- Which state do you consider to be the most boring state?
in general? Iowa. (Sorry, Connie!) To drive through? Ohio, by far! - If any chef from the Food Network could cater your wedding, who would it be?
Masaharu Morimoto - What's the last thing you ate that was red?
ketchup on a hotdog. Yes, I'm from the very upper midwest. - Have you ever questioned your sexuality?
nah, it's notoriously quiet - Have you ever lost a best friend after a fight?
probably not. The "best friends" that I've "lost" have mostly slithered shamefully away—or shamelessly, prehaps. - Have you ever washed an iPod or MP3 player in the washing machine?
um, no - Have you ever screamed/yelled angrily at a teacher?
not face-to-face - Have you ever cried yourself to sleep?
yes. It is not conducive to positive dreams. - Have you ever regretted being in a relationship with someone?
yes. See, e.g., the "best friend" question, above. - Have you ever acted like you understood something when you didn't?
there was this one time? In law school? - Have you ever thought someone must have been insane?
lately? - Have you ever pretended to be older than what you are?
sure. Mostly recently was probably to scare off a wildly inappropriate "love interest". Ahem. - Have you ever cried because you were turned down?
I think there were some angry tears on the Kennedy - Have you ever had a pregnancy scare?
yep - Have you ever pretended to like someone when you didn't?
yes. That is a very ill-advised course of action. - Have you ever stolen money from one of your parents?
no - When did you last see a movie in theaters?
long enough ago that it doesn't matter - When was the last time you kissed someone on the lips?
3 weeks-ish? - When was the last time you baked/cooked something?
Tuesday - When was the last time you danced like a crazy person?
probably in the car on the way to the home state, around the time that the road construction guys in the opposite ditch waved to me, presumably because my music was so loud. Oops. - When was the last time you just wanted to be invisible?
at work - When was the last time you got a gift you absolutely hated?
how long is it since I was married? My former M-in-law was the empress of terrible gifts - When was the last time you got into a physical fight?
I slapped a guy a couple of years ago. Wish I could go back and do it about 20 times harder. And 20 times more. - When was the last time you had to sleep with a nightlight?
I slept with a light on the first couple of nights in the new place, so that if I walked in the night I wouldn't fall down the stairs. And pretty much every night that I was in the Rat Hole, in part so that if anyone broke in I'd have a slightly better chance of either defending myself or escaping before they did whatever they were there to do. - When was the last time you were under some serious stress?
you mean, besides the Rat Hole situation? Work has not been pleasant lately. I really, really needed a vacation. - When was the last time you watched your favorite movie?
I'm due for a screening of the favorites - When was the last time you downloaded a song?
earlier this summer, I did a mix project commissioned by a friend, for another friend. Although I had a portion of the raw materials already, I acquired the rest to complete the project. I have to admit, it wasn't my typical iTunes order... - What would you say is your favorite hobby?
mixing CDs, reading, writing - What is your favorite thing to do when you hang out with friends?
drink. Should I apologize for that? I'm not really sorry. I also play pool with some, watch movies with some, eat pizza with some (though I'm looking for a new local place because an old favorite—not Chuck's place—wasn't that good, last week). - What would you rather do: shower or bath?
a really good shower is a rare treasure - What is your absolute favorite dessert?
vanilla bean ice cream with fresh raspberries. Or peach pie. Or cakey espresso brownies with fudge frosting. Or... - What can someone do to make you smile, no matter what?
I can't say. It brought tears to my eyes to think about it. Anyway, to give it away cheapens it, doesn't it? - What do the majority of people think of you?
that the inside is just like the outside. Trust me, the inside is way darker and twistier than the outside will ever look, even with double-digit tattoos and six piercings (so far). Not only that, but I'm generally fairly kind and quiet upon first meeting. - What was the last gift you bought someone for an occasion?
that would probably be a gift card for a graduation. Or a combination of gift cards, a very carefully mixed CD, and a sausage-and-ketchup card, all individually wrapped, for a wedding. - What is/was your favorite class in school?
in undergrad, Historical Attitudes Toward Death. In law school, Evidence. And in grad school, History of the Reformation. - What is the color if your cell phone, if you have one?
gunmetal-ish, I suppose? - What would you say was the most embarrassing moment of your life?
so far, I'm leaning toward a two-hour argument with Brian from Mad-town about our allegedly potential incompatibility, or prehaps The Kiss That Wasn't. - Would you ever donate money to charity?
