Woo hoo!  I stole this from Saturn Cat.  Quite fun.

• type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr search.
• using only the first page, choose an image.
• copy and paste each of the URL’s into the mosaic maker over at FD’s image maker.

The questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you attend?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your Flickr name.

Here is my little mosaic. Try it out and leave a link!

Here is a link to a bigger version - Click HERE.

1. Mountain Waterfall, 2. Hazara, Northern Indian food, 3. Bavaria, 4. Green and Wet, 5. Gary Sinise, 6. Long Island Ice Tea, 7. The Writing Is On The Wall – If You Can See It, You Can’t Read It, 8. Crème Brûlée from Berry Milk, 9. one would., 10. For you / Para vosotras (Sant Jordi), 11. When Waves Collide, 12. Water...water....water...I've been crawling through the Sahara Desert all day...my tongue is parched...water...water....water....

It is my turn to steal this from Saturn.  Thank you Saturn!

I filled this survey out last year, and it's a fun little way to look back at the goings-on of 2007.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?

Well, I got married.  That was a new experience.  Also visited Oahu.  Alas, I have not tried surfing yet.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Ug.  I normally never make resolutions, but I think I need to remind myself to keep in better touch with people in 2008. 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes.  Can I please have one year with no funerals?  Please?

5. What countries did you visit?

Mainland USA.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?

The ability to digest food in a non-painful manner.
 
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

My wedding.  For obvious reasons.  Also, the day Sweetie proposed.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Pulling off a fantastic wedding in California while living in Maui.  Whew!  In nine months.  Egads!

9. What was your biggest failure?

See Question #2.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Not serious, no.  Thank goodness.

11.  What was the best thing you bought?

erg.  I don’t know.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

I hate to repeat myself, but I really love hanging out with my nephews because I think they are pretty great.  It’s amazing to watch them grow up and mature, but still have that wonderment of kid-ness.  There are so many times I am just so thankful to be able to witness the most simple things with them. 

Also have to say - my Sweetie for putting up with me so well this year.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Some really crappy drivers here on Maui.  A whole lot of elected officials who did next to nothing productive this year.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Ha! That’s easy.  See Question #1.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Our honeymoon to Yellowstone.  Of course I was excited about the wedding, but there were a few things to worry about related to the actual event (weather being one).  But every time I thought about getting away and enjoying the beauty of Yellowstone and just relaxing and hiking with my Sweetie, I was pretty excited.  And it was a fantastic trip.

16.  What song(s) will always remind you of 2007?

Probably EBTG’s “Get Me.”   Oh, and The Muppets’ Mahna Mahna, which is the song we used for our wedding recessional. 

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. Happier or sadder?

About the same.

ii. Thinner or fatter?

About the same.  I’ve actually lost weight, but I think I lost muscle mass since I’ve been a slob and not exercised much since the wedding.

iii. richer or poorer?

Probably a little poorer. 

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Watched sunsets.  Jeeez - that’s exactly what I said last year.  *sigh*

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Badgering my Sweetie.  And does anyone ever answer "Gee.....I wish I'd done MORE worrying last year." ?

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

Relaxing, eating, and opening presents with Sweetie’s family.

23. How many one-night stands?

We still have one night stand, yes.  We tried to buy a new one at the hotel renovation sale in Lahaina, but we couldn’t fit it in the van with the patio furniture.  And by the next day, the night stands were gone.

24. What was your favorite TV program?

Still stands at Battlestar Galactica.  Insanely good show.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Nope.

26. What was the best book you read?

I think I have to agree with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I have a list of good new songs I found on Pandora.  I made my own iPod playlist.  From that list, my favorite artists are probably Skye and Sonique

28. What did you want and get?

A sunny wedding day!  And a healthy family.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?

May have been Transformers.  What else came out this year?

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

36, and I think I just spent a normal day.  I’m old.  I can’t remember that far back.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

Same as last year - Maui casual.

34. What kept you sane?

Who said I’m sane?

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Seeing the Dalai Lama give a public teaching here in Maui was pretty powerful.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

The war still gets me thinking. 

37. Who did you miss?

Dad.

38. Who was the best new person you met?

I met a lot of new people at the wedding.  Don’t know if there is a “best.”

39.  Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:

Even a couple of procrastinators can pull off a pretty good wedding in nine months.  Also - never go all in with pocket 6s.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

......have to get back to that.

I'm sitting here trying to think of what to write about that won't take too much brain power.  Not that I've used a lot today.  Sweetie and I went out to buy milk and Christmas cards.  We are trying to back up my laptop so we can wipe it out in an attempt to get the poor thing to run a little more smoothly.  We watched some World Series of Poker on TV.  He worked a little.  Not much going on.

