You may think you speak “Standard English straight out of the dictionary” but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like “Are you from Wisconsin?” or “Are you from Chicago?” Chances are you call carbonated drinks “pop.”

I haven’t done a meme or quiz in ages and I thought this was fun and interesting.

And okay, I’m struggling with NaBlo content, so this post is just a filler.

Regularly scheduled posting will resume tomorrow. Stay tuned.

My band is called “Permian Basin International Oil Show”. Our debut album is called “Imminent Downfall” and here’s our album cover:

(Photo by SeaTurtle)

Want to play along?

1. Click this link. The first title on this page is the name of your band.

2. Now click this link. The last four words of the very last quote is the name of your album. If it doesn’t work at all, click the “New Random Quotations” button for more.

3. And finally, click this link. The third picture on this page will be your album cover. Add your band name and album title, and you’re done! (Please remember to give credit for the original picture.)

I loved that idea so I’m a going to be a little copy cat, but with a twist. Below are seven favorite songs on my iPod that I sweat to on the elliptical machine.

But wait! Mom2Amara tagged me for the 7 Random Facts meme, so I’m including seven more really random things. It’s “All You Ever Wanted To Know About Dana” day. Lucky you!

First, the workout music:

1. Sleeping Single in a Double Bed – Barbara Mandrell. I know you all are laughing your heinies off about this one, but it’s got a great rhythm to it. I always move faster and I have to fight the urge to sing along to the song. I think the other ladies would think I’m CA-razy if I did that. You all know I am nuts, but they don’t need to know that.

2. My Style – Black Eyed Peas. The beat to this song is fab. This is the one that makes me sweat the most. Probably because I’m imagining dirty dancing with Justin Timberlake the entire time. (Why yes, he is featured in this song!)

3. Only in My Dreams – Debbie Deborah Gibson. What? This is my reality check. See song #2. Plus, it’s a little reminiscent of my elementary school years, and again, I have to fight the urge to sing it loud.

4. Memphis Soul Stew – Solomon Burke. This is a mostly instrumental soul song (Solomon does a little narration) with a great saxophone intro that reminds me of the sax player from The Muppet Show. Actually, the whole song reminds me of Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem and that’s just funky.

5. Lonely Teardrops – Michael Jackson version. It’s a more upbeat rendition of the classic Jackie Wilson song. I often shake my hips a bit while working out to this one. Picture it: Me on the elliptical, hip shaking and trying to look like I’m not. Good times.

6. She’s a Lady – Tom Jones. Need I say more? Okay, I confess: I feel sexy when I work out to this tune. Can you blame me? Don’t answer that. And one more thing; when I sweat to this song, I always imagine I’m dancing the Cha Cha Cha with Maxim Chmerkovskiy. Now that’s hot.

7. You Can Leave Your Hat On – Joe Cocker. You can laugh. Go on, laugh. I’ll wait. Done? I just like this song as my cool down on the machine. It’s slower and yes, it is from the soundtrack to the move Nine 1/2 Weeks. Blame it on the inner stripper in me.

On to the seven random blurbs:

1. My husband and I will celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary on October 13. Because Doug has to work that day, I decided to spend the day with Dawson. I’m taking him to see the show Go! Diego! Go! Live! in Appleton. We’ll also visit the Fox Cities Children’s Museum and we’re going to T.G.I Friday’s for lunch. I figure I should have one choice in the day’s plans, right?

2. Next weekend I must attend a work function. It’s a meeting/company picnic and my family gets to come along. We leave Friday, October 5th and stay overnight at the Heidel House Resort in Green Lake. I’m so excited I could pee green. I’m anxious to see the fall colors and take some hikes on the fabulous trails. The work part doesn’t even bother me that much! That cool thing is that Princeton is nearby, and they have the largest flea market in Wisconsin. I’m pumped to hunt for treasures there!

3. The last few weeks, I have been in a funk — musically speaking. I’ve been searching iTunes for old music from the 50s and 60s. My parents listened to the oldies a lot when I was a kid. I’ve been in an Everly Brothers mood, and Cathy’s Clown has been in my head all morning.

4. Bill Cosby is coming to our local university on October 12. I saw him when he was here four years ago and I had the best time. I really want to go again. Mr. Cosby is just….amazing. In so many ways, he reminds me of my father. The mannerisms, the sense of humor, the great facial expressions. Maybe it’s because I watched The Cosby Show everyday after school (by the time we got cable the show was in syndication). I get teary-eyed just thinking about it. I have no idea why. I just love him. Bill Cosby is a great man.