I have. - Would you ever think about doing porn?
snort - Would you ever dump the person you're with for someone cuter?
depends how cute the person I was with, was.
No, really—that's ridiculous. - Would you ever disown one of your relatives?
would. Have, I suppose. I don't know. It's not like you have to put a label on the box you put it in. You can just put it in a box and file it away. - Would you ever cheat on someone if they cheated on you?
it would be more to the point to follow Homer's edict, from The Odyssey, where "his secret parts they drew out, for the dogs to eat raw". - Would you ever consider becoming a teacher?
That does not fall within the realm of my possible life outcomes. - Would you ever give a hitchhiker a ride somewhere?
only if I knew him/her prior to that time, and absolutely trusted them already - Would you ever try fasting for a whole week?
hell, no - Would you ever try to quit one of your addictions?
have done. Unpleasant. I'm happy with the addictions I have at the moment, thanks. - Would you ever dye your hair purple?
nope. Anything in the red realm doesn't suit me. - Would you ever try being with a member of the same sex?
some of my best friends are female. - Would you ever kill yourself to save someone else?
the possible logical utility to be obtained by killing myself—by which I take to mean actively committing suicide, not "throwing myself on the grenade" or something of that sort—is microscopic. The best I could really hope for is to decrease another person's potential unhappiness by ceasing to be, and that is extraordinarily speculative. There would be a much higher payoff in "poisoning their well" with antidepressants, or moving out of their vicinity.
So, no. - Would you ever spend $100 for the best tasting hamburger in the world?
I'm not that fond of hamburgers. I might pay that much for the best ... never mind. - Would you ever consider becoming a nun?
nope. I'm neither Catholic nor convinced that celibacy is reasonable. - Would you rather break up with someone or have them dump you?
oh, yes, please! [Stupid question, stupid question, stupid question.] So what you're asking is, would I rather be a bitch or a doormat? I'll take "...door number three." - Would you rather chew gum off the ground or kill a squirrel?
gum off the ground, presuming that it's in a wrapper in an unopened pack, and I saw it fall off the gum truck. Because I can't see even taking an imaginary innocent creature's life for the sake of conjecture. - Would you rather eat chocolate or fruity candies?
chocolate - Would you rather listen to one CD forever or become deaf?
I'll take the CD, as long as it's got extraordinarily high capacity and can be periodically turned off - Would you rather be deaf or blind?
no - Would you rather have a turtle or a frog for a pet?
frog, so long as it's the hallucinogenic variety. Ribbit! - Would you rather dye your hair green or blue?
blue - Would you rather move schools [or] become home-schooled?
I'll move schools, thanks. Homeschooling is not something I should talk about in an open forum. - Would you rather text or talk on the phone?
depends. Probably text. - Would you rather spend a day with Lady Gaga or Miley Cyrus?
LG, please. Miley makes me want to punch myself in the eye. - Would you rather learn to play piano or guitar?
piano. Just thinking about playing the guitar makes my hands hurt. - Would you rather have a stomach-ache or headache?
stomach. My head hurts way too much and too often. - Would you rather be overly interesting or overly dull?
I regretfully admit that I'd rather be too interesting, since it's a condition with which I'm being accustomed. - Would you rather be too loud or too quiet?
too quiet. I am ninja! Hear me...not at all. - Do you remember the first time you ever went into the ocean?
yes - Cocoa Beach, spring break, sophomore year. - What Asian country would you like to visit the most? Why?
South Korea, because I'm a glutton for odd punishment. Japan is also fascinating to me. - Have you ever thought that a passerby was the one?
only in a more metaphorical sense - Ever told someone that your fake jewelery was really real?
I don't think so? - Who has the worst public restrooms?
PJs Courthouse Pub - What did you use gel pens for?
writing on checks - they can't be "washed" - On what pages of the yearbook are you on?
band, yearbook, and various candids - What country music star should be honored in the Hall of Fame?