He said "Write about our thank you cards."  Nothing to write about.  We are behind in finishing up our thank-you cards for the wedding.  Not a huge surprise if you know both of us fairly well.  I could talk about the perils of procrastination.......but maybe I'll save that for later.

I have lots of deep thoughts running around.  Could talk about holiday stuff.  Could talk a little more about my NaNo writings, which would be talking about Dad.  I want to talk about the Mother Teresa book I am reading that makes me think about all sorts of things.  Could write about friendship.  Or my favorite Thai restaurant on Maui (that does deserve it's own entry).

I am so unmotivated right now.  My insomnia is acting up a tad bit.  Not too bad.  Not awake until 5 a.m., so I'll count that as good.  But still tossing a bit into the a.m. hours. 

None of which really adds up to a good blog entry today.  But maybe I will be more thoughtful tomorrow.  Remember - you don't normally get a blog a day from this gal.  I am motivated by my Holidailies commitment.  Just not very creative tonight.

So, to add insult to non-blog injury, I shall end with a quiz....

You Are Socks!

Cozy and warm... but easily lost. You make a good puppet.

Well, what's a gal to do after she's written a little over 50,000 words for November?

Yes!  She signs up for Holidailies for December!

Same as last year, I am taking the Holidailies challenge.  The site is taking sign-ups until December 5, so if you want to join the fun, check it out at:  www.holidailies.org.  ....opps.....update - they are closing sign-ups on December 2.  Although - you can still take the challenge unofficially:

Holidailies is a free community writing project. All Holidailies 2007 participants promise to update their personal web sites every day from December 1 to January 1. Portal participants post summaries of their entries 

The first writing prompt is "Introduce Yourself."  So, who is that Stone Girl chick anyway?  (yes, I’m stealing a bunch of this from last year’s intro)

Environmental analyst, writer, work-at-homer.  Wife (as of October), daughter, sister, friend.  Tree-climber, occasional insomniac, Aunt, inquirer.  Laugher, crier, worker, player.  Hiker, music-lover, piano player, seeker, student-of-life, traveler, homebody. 

Not a huge fan of organized sports, I will however root for my Aggies (not the Texas ones!).  Lactose intolerant.  A well-adjusted open-minded Presbyterian who counts the Dalai Lama as one of my only heroes.  Comic book collector.  Professional when I need to be, goofy by nature.  Grew up (mostly) in California's Central Valley, living now in beautiful Maui. 

Addicted to all food competitions on TV.  I believe in helping others and self reliance.  My cube was opaque and slightly iridescent. 

Who are You?

Wow. This outcome surprised me. Yea me!

You will notice the answer does not say "You CONFIDENTLY Passed 8th Grade Science."

You Passed 8th Grade Science

Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct!

Yahoo’s blog topic of the day is “What is your favorite holiday tradition?”

That’s a tough one to answer.

My family didn’t have many grand Christmas traditions, other than the standard fare. We decorate, hang stockings, get a tree, put presents under it, open them on Christmas, and eat lots of food. When I was younger, we would occasionally go to a tree lot with fresh trees. The kind of place where you jump on a sleigh (freezing all the way), find your perfect tree, find someone to cut it, and ho ho ho all the way back home. Sometimes we would spend the day at my Aunt and uncle’s house with the extended family - aunts, uncles, cousins, cousins’ kids. For years, we have continued to leave cookies and an apple by the fireplace, if for no other reason than to chortle over the “Bah Humbug!” scripted on our note, somehow, mysteriously, by Christmas morning. I also still love our family tradition of opening one present on Christmas Eve. Who can resist a gift-bonanza sneak peak?!

I enjoy the simple things the most. My mother has a small nativity scene she sets up every year. One Mary, one Joseph, and one Jesus in a small crib. Hand-crafted from wood, with no decoration, I loved these pieces growing up. Mom augments it with some fresh pine cuttings, a couple of angels, and one of my small wolf figurines. Can’t remember when she started using him, but I love the idea that my noble wolf is watching over the young family.

In the spirit of historical accuracy, baby Jesus’ crib stays empty until Christmas Eve. Years ago, I asked my mom if I could place baby Jesus in his crib and she said yes. Since then, I have looked forward to a quiet moment on Christmas Eve when I take baby Jesus from his tissue wrap in a drawer. I unwrap him and place him in his small crib. I look at the small babe, Joseph standing straight and strong, and Mary with her hands clasped and her head slightly bent in a manner of prayer. It is a perfect moment for me to think, to reflect on my past year, and to pray my thank-yous for all the good things in my life. A small tradition, but a meaningful one for me.

