Gratitude is the Secret to Happiness

How do you use the Internet to stay informed about the things that matter to you?

Sponsored by Yahoo!

Google, of course.

How old do you think children should be before they join social networks like Facebook and MySpace?

With all the pervs out there they can't seem to catch, I say 18.

Halloween's come and gone and you know that that means... Time for holiday decorations! What does your city or town do to decorate each year that you most look forward to?

Not nearly enough., but then it's Long Beach so you know.

If you could only drink one beverage for the rest of your life (not including water), which one would you choose?

Cherry Coke.

No... milk. Can't have cookies or brownies or strong bones without milk. 2%, thanks.

In the entertainment section of the paper today, there was an article about the popularity of vampires, and how it's not expected to ebb anytime soon. It made me think about my own fascination with vampires, starting when I was a child. I can vividly remember reading the book my sister brought home in bed. I was utterly fascinated with it. I even remember the woodcut pictures of Vlad the Impaler and his victims. I was six, and I can't believe my parents let us read that book. The book advised that if anybody happened to call your name, don't answer at first, because vampires will never repeat themselves. So whenever Mom would cry out one of our names we would look at each other with a finger to our lips, waiting for the second call. So funny.

Eventually I grew out of my fascination. I guess it just got old after a while. These teenage movies about them crack me up. They don't look scary at all. If they are going to make a vampire movie, make one about the OG bloodsucker Vlad.

Will you be giving out candy to trick or treaters this year? If so, what goodies can the ghosts and goblins expect to bring home?

I always buy candy but I never get any trick-or-treaters. I live in a condo and all the kids go across the boulevard to trick or treat.

What's the worst vacation you've ever taken?

Las Vegas. Dennis Miller was the only reason I wanted to go there, as I don't drink or gamble. But when I got there I found that he had cancelled so I was stuck there for several days. And it was hotter than Dante's Inferno. The aluminum windshield screen in my car bubbled up and was useless. It was 120 degrees all week, and the pool closed at 5 every day. I hate Las Vegas to this day and I will never return.

Have you ever returned an item to a store for a refund after having used it?

I do this with makeup quite a bit, but they expect you to. I mean, of course you'd have used it, right? I tried to return the piece of shit Compaq laptop I bought but they wouldn't take it back. I did use that, but it was just crashed several times a day. After dealing with them I began to sympathize with Ted Kaczynski.

If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which show would you choose?

I want to say Lost but who am I kidding? With that monster running loose? So it would have to be something like Good Eats or How It's Made.

Have you ever had a premonition? Did you heed it?
Submitted by aynge.

I've only had one, back in the 90's. We were having a surprise birthday party for my sister, and I needed to get her a gift. I'd been working a lot so I hadn't had time to get her anything, and it was down to the wire. I had a couple of hours to run out and get something. As I was leaving my apartment I stopped right in the jamb and had this overwhelming sense that if I got in my car I would be involved in a car accident. It wasn't a typical worry or a fear, it was a knowledge. I've never felt anything like it so I went back in my apartment and got my car paperwork, ie registration, insurance, etc. (I never keep that stuff in the car). I entertained NOT getting in the car that day but only for a few moments. I mean, I didn't believe in that sort of thing so whatever. Anyway, about ten minutes later I was driving east on PCH at Obispo and WHAMMO! some chick rear ended me. I was more shocked that it happened at all, that my premonition came true, than that some dummy hit me in broad daylight going 15 miles an hour. I mean, accidents happen all the time. Of course she wasn't insured but she didn't run and she paid the $400 to fix my bumper in cash. And no one was hurt.