Patsy Cline. I don't know whether she is already—probably yes—but if not, she ought to be. A terrific voice and lots of soul. - Would you eat cat food for $500?
no. Cat food is one of the worst things in the universe. Add several zeros and we'll talk again. - Who is the last person you smelled?
you wouldn't know him - Do you like going to the dentist?
it's not so bad. Only happens twice per year and it serves a purpose. - Have you ever smelled a dairy farm?
uh, yeah. Need I remind you where I grew up? - Name a song that got overplayed really fast:
I don't listen to the radio, so I don't hear what's overplayed unless I'm to blame - Have you ever had an ultrasound?
sure - Do you shop at Payless?
ironically, I was there earlier today—for the first time in years - What Friends character are you most like?
I'm a little bit like all of them but not a lot like any of them—except for Phoebe, who I could never take seriously as anything but a cartoon - When's the last time you had a popsicle?
years. Food on a stick doesn't appeal.
7.30.2011
I just wanted to be sure of you
7.29.2011
go to the ends of the earth for you
- What has someone done [that is] unusual, to make you feel their love?
someone I used to know—a blog friend, as a matter of fact—once drove ~75 miles in the middle of the night, meeting me in the parking lot of a mall in the next town to the right (on the map), because I'd had a bad day. He wouldn't take no for an answer, insisting that I drive over to hang out with him for a while. Because he'd jumped in the car when our conversation started, he had quite a lead on me, so by the time he convinced me to go out, he made a much greater proportion of the trip than I did. I don't think he minded, though. We sat in his [cruddy] van, in the rain, and talked for a few hours. When he was satisfied that things were back on a relatively even keel again, he "let" me leave. He was a very kind man, and I miss him. - Do you own a smart phone? If yes, is it everything you wanted? If no, how seriously have you considered a purchase of the new smart phone?
my phone is not the dumbest ever, but it's definitely not "smart." I want one, but I neither want to pay the initial outlay nor the monthly data-plan fee. Until I'm independently wealthy, I doubt that I'll bother. - Have you ever camped out to purchase something?
a friend and I "camped out" at Steak 'N Shake for a couple of hours once, waiting for the midnight release of one of the godforsaken Hairy Potter books at Barnes & Noble. The friend was picking it up for her son, who was not "allowed" to attend the release "party" because his recently-ex girlfriend was going to be there, and he'd lost custody of the event in the breakup. Kids! - What is your worst habit?
discretion - What is your best habit?
tooth-brushing - In your opinion, what is life's greatest mystery?
long-term friendship - Are you one of those people who is constantly busy with projects, social outings, etc., or do you just like to lay low and stay home?
isn't it possible to be both? During the week, I work every day (full time), plus have two PT appointments, run regular errands, see friends (OK, not so terribly often), and occasionally just drive for the sake of clearing my head. Hardly "social" behavior but also not "laying low" exactly. On the weekends, I'm either constantly running around taking care of things—last weekend I was at the secretary of state's office getting license and plates renewed/updated, shopping, banking, etc.—or pulled in multiple directions by various groups of friends, or else I'm home by myself from close of business Friday until the opening bell rings on Monday. I suppose I could have just answered "yes" and left it at that. - Whether you're busy all the time or like to just chill, have you always been that way?
when I was a lot younger, I was probably more consistently energetic. With young adulthood came a certain level of "chill" that has persisted. True adulthood brought a degree of solitude and laziness that prolonged singleness has intensified. - Is there something you'd like to change about how you spend your time? If so, what is it? If not, why not?
I would very much like to be more active, i.e. more fit and healthy. I suppose that "motivated" also falls in there somewhere, although that's a lovely, vague concept, isn't it? I'd like to tweak my work hours back a little so I'm not so consistently late. More sleep would be good. None of this is a really, really unbearable problem, however, so I don't foresee spending a lot of time working through solutions right now.
7.28.2011
all the hippies sing together
What Your Favorite ’80s Band Says About You.
BY John Peck
from McSweeney's
- - - -
Tears For Fears: You have used whiteout on a pair of white loafers.
Art of Noise: You have been paid to be furniture at a party.
Pat Benatar: You have had three or more Superball bruises at one time.
Air Supply: You have punched an arcade game hard enough to injure yourself.
Eddie Money: You have eaten several Shrinky-Dinks on purpose.
Bryan Adams: Your hair smells faintly like barbecue sauce.
