know when you make a certain kind of show that you'll have to deal with the consequences of that. Why does everyone need to pander to you. If you really want to make money, make a family friendly show and sneak your views in more subtly. (Of course, today, you'd probably have to sue to get a decent show on at all. Times have changed from this interview in the 70's. And, no, I wouldn't be behind sueing to have a family show on any more then I'm behind this.)
* * * * *
On top of this, I’ve had a frustrating day. I thought I had one account balanced. I went to double check, and found I’m twenty thousand out of balance. AUGH! I’ve been feeling tired and depressed all day, and I’m not completely sure why. I really feel like I need a vacation, which this weekend definitely won’t be, especially if Grandma’s around all weekend. And I spent extra time on my lunch hour looking for the roll of birthday wrapping paper I bought early this year before remembering that Donald used lots of it for Heather’s birthday presents. At least, I’m blaming it on that since I couldn’t find it anywhere.

I did take advantage of my new digital cable to record Scooby Doo over night. Pretty much what I remembered for the couple I watched when I was a kid. Don’t see myself getting hooked on that on a regular basis unless they move it to a time when I’m home. But it is fun.

Proving that I am a psycho after all, I thought I'd take Eric's Psycho survey. Scary, isn't it? :)

Psycho Survery: Creatures of the Night

1. If left to your own devices to sleep and be awake when you want to, would you be a day or night person?

Definitely a day person. If God had intended us to be awake at night, He'd have made the sun shine then. :) Seriously, it's all I can do to keep my eyes opened much after midnight. And I generally can't sleep beyond 8 AM. Might doze, but I'm basically awake at that point.

2. Which do you prefer? A full moon on a clear night, or a new moon on a clear night?

Yes.

3. Have you ever been afraid of the dark?

Been? Most definitely. And it can still hit me. For example, after a certain serinade took place at Trixie camp last year.

4. If you answered yes to 3 above, were you afraid of 1) Monster under the bed? 2) Something you KNEW was hiding in the closet? or 3) Something else.

All of the above, with special mention to Marley's Ghost. I love the George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol, but that scene really scared me as a kid. All the way through jr. high. Still gets my heart pumping as an adult. :) Like others, I have a very good imagination and can scare myself silly even with the lights on. As I said, it was my imagination more then anything that got me at Trixie Camp, leading to two sleepless nights in the woods. Or almost sleepless.

5. When you are up all night, what are you usually doing?

You're assuming I am up all night. If I'm up late, I'm watching TV or reading. I can fall asleep doing both, so you see the problem.

6. Do you like to listen to music while you go to sleep, and if so, what do you listen to?

Nope. I like to fall asleep daydreaming.

7. Can you sleep through noise, like a dripping faucet or heavy wind, or a ticking clock?

Not usually. I'm funny. The first couple of hours after I've gone to sleep, I'll sleep through lots of stuff. After that, I wake up at the drop of a hat. Sometimes I get back to sleep, sometimes I don't.

8. If you force yourself to stay up, for whatever reason, what method do you use?

Not applicable.

9. When was the last time you were literally up all night, and what were you doing?

In spite of what I said, I have no clue. I did get a couple hours sleep at Camp, so I really don't know when the last time I stayed up all night was.

It's raining today, it's raining today! So my weather guy obviously doesn't do rain, because it's been raining here steadily all day. Supposed to clear up tomorrow, but I've been enjoying it today.

And I got all the benefit accounts reconciled. Yep, I'm getting pretty far along with where I should be. If only I thought organizing my office would go this well.

And it looks like things are falling in place. Other Seth, Kurt, and I will be going out to the Channel Islands to go camping for a weekend this summer. The only way there is via boat, and it'll be very primative once we do get there. Very much looking foward to it. I've always wanted to do something like this. Can't wait for the end of June.

Meanwhile, things sounded better when I talked to my family this weekend. They've ordered a TrailManor trailer, so they were very jazzed about that. And they've started looking for places for Grandma, so that's good. The sooner they get that taken care of, the better it'll be for everyone.

My afternoon yesterday went pretty much as planned. Found the tire place no problem. The only waiting I had to do was the 10 minutes for them to actually fix my tire. What a difference from Sears. Then I went home, finished my book and started another, and watch some TV. Unfortunately, there just weren't enough hours in the day for all the relaxing I wanted to do. :)

I was running late for Sunday School this morning, which was very unfortunate. Matt was planning on playing guitar with me. (I think I've mentioned this before. He's one of the jr. highers and has been taking lessons for quite some time.) But he's been doing more classical then anything else. Playing last minute with him just didn't work out at all. So we talked about how we'd do it differently so it would work out. Now, I just need to make sure it does.

Then after church I went over to the Moss's to work on stuff for Thursday night. With everyone but me (and other jr. high staffers) going to the Dodger game, parcticing Wednesday as usual just wasn't going to work. So we practiced this afternoon. Things went pretty well.

Now, I'm killing another 15 minutes before I pick up Heather and take her to the bus stop so she can go home for her Spring break. Phil and his wife and in the office, too, which really surprised me. I haven't seen Phil over here on a weekend in ages. Must be because of tax season and his extra hours for his private tax business.

And isn't it ironic, don't you think?

I'm just settling in to see how close I could come to finishing my novel before I got out of bed when the phone rang. It was Pete calling to tell me that only 4 members of the team had shown up for our games today. So I went and played. We forfeited our first game, but did play the second. And we played the team that has the guy I left because of on it. (Pure Honey speak, I know.) We lost, but I had a great time. Please explain that to me.

I'm glad I made it over here, however. Part one of my recent order from CBD came today. Three CD's. So far, I'm listening to Rebecca St. Jame's best of. I'm really enjoying it, and I'm not a big fan. However, the song order has nothing in common with the song order on the back of the CD. Wonder what happened.

Off to see about getting the slow leak in one of my tires fixed. Then we'll see what I can do about my book. And the TV I recorded.