I stole this from Cheela!

hmmm....I can be quite moody. I am grounded, but hey - I'm a writer also. And no, there's no way I could fall for someone I could not trust. Trust and communication. Keys to a good relationship. Even if I am moody.

Thanks!

What Your Soul Really Looks Like

You are very passionate and quite temperamental. While you can be moody, you always crave comfort. You are a grounded person, but you also leave room for imagination and dreams. You feet may be on the ground, but you're head is in the clouds. You believe that people see you as a bit small and insignificant. People pay more attention to you than you think. Your near future is a lot like the present, and as far as you're concerned, that's a very good thing. For you, love is all about caring and comfort. You couldn't fall in love with someone you didn't trust.

If you are a Monkey : Very impatient and hyper!!! You want things to be done as quick as possible. At heart, you are quite simple and love if you are the center of attraction. That way, you people are unique. You would like to keep yourself safe from all the angles. Shall your name be dragged or featured in any sort of a controversy, you then go all panicky. Therefore, you take your precautions from the very beginning. When you foresee anything wrong, your sixth sense is what saves you from falling in traps. Quite a money minded bunch you people
are!!

I suppose this is fairly accurate for me. I do tend to be impatient. Take after Mom's side of the family there, I think.

Go visit Ancsweetnsassygal to see what animal you are!

I really think my Big Sis should go check this out. I guessed your animal before I looked at the birthdays!

Next up...I'll try and update Sweetie and my trip to southern California!

Nothing too exciting today. Got a bunch of cleaning done. Even managed to wash the car. Which I think is just the second time I've done that since I've been driving it! Watched waaaaay too much Food Network TV today.** I am SUCH a sucker for any food competition. Top Chef. Iron Chef. Next Food Network Star. Food Network Challenge (Disney Villains today). I'm a total food competition junkie. Don't really watch the regular cooking shows. But I love to watch those chefs scramble and then plate some gorgeous scrumptious thing that I just wanna grab and taste!

Have I mentioned I like food?

And to end, here's a quick quiz I stole from Cheela's page. Fun!

Your Movie Buff Quotient: 68%

You are a total movie buff. Classics, blockbusters, indie favorites... you've seen most of them. Your friends know to come to you whenever they need a few good DVD rental suggestions.

Happy Mom's Day to all you awesome Moms out there.

Most especially special wishes go to MY MOM! She always supports me, is somewhat psychic in her ability to understand what is going on with me (and when I am about to call her), works harder than most employed people I know, is super sweet, and basically all-out rocks!

Have a great day everyone!

You Are Somewhat Like Your Mom

Believe it or not, you and your mom are pretty darn similar. It may not seem like it at times, but you and your mom have a lot of common ground. Over time, you'll probably get closer ... especially if you emphasize the things you like about each other.

I'm stealing this from Angelika's blog. I thought it would be fun to try out. And look! my favorite color appeared.

Your Blog Should Be Green

Your blog is smart and thoughtful - not a lot of fluff. You enjoy a good discussion, especially if it involves picking apart ideas. However, you tend to get easily annoyed by any thoughtless comments in your blog.

Hello again,

OK, to try and make up for my rant, I will try and add something here that is a little more uplifting. I just saw this on Em's blog, and I think it is so fun! You click on the images that you choose, and out pops your Visual Profile. I think my types were mostly on the mark. I don't know that I agree with "New Wave Puritan." Actually, I pretty much laugh at "ever so neat." BUT, overall, this was very fun. Try it! And if you do, let me know. You can cut and paste the code in your blog - just make sure to hit "View HTML source" before pasting. Have fun! Thanks Em!

OK, I stole this from Ancsweetnsassygal. I would say this is fairly accurate. At least, the part about my own thoughts. I don't know if anything that spills out of my brain is particularly persuasive.

Your Brain's Pattern

Your mind is a firestorm - full of intensity and drama. Your thoughts may seem scattered to you most of the time... But they often seem strong and passionate to those around you. You are a natural influencer. The thoughts you share are very powerful and persuading.

I got this from Sheila! And my laptop stopped crashing long enough to copy the html code over (hopefully).

You are The Lovers

Motive, power, and action, arising from Inspiration and Impulse.

The Lovers represents intuition and inspiration. Very often a choice needs to be made.