Dexy’s Midnight Runners: Your shower smells like Skittles and unfiltered cigarettes.
Dead or Alive: Your pet smells like Goldschlager.
Tangerine Dream: You have a half-full can of Sanka at the back of your cupboard.
Devo: You have dissected a Nintendo game.
Simple Minds: You have tasted a scented pen.
Kajagoogoo: You have used AquaNet in self-defense.
Limahl: You have used Nair in self-defense.
Naked Eyes: You have almost been tricked into eating silly string on a saltine.
Gary Numan: You own more than one pair of sock garters.
Mike and the Mechanics: You have thrown a Rolodex at a raccoon or skunk.
Peter Gabriel: You know what Fimo tastes like.
Roxette: You have injured yourself with a Q-Tip.
Madonna: Your bedroom smells like Midori.
B-52s: Your laundry room smells like Midori.
Richard Marx: You have woken up to a dog licking your hair.
Wham!: You have made nachos while on ecstasy.
The Cure: You have several bracelets or rings you cannot remove.
Berlin: The last book you read used “countenance” as a verb.
This Mortal Coil: You know the act, scene and line that “this mortal coil” comes from.
Billy Idol: You own a piece of clothing that involves both argyle and leather.
Robert Palmer: You have used “argyle” as a verb.
Tommy Tutone: You have attempted to use a Polaroid picture as an ID.
Rick Astley: You have used a hairnet as a handbag.
Bangles: You have chewed gum while delivering a keynote speech or eulogy.
Psychedelic Furs: You have worn sunglasses through an entire tooth cleaning.
The English Beat: You have injured yourself while doing the Electric Slide.
General Public: You have injured yourself while doing the Centipede.
Madness: You have injured several bystanders while doing the Centipede.
Men at Work: You wear shorts with boots at least once a week.
Eurythmics: You have lost a mood ring in a hot tub.
The Smiths: You have read aloud to a hamster, ferret, or turtle.
Joy Division: You have been bitten by a cat while trying to dress it in period costume.
New Order: You own several fish tanks but no fish.
A Flock of Seagulls: You have destroyed a calculator watch in anger.
Men Without Hats: You have accidentally dropped a pager into a tub of frozen yogurt.
Nena: You have put a cigarette out in a piece of birthday cake.
John Cougar Mellencamp: You have put a cigarette out in an industrial-sized jar of relish.
Loverboy: You have eaten relish as a meal.
Rick Springfield: Your wallet weighs over a pound.
Falco: You have killed a fly with a program from Cats.
Michael Jackson: You have exploded a beanbag chair by landing on it.
Huey Lewis and the News: You are hanging from monkey bars in two or more successive class pictures.
The Police: You have shattered a Rubik’s Cube with a rock.
Sting: You have tried and failed to shatter a Rubik’s Cube with a rock.
Big Country: You have a Highlander poster in a tube in the back of your closet.
Soft Cell: You mouth the words when you watch Highlander.
A-ha: You own a VCR with a copy of Highlander stuck in it.
Survivor: You have cut a Nerf football in half to see what was inside.
INXS: You have knocked someone over with an Aerobie.
Thomas Dolby: You have used a laserdisc as a shaving mirror.
Pet Shop Boys: You have woken up next to an empty bottle of Magic Shell.
Mr. Mister: You have forgotten soup in the freezer and ice cream in the microwave on the same night.
Wang Chung: You have a money clip with an amusement park logo printed on it.
Bauhaus: You know what LARPing is.
OMD: You have gone to a party dressed as a dark elf.
Culture Club: You have woken up under someone who was dressed as a dark elf.
Ministry: You have thrown up on someone who was dressed as a dark elf.
Cocteau Twins: You have spilled Zima on someone who was dressed as a dark elf.
Toni Basil: You have spilled Zima into a motel heating vent.
The Pointer Sisters: You dot your i’s with hearts.
The Pretenders: You are excellent at dodgeball.
ABC: You were one of the first ten people in history to drop a cell phone in a toilet.
Lionel Richie: You have shaved a word into your hair.
The Cars: You have hit a whiffle ball with a fake lightsaber.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood: You have woken up under your high school gym teacher.
Joan Jett: You have woken up on top of your high school gym teacher.
