Sunday Stealing | The Phone and Pancakes

(A contribution from Kwizgiver via Sunday Stealing)

1. Your phone rings. Who is the most likely caller?

My phone seldom rings, but when it does? It's most often my mom. For 25+ years I talked to my mom on the phone maybe 2 or 3 times a year. Now? I talk to her on the phone at least 2 or 3 times a week.

2. How long do you chat on the phone each day? 

I try REALLY hard to stay off the phone. I'm not a phone talker. I'm one of those people who sees a call coming in on my phone and  thinks to myself, "I bet this call could have been a text." At most? I probably average 5 minutes a day on the phone.

3. Who do you speak to the most? 

Who do I speak to the most on my phone? Definitely my mom - everyone else knows better

4. Do you often not answer if a certain person comes up on your caller id?

If I don't want to talk to someone who insists on calling me I just block them (I have blocked 2 people on my phone). If the caller ID comes up as an unknown caller? I never answer it.

5. Do you phone friends at work? 

I do not call friends at work, but if a friend calls me when I'm working I will talk to them briefly.

6. Do you make personal calls at work?

Being that I work from home I kind of have to make personal calls at work. The good news is that I seldom need to make personal calls. When I worked in a traditional office I used to make any personal calls I needed to make during my lunch break and on my own cell phone. 

7. Who do you always say “I love you” at the end of the call?

Sadly ... no one *shrugs*

8. Do you use a landline or cell more often? 

I haven't had a landline for at least 10 years, however I do have 2 cell phones - one personal and one dedicated to work calls. I believe I only know one person that still has a landline and that is my mom.

9. Who in the blogosphere that you haven’t chatted with but would like to?

WOW! That's a tough question. I've been fortunate enough to have met 25+ "internet people" in person, and I think I'd rather wait to have the opportunity to chat in person with "internet people" I haven't met than to chat with them on the phone.

Pancakes...
1. Scratch or mix? Buttermilk or plain?

If I'm going to make pancakes they are always from scratch and buttermilk. When I was a kid and we visited my grandparents my grandpa would always make buttermilk pancakes from scratch on Sunday mornings. I've carried on that tradition.

2. Pure and simple, or with additions cooked in?

Oh heavens ... pancakes should always be pure and simple!

3. For breakfast or for dinner?

Ummmm ... is YES an appropriate answer? One of my favorite things is breakfast for dinner.

4. Preferred syrup or other topping? How about the best side dish?

I like good old fashion Mrs. Butterworth's and lots and lots and LOTS of butter on my pancakes. If I'm really craving something sweet I'll top my pancakes with peanut butter and white Karo syrup. What??? Best side dish? Link sausage!

5. Favorite pancake restaurant?

The Original Pancake House all day every day over iHop!

Bonus: Any tasty recipes out there, for pancakes or other special breakfast dishes? Bring 'em on! 

I use Mr. Breakfast's Ultimate Buttermilk Pancake recipe for my from scratch cakes.

I'm also a HUGE fan of this Crockpot Breakfast Casserole recipe

Reach-Out or Hand-Out?

~*~*~

I work just 2 miles from where I live, and with a one-hour lunch, it makes sense to come home for lunch. As a bonus, I get to watch some of that quality day-time TV while I'm here. My favorites? Wife Swap or Cheaters (only because Jerry Springer isn't on until later in the afternoon).

As I was watching yesterday I saw a commercial for ReachOut Wireless. Have you heard about this? It's a government program that is designed to provide discounted or free cell phone service to income-eligible consumers. It includes a FREE cell phone, FREE minutes every month and services like Caller ID, Texting, and Voicemail.

Here's what I find disturbing. Guess how "Income-Eligible" is defined? The web site says you generally qualify if you are currently enrolled in a government assisted program such as:

* Food Stamps
* Medicaid
* Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8
* Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
* Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
* National School Free Lunch Program
* Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Really? So now the government is rewarding those on government assistance with FREE cell phone service? Someone please explain to me how this encourages anyone to try to do better for themselves. Lose your food stamps - lose your cell phone. Lose your Section 8 public housing - lose your cell phone. I'm thinking if you want to keep your cell phone you better stay in public housing and on food stamps!

As I was navigating the website in utter disbelief, I started reading the ABOUT US section. In part it read (emphasis mine):

REACHOUT WIRELESS™ believes that cell phone ownership is a right and an important tool for individual success in today’s world. Everyone should have a cell phone without the need for a contract or a high credit rating. People should have the right to always know what their cell phone service will cost and no one should have to pay more than they want or can afford. REACHOUT WIRELESS™ believes in making the cost to own & maintain a cell phone as low as possible.

*shakes head*

Cell phone ownership is a right? I love my country, but when I read about programs like this, I really worry about the future. We've clearly broadened the definition of right from basic needs and freedoms to materialistic wants.

What do you guys think of this? Is it a good program or is it yet another handout that keeps people dependent on the government?

~*~*~

TMI Tuesday

1. How many cell phones have you had? How long have you had your current cell phone number?

I've had 3 cell phones, I got my first one in 1999 and I used it for a paperweight when I wasn't talking on it *giggle* I've had 2 cell phone numbers - one for the 4 years I lived in Minnesota, and one for the 5 years I've now lived in Chicago.

2. Where was the last place you had sex?

The last place I had sex or the last place I wanted to have sex?? The last place I actually had sex was on the bed in the bedroom. The last place I wanted to have sex was on a park bench at a Forest Preserve.

3. On a scale of 1-10, how satisfied are you with your love life? (1 is lowest, 10 is highest)

First, let me give my definition of "love life." For the purpose of this question, "love life" will be in reference to the sexual side of relationships. For reasons far more complicated than I am willing to share on my blog, my love life is a 1 at home and an 8 elsewhere. I bet that's got you wondering ...

4. Does Bliss sound like a fun game to you? Have you ever played it?

Although I've never played it, I'd certainly be willing to play a round or two (or one-hundred and two) of Bliss! As you get *cough*older*cough* and more *cough*experienced*cough* it's not exactly easy to come up with new and exciting sex ideas and honestly, sex can (and does) get boring and routine. Now, I don't know about any of you, but when sex gets boring and routine with a partner, I'd just assume eliminate the partner and take care of it myself. That being said, I'm certainly open-minded when it comes to sex and would be willing to try just about anything once - twice if I liked it *wink*

5. Is there anything or anyone you would be willing to die for?

There is only one person in this world I would be willing to die for and that is my son. I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child, and if circumstances were that either my son could live or I could live, there really wouldn't be a choice to make.

Bonus: If you were (or had) a magic genie and could only grant wishes for others and you only had three left, what would they be and who would they be for?

1. For my mother I would wish for self-satisfaction so that she could find happiness within rather than constantly seeking something/someone externally to make her happy.

2. For my father I would wish for a home near family so that he could actually start interacting with people on a regular basis - something I think he is finally ready and willing to do.

3. For my son I would wish for a prepaid education after high school - whether that be a trade school or an ivy league school - so that he could begin his life as an adult without education debt.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Michael, from Daddio's Daily Dose has posted PART FOUR in his series Save Thee? Or Sell Thee? This installment talks about spirituality versus religion. Get on over there for a great, thought provoking read!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~