Originally, this card was called just LOVE. And that's actually more apt than "Lovers." Love follows in this sequence of growth and maturity. And, coming after the Emperor, who is about control, it is a radical change in perspective. LOVE is a force that makes you choose and decide for reasons you often can't understand; it makes you surrender control to a higher power. And that is what this card is all about. Finding something or someone who is so much a part of yourself, so perfectly attuned to you and you to them, that you cannot, dare not resist. This card indicates that the you have or will come across a person, career, challenge or thing that you will fall in love with. You will know instinctively that you must have this, even if it means diverging from your chosen path. No matter the difficulties, without it you will never be complete.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

I think one good steal deserves another....so..... I am lifting this off Saturn's page! (thanks!)

"What Kind of Mage are You?" is the question.

My answer is below....but gee whiz, it reads to me like another version of stubborn. What the HELL?! Is someone trying to tell me something? You cannot convince me that stubborn is a bad characteristic. No, you can't. You realize there is a reason I named my South Park character Truculena, right?

Well, all the cool kids are doing it, including my pal Saturn, so why not? Although my memory right now is particularly bad, I will try and recall 2006. And I will try and not be too snarky.

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
Well that’s an easy one. Packed up my old kit bag and moved to Maui.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
The only resolutions I’ve made for many years is this: Do not accidentally write down the wrong year. But I usually break it before March while writing a check.

I will say this is one year I want to make a resolution. I was horrible last year for peoples’ birthdays, and I want to get in gear in time this year. Sorry to everyone I missed in 2006 (pretty much everyone!).

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

One good friend, and .......who am I forgetting? I know I’m forgetting people.....

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My father died in June.

Mama T died in September.

5. What countries did you visit?

None (booooo)
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?

More sleep
7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Let’s get back to that one.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I packed up, or threw away, EVERYTHING I own. That was a big job. Dare I say a Sisyphean effort?

I also think my mom, sister, brother-in-law, and I achieved a lot by helping each other take care of my father at home.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I didn’t throw out more old junk when I had the chance. Ha!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Not major, no. But see previous leg-whacking incidents (while packing) and foot-impaling incidents (while desk-constructing)

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A one-way plane ticket to Maui.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My nephews because they are so awesome! Everyone who overcame moments of sadness and despair with strength and hope. Several of my good friends and family went through Hell and back this year, and they are pushing forward, and I admire them for that.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Besides our President?
14. Where did most of your money go?

See question #8. Storage unit and moving company.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

I think I’m too much like my mother. I don’t *get* really really really excited. The Maui move flip-flopped between excitement and anxiety. Does that count?
16. What song will always remind you of 2006?

Aloha O’e.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder?

Well, sadder this week without Dad. But I’m still a happy person. And happier overall. Less work stress. More hugs.

b) thinner or fatter?

Probably exactly the same. Ditto Saturn - I’ve been gaining and losing the exact same 5 pounds all year.

c) richer or poorer?

Haven’t done my taxes yet.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Sunset watching in Maui. Writing people.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worrying.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?

With family.
21. Did you fall in love in 2006?

Again and again, when I see my guy around his family, or when we share breakfast together, or when he says something nice about my writing (oh wait.....). I know - that’s too sappy for a cynical gal.

22. How many one-night stands?
Yes, we currently only have one night stand in the house. I constructed a fake one for the guest bedroom out of two packing boxes and a towel. We are not The Four Seasons.

23. What was your favorite TV program?

Battlestar Galactica (taking the top spot from Lost, which is dragging a little this season)

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.

25. What was the best book you read?
Well, I would say “The Traveler” but it pissed me off by requiring a sequel (yet to be published....ggrrr).

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Several artists in my guy’s collection....none of which I can recall right now (did I mention my memory is fading fast?)
27. What did you want and get?
More time in the same time zone with my guy.

28. What did you want and not get?
World peace.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
This would require me to remember what I watched this year. Argh. I think “Thank You for Smoking.” (was that this year?)

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I celebrated with my family. None of your business......wait......I already admitted I am 35.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

If my father was still here.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?

Maui causal. Very very casual
33. What kept you sane?

Me. With some help from my sister and my mom and lots of hugs from my Sweetie.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I don’t.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?

It should not be political, but the world issue that still gets to me is the Iraq war. It gets to me.

36. Who did you miss?
Family and friends who I moved away from.

37. Who was the best new person you met?

My parents’ new neighbors. (ok - technically I think some were last year)
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
While constructing a desk with exposed bolts, do NOT step anywhere on the surface of the desk, no matter what.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Hmmm.....will have to get back to that one.