Simply Red: You have temporarily blinded someone by whipping your hair into them.
Europe: You think Europe is Asia.
Asia: You think Asia is Europe.
REM: You minored in something.
Cyndi Lauper: You have lost several silk scarves to escalators.
Starship: You consistently pay for extra cheese at Subway.
The Fixx: You have sunbathed in a suit.
Phil Collins: You have worn shorts while accepting an award or diploma.
Go-Go’s: Your favorite air freshener is Vanillaroma.
Bananarama: Your favorite air freshener is New Car.
Prince: You have used a hamster ball as a cocktail shaker.
Depeche Mode: You have drawn Tintin or the Little Prince in the margin of a math test.
Erasure: You have been caught kissing a copy of The Little Prince.
Thompson Twins: You have been spanked with a copy of The Little Prince.
Human League: You have been spanked with a VHS copy of The Neverending Story.
The Clash: Your safety word is “Nicaragua.”
Grace Jones: Your safety word is forty-seven syllables long.
Brian Eno: Your safety word is “10011101.”
Duran Duran: Your safety word is “Kim Wilde.”
Kim Wilde: You have forgotten your safety word.
[title quotation from Prince's Let's Pretend We're Married]
7.15.2011
7.13.2011
it is designed to break your heart
- When was the last time you went camping?
I was ~13 years old. Not a big camping fan. - Where and who with?
BRF, in the Cheese State - with my friend Christa and her family - Have you ever been to Brooklyn?
no - Are you a YouTube addict?
not hardly, though I use it regularly enough (to clip into FB) that when I type "Y" into a browser, it's the first auto-fill both at home and at work - Did you play with Play-Doh as a kid?
yes - Do you own any beanies?
I do. They're in a box labeled "stuffed things." The Cat played with them (or something?) the evening of my first move this summer. Since then, they've been groped by a toddler. I may need to wash—or possibly burn—them. - Have you ever found a four-leaf clover?
not that I recall - Have you ever been to Malaysia?
not lately - Are you good at lighting fires?
so I've been told - Have you ever run away from home?
only in the macro sense - Does Steve Martin make you LOL?
sometimes. Some of his stuff, e.g. The Man with Two Brains and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, still kills me. - Do you own a raincoat?
nope - Do you have trouble sleeping in beds which aren't your own?
not at all. In fact, sometimes I prefer it. Ha! - Have you ever made your family dinner as a treat?
yes, when I was cooking for a living and thought it was impressive to make the sort of thing I was just learning how to make. - ...or just to suck up?
probably a little of that, too, but more when I was in high school than later. - Do you listen to the radio much?
almost never. Like, maybe 2 hours a year. - Have you ever been to...
Chicago? uh, yeah
New York City? no, and I can't really see it happening unless I had to
Anchorage? not yet, but I foresee the possibility within the next year! - Have you ever been to...
New Zealand? no, but I'd love to go
Canada? not yet - but I've heard the bowling is fantastic
Spain? no. Want! - Do you have fluorescent or regular light bulbs in your home?
a mix of both. I'm slowly replacing standards with CFLs. - When was the last time you lied?
yesterday - Do you use Skype?
no - Do you know someone who constantly has ear buds in?
he may have removed them for the new job. I wonder if it contributes to the Mumbling? - Where did you last walk to?
first floor, from second floor - What was the last book you had to read for school?
something tedious and law-related - Name someone who is an excellent listener:
Reed. - Who did you last speak to over the phone?
Fluffy - Katy Perry. Yay or nay?
meh - Do you have your own snow gear, or do you hire it?
I have some (a car kit and a few odds and ends in the garage) but it's supposed to be done by "The Association" where I live. We'll see how well that works. I predict that I'll at least be shoveling in front of the garage door, and the front steps (which I neverever use). - Do you think you could run eight miles?
not even if I were being chased by very slow dogs - Did you ever get into the whole Twilight craze?
not even remotely. I think Kristen Stewart is a mutant, and Robert Pattinson is even worse. But I can imagine the books are probably pretty good. - What was the last movie you saw in theatres?
El Orfanato. It's been a while. - Name five things on your desk.