5. I’m making coffee in our office because The Big Boss is coming here today. Normally I love, love, love the smell of coffee brewing. Today it is making me sick to my stomach. Maybe I’m just nervous because THE BIG BOSS is on his way here!

6. I teach CCD at my church and the first class was last Wednesday. I’m teaching sixth grade this year. Last year I taught eighth grade. Let me just say, 11-year-olds are far less intimidating than 13-going-on-30-year-olds. I don’t know how junior school teachers manage! Perhaps it’s the reason why they’ve got the degree in teaching. Bless them for their courage!

7. I went to bed at 9:30 last night and woke up at 6:30 this morning. In between those hours, I got up five times to pee. This blood pressure medication is also known as a diuretic — and boy, oh boy, do I have to race like a pisshorse use the facilities quite often these days.

I’m supposed to tag seven people (or 14 in this case). I’ll just tag these peeps because I know they’ll do it. That is if they haven’t already!

Liz from This Full House

Elizabeth from Table 4 Five

Shannon from Believer in Balance

Lisa from Midwestern Mommy

Mary from Mom Writes (but I think you’ve done this already, right Mary? I can’t even remember.)

Leslie from My Mommy’s Place

Amber from Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck

(I know, that’s only seven, but I got lazy after awhile!)

My middle name is Jane. Plain Jane, as my aunt Judy called me as a child. I would get so angry and tell her, “I’m not a plain Jane! I’m a beautiful Dana!” I was six years old and feisty. No one would call me plain. Years later, after getting married and having a baby, I do feel a bit plain but I don’t think there is anything wrong with that.

So, here are the four words to describe myself as anything other than plain, however!

Jovial – I chose this word because I have a hearty laugh, I love humor and being funny is just something I am. I suppose I inherited that trait from my dad. He can tell a good joke and he loves to make others laugh. I’m not as witty as some, but making someone laugh brightens my day.

Amiable – I’m a friendly person, I smile at strangers and I don’t get upset if they don’t smile back. I think it’s wonderful to be good spirited toward others and I try my best to be pleasant. This is most difficult on my chaotic days, but I do try!

Nutty – It should be obvious by now that I’m quirky and a little crazy. I often let my freak flag fly. I can’t help it. I think I get that from my mom’s side of the family. All of her relatives are a little insane.

Earnest – Even when I’m being silly or funny, I know when to be serious. My husband is always in comedian mode so I must be structured. This is probably why I’m the one who disciplines Dawson the most. My husband is always telling me to lighten up when he’s kidding around too much and I find that I have to be firm. There’s a time for fun and there’s a time to be serious and industrious. I think I’m like this because I’m the oldest of four kids. I had to be the “adult” all the time!

I’d tag people to do this, but I think it’s better to allow you to decide. It was harder than I thought, finding these four words! If you do this meme, please let me know! I’d love to read yours!

I just got done playing the MASH game. I saw it on Jessica’s blog. Here are my results:

Your husband’s name is Clive Owen and you have 3 children. You’re a Writer who drives to work every day in a Black Aston Martin.
It’s truly a wonderful life when you consider the countless romantic nights you have spent with Clive Owen in your shack in France.

MASH is brought to you by TypePad, where you’ll be able to get your own weblog to talk about your happy life with Clive Owen.

Suh-weet! I do adore Clive…and the shack isn’t so bad. Now I wonder what Doug will say?

Go on and play! You know you want to!

The Questions

With what fictional character do you think your parenting style most resembles?

I’d have to say my parenting style is a cross between Lynette Scavo from Desperate Housewives and Debra Barrone from Everybody Loves Raymond.

With what fictional character do you think your spouse’s parenting style most resembles?

Jim Belushi’s character in According to Jim.

Do you let your kids watch TV, and if so, what do you let them watch?

Dawson is a little young for TV. He’s not quite two yet. He has no attention span. I turn on Spanish Sesame Street sometimes (I was told he’s never too young to learn a foreign language) and he just looks at the tube and continues playing with his matchbox cars.

Do you let your kids decide what music or programming is played when you’re riding inside the family vehicle?

Nope! I listen to Polkas with Dawson in the car. It’s the only thing that keeps him quiet.

Say you’re cut off in traffic by an idiotic driver. Your children are in the vehicle with you. Bad parent that you are, you let slip an angry curse word. One of the kids starts repeating the curse over and over. You respond how?

I’d probably laugh and then try to explain that the naughty word is bad. And that Mommy needs a time out for saying it.

Your kids are fighting. Again. This time the lil’ darlins are tussling over who gets to hold a trinket they got from a Happy Meal. They are screaming and making pounding noises in the other room. Someone starts crying. You hear at least one set of feet furiously pounding down the hall to your location. Do you intervene? Lay down the law about no physical fighting? Tell them to work it out? Or say, “Don’t come to me unless someone is bleeding!”?