- Tropical Dots
- 17 books
- 1/2 bag Jimmy John's salt & vinegar potato chips
- a tiny cutout from the Men with Brooms DVD box
- two computer mice
- What is your middle name?
in Norwegian, it is "Daggry". Sorta glad it's not Norwegian. - Have you ever hit a deer in your car?
no, I typically ask them to step outside first - What colour is your mailbox?
cream? oatmeal? I don't know. - Do you use the notepad on your phone regularly?
I don't think I ever have. I do send text messages to my email now and then, though.
- What kind of clothes do you wear for fall?
pretty much the same as I ever do, since I work indoors - What lotion do you normally use when your skin starts getting dry because of the cold?
Aveeno - Are you dyeing your hair a lighter color for summer (some people actually do that)?
yep - Any back-to-school shopping you still need to do?
no—I buy clothes whenever I need something or am in the mood to do so - What jacket did you buy or will you wear this year?
I'm looking for something that will qualify as a "pimp coat" - What's your favorite thing about summer?
no snow/ice, and long days - Least favorite thing?
hot, and long days - What are you being for Halloween this year?
myself - Was your house ever *gasp* the "pretzel house"?
doubtful. I think my mom was partial to [red] licorice. - Or maybe you actually like getting pretzels instead of candy?
pretzels are fine, but not for Halloween - What candy does your house normally give out?
I haven't, for a long time. I bet I'd have to in the new place. {{{shudder}}} Will need to hide out again, prehaps at the Cat-Beasts. That went well last year. - Worst Halloween costume you ever had?
"a fat tomato." It was hot, and throughout the day I lost my stuffing through the loose elastic around my microscopic legs. By lunchtime I'd shrunk to something more resembling a Bhut Jolokia. Pathetic, that. - Best you ever had?
I somehow lucked into one of those Maryann (from Gilligan's Island) type casual costumes once during high school. Amazing. - What are you doing for Halloween this year?
as explained above, probably hiding in the Cat-Beast's guest room, unless they're not amenable - Do you like pumpkin pie?
I can take it or leave it. It's really just an excuse to eat whipped cream. - Do you celebrate the Fourth of July?
meh - What's your favorite picnic food?
very cold butterscotch pudding cake - Do you have any seasonal allergies for summer?
I have seasonal allergies for all seasons. Lucky me! - Any changes you're planning to make this season?
I'm planning to continue being tormented by my physical therapist until my posture is better (I don't expect perfection) and I've lost some weight. I plan to buy some new Levis and a couple of pairs of sunglasses. I plan to take a few days off and do utterly nothing. - Is summer officially over when school starts?
summer is officially over when autumn starts - If you have a pool, did you use it yet?
no pool - Did you have a spring fling? Is it over now?
yeah, I guess I did sort of have a spring fling. Late winter, early spring. "Over" is relative. It ought to be, it sort of is, it could be.... - Do you bake a lot less in the summer since it's hot out?
definitely - If so, what do you normally continue to bake?
dinner - Ever had baked pumpkin seeds? Do you like them?
yes; only if they're super salty. I'm not a big seed fan. - Don't you hate dealing with weeds?
I don't deal with weeds much. "The Association" does that for me. - Do the trees look prettier when they're all different colors or when they all green?
different; I grew up in the north, after all, so that's what's normal for me - Is summer your favorite season?
no, but it's in a tie for second - What have the temperatures been like by you lately?
hotter than Hell
- Are you in a football club?
no - Do you watch movies from the 1930's?
I have. There are several others on My List (from World Traveler Girl). - Have you ever been to Singapore?
not lately - Does astronomy interest you?
not terribly much - Which part of American History do you enjoy learning about most?
the Gilded Age, or the Vietnam era - Do you have a garden?
only houseplants - Can you speak any Dutch?
no, but one of my favorite people is Dutch. Does that count? - Would you ever move to Germany?
no, but I would definitely visit - Are you a baseball fan?
yep - What college do you attend/want to attend?
I would prefer to avoid that situation, at least in the undergraduate sense - What's the most obscure artist you listen to?
good question. I guess it depends on your definition of "obscure". I still love the Housemartins and Beautiful South. There are some amazing Canadian artists out there that no one down here seems to know—Dala Girls and 54-40 among my favorites. I also like Elbow & Idlewild from across the pond. And Cary Brothers, and.... - Have you ever painted a landscape?
no; I try to keep my paint to myself - Have you climbed a mountain before?
never. The heights thing, remember? - Do you think snails are cute, or disgusting?
disgusting, but "live & let live", y'know? - Is your name common?
yep. It was #2 in the US the year I was born. - Republican, Democrat, or third-party?
indeed - Do you enjoy NASCAR?
it has its moments - Have you ever been on a subway?
yes - How do you feel about guns?
I like the big 'uns - Do you speak multiple languages?
bits and pieces, here and there - What's the biggest thing you've built out of paper?
my Masters thesis
7.12.2011
it crossed my mind that you might consider that a possibility, yeah
- Do you have any candles in your bedroom?
yep, but they're still in a box - marked "candles [etc.]" - Are you guilty of following celebrity gossip?
I don't think so? - Do you buy organic food?
nah - What was the last thing you bought that was on sale?
pasta sauce, and probably some other things at the grocery store today - How many clothing items do you own that are in zebra print?
exactly zero - Have you ever played "Seven Minutes in Heaven"?
I'm sure that I did when I was very young - Describe the funniest thing you've experienced in the past week:
I met someone whose first words to me were "Are you as old as [our mutual acquaintance]?" And who later, when I was being clamored upon by a child (who, by appearance, was clearly not my own), asked "Is this your daughter?" When I answered in the negative, he responded, "Do you have any children?" Again, no. "Why not?" - Do you feel guilty when people pay for you?
no. One of my very best friends had an instructive talk with me about this recently. It seems to be a matter of acceptance—not about accepting money, but accepting who and where we are. Accepting the gifts of friendship and circumstance. - What genre of music do you listen to when you feel on top of the world?
as always, it's a mix - Do you know anyone who has survived breast cancer?
yes, thank God - What is something you do every day, no matter what?
write, something, somewhere - What is something that's missing in your life right now?
affection without ulterior motives - Who in your family seems to have the worst luck?
at this time, I'd call a tie between me and my brother - How many times have you signed onto LiveJournal today?
once - What genre was the last movie you watched?
"comedy/drama" - it was Rushmore - Would you rather have a swimming pool or a trampoline?
pool, though I'll be damned if I'll pay for the utilities and upkeep - Are you in a good mood today?
my mood is like the weather—a little stormy and unpredictable - What has been your favorite age in life so far?
usually a different one from wherever I was. (You might ask again when I'm not under the cloud.) I suppose 34 was a revelation of sorts. - What was the best thing you've done all summer?
moving the second time. Or seeing the doctor. Or holding out my hand with my little quivering heart in it again on Sunday. - Do you have any step siblings?
nope, what I've got is all real - Does your family own a big boat, or a boat at all?
as far as I know, my family is boat-free - If you have been to a job interview, what has been the worst experience?
I got the vegetable question once. And I was once group-interviewed (by 4 people at once) for a job that paid $18k/yr. But the worst was a tag-team interview in which I was seated at the middle of a table with interviewers at each end, so that when one asked a question, I faced her to answer...while the other was free to stare at me and plot her next move. They called to tell me my services were not needed at their organization before I'd returned home from the interview. Bitches, like I'd have accepted it anyway—snort! - Have you ever had to do community service?
nope - How do you feel about kids who cuss?
I feel a sense of kinship with them - Would you ever have sex outside, or have you?
"yes" - When was the last time you went ice skating?
roughly one half million years ago - Have you ever made a homemade weapon?
not exactly? And yet I was a child, so, probably. - Marijuana. Yes or no?
yes. What was the question? - Don't those cute little couples just make you sick?
indeed, they do - What did the last piece of jewelry you wore look like?
I'm wearing the ubiquitous silver toe ring, two silver Bali hoops in each ear, and a diamond stud in each ear. Earlier today I was also wearing a pale blue beaded necklace with a pale yellow pendant, and a silver chain necklace. - What is the last thing you ate made out of?
...strawberries? - Do you get your feelings hurt easily?
yep - If you're female, what color are your nails and/or toe nails?
toenails = Glacier Bay Blues
fingernails = I'm A Princess, You're Not! - Honestly, have you ever had lice?
honestly: no
- What color is your toothbrush?
purple. It was a gift from the overwhelming hygienist. - What's your favorite breakfast cereal?