I think I’d let the kids duke it out. My parents let us kids do it and we turned out fine. I think? I suppose I’ll have to rethink this question when I decide to have child #2.

Your youngest child appears in your bedroom at an unreasonably early morning hour. Your spouse starts moving in the bed so you know that your betrothed is awake. Do you let the spouse know that you’re awake so you can both decide who will deal with the early riser or do you pretend that you’re still sleeping?

Don’t tell my husband, but I play the fast asleep card often. (Shhhh. Mommy’s sleeping.)

What do you do or say when your child talks back to you?

“We do not talk back to Mommy. I’ll make you sit in the corner!” or “When Daddy gets home, I’m going to tell on you!” (Dawson is still too young to understand, but when I say this he replies, “Uh-oh.” It’s too damn cute. I don’t stay mad for long.)

How many consecutive days would you let your child wear a particularly loved piece of clothing?

One day. I don’t care how bad he cries. It would drive me nuts to allow him to wear the same outfit twice in a row. (I’m naive, I know. We’ll see what I do when this really happens!)

You have to leave your house NOW for an appointment or school. You’ve already made sure your children were dressed, that their hair was combed and teeth brushed. You put out their coats and shoes before you left the room for a brief moment. You come back to the door only to find that your daughter has unexpectedly changed into mismatched pajamas that not only don’t fit her, but are a blinding combination of purple, Kelly green, fuchsia and canary yellow. Plus her shoes are missing. Do you take her out as is? Demand that she put on the original outfit and just be late? Physically put the clothes back on her? Just give up and go back to bed?

I’d take normal clothes along to change into when in the car. I just don’t have patience to redress a child.

Dinner is on the kitchen table. One kid complains that he doesn’t want milk, he wants juice. Another says he doesn’t want the wheat bread on the table, he wants a roll from the pantry. The third says she needs a spoon, not a fork. Your reaction?

I’d probably go get whatever it is they wanted just to shut them up.

One of your child’s school friends is visiting your home. The small visitor is an ill-behaved little heathen. Do you: 1. Rat him out when his parent arrives to pick the kid up or 2. Keep your mouth shut and silently vow not to invite the kid back?

The naughty friend doesn’t get invited back. I’m too humble to tattle on the kid and I’m sure his parents KNOW how he acts.

You’re preparing a whole chicken for dinner. One of your young kids comes over and examines the uncooked fowl in the roasting pan. He asks, “Where’s its head?” followed by further inquiries like, “Where’s its pee-pee? Where did the chicken come from? Where did it go poop? Did it hurt when the chicken was killed?” You say what?

“The chicken asked too many questions and so I chopped it’s head off.” (I’m a mean Momma, eh?)

You learn that a boy at school shoved your son onto the ground during recess while a group of other boys laughed at him as he cried. Do you call the school? The bully’s parents? Teach your son how to fight back?

I’d call his teacher and ask what disciplinary action was taken against the bully. Then explain to my son that he should only fight back in self defense the next time he’s shoved.

Do you let your kids pick out their own clothes at the store or do you just buy their clothes?

I just buy ‘em. I have a great fashion sense and I know where the bargains are and what the hottest trends are. (All my years working in a department store.)

You’re arranging a play date at your house for your preschooler with another child and that kid’s mom. The day before their scheduled fun-fest the kid’s mom says on the telephone, “Don’t forget. Susy and I only eat organic food, whole wheat, no refined sugar. That kind of stuff.” You eat healthily, but not that healthily. What do you serve for a snack? Do you go out and stock up on organic stuff?

Bottled water, organic carrots and soy peanut butter.

Your mother-in-law takes your son out for the afternoon for some grandma-grandson time. When they come back, you see that she’s taken him to get his hair cut. A buzz cut to be exact. He had a head of adorable little curls before the chopping. What do you do?

I politely explain that all decisions regarding my son’s hair go through ME and that next time she crosses the line I won’t be so nice about it. But my MIL is wonderful, she’d never do that. It’s my OWN mom I’d have to worry about.

What things do you let your kids do that you don’t tell your spouse/partner about?

When my husband works late nights I let Dawson sleep in bed with me and then delicately transfer him to his crib before Daddy gets home.

What’s the worst, most nutritionally vacuous meal you’ve ever served your kids?

French Fries.

Have you ever been “caught” by your offspring while, uh, “wrestling” with your spouse?

Nope. Dawson is usually asleep in his crib when we do “that”.