Frosted Mini Wheats - Star Wars or Snow White?
nert. I'll take Star Trek - or Snow Miser. - Has anyone ever asked you that question before?
not bloody likely - Would you ever consider acting on a soap opera?
I would not - In your opinion, what is the movie Wall-E about?
good question - haven't seen it - Do you hate this survey yet?
getting there... - What's your mood today?
stormy, remember? - Do you ever just sing random things?
occasionally. This happened more when I lived with the princess of musical theatre. - Do you really believe that the hills are alive with the sound of music?
no, because one of my high school classmates sang that song everydamnday and if I could, I would eradicate it from human memory - Do you have a cat that likes to knead?
no, and I miss it - Do you really know what the 5th Amendment says?
yup - Where is the lid?
in the "flipped" pile - Have you ever written a song?
doubtful - Do you ever write poetry?
yes - Have you ever written a fan letter?
probably? It's been a while. - Do you write letters to politicians?
nope. They've got enough to do. - Do you ever wear high heels?
rarely but sometimes memorably - Do you typically wear a watch?
never - Are you a fan of House, M.D. or are you totally weird?
oddly timely - yes, I am - Do you think that global warming is real?
obviously - Are your teeth as white as you want them to be?
no, but I won't get bent out of shape about it if you won't - Do you do stockings at Christmas?
I haven't "done" Christmas in a few years. Maybe this year I shall, stockings and all. - Would you rather be Rambo or Superman?
Rambo. I'm afraid of heights. - ...Shirley Temple or Elijah Wood?
Elijah Wood. Shirley Temple makes me want to punch a nun. - So, what's the weather like where you are?
partly cloudy, 68°F, feels like 68°, 0.09 in. (est.) precip. in the last 24 hrs., chance of rain:10%, wind: from ENE at 7mph - Have you ever signed a petition?
yes - Do you belong to a political party or plan to when you're old enough?
yes - Do you have any cats that bore into you when they walk on you?
no, but now I'm really really missing them - Do you have any unusual pets?
no pets at all - What's your favorite kind of bird?
chicken - Do you hate hypocrisy?
no, I love it as much as sarcasm - Quick, name a random country (it can't be the one you're in right now):
India
it is not sex that gives the pleasure, but the lover
Nice gun.
Nice sword.
Nice gun and sword![title quotation by Marge Piercy]
7.10.2011
wait for me
We will live it out vividly.
Give me your small hand:
we will rise and suffer
we will feel, we will fly.
We are once more the pair
who lived in barbed places,
in harsh nests in the rock.
This time is difficult. Wait for me
with a basket, with your clothes,
with your shoes and a shovel.
Now we need each other,
not only for the carnations’ sake,
not only to harvest honey--
we need our hands
to wash with, to make fire.
So in this difficult time
let us face up to infinity
with four hands and four eyes.
[Pablo Neruda, 'With Her', from Intimacies]
7.07.2011
I am a miser of my memories of you / and will not spend them
Circling. I have this image of myself in my mind, walking slowly around a small spot—in a park or something like that, neither private nor public, hands clasped behind me and head turned down toward my feet, like a monk. Deep in thought. Turning, constantly, always moving but not really getting anywhere. Working hard, but maybe for nothing?
[title quotation by Witter Bynner, "Coins"]
I don't know where my mind is. I know where my brain is—still stuck in this wretched headache, a combination of physical (making real progress at PT, but the drawback is that, like all exercise, it hurts afterward) and mental (work, blah blah; money, ditto; some travel and odd practical concerns to consider over the next couple of weeks) and emotional. There's some heavy stuff that I've got to work out. An offhand decision is at the point where it can be revised or, apparently, made permanent. Another circumstance that's seemingly arisen without any conscious choice on my part is growing out of control and is starting to get a little scary. And in 62 hours and 45 minutes (give or take) I'm facing my fate, again, with heart in my throat and stomach in my shoes. Do I go in balls to the wall (that expression of 'confidence' a nod to Steve-from-across-the-street), or keep reminding myself to wear the shell so I don't need to try and find it later, when it's too late?
All this brain-winding is revealing itself in an evening wasted in a sadly telling way: Facebook-searching, and some Google-searching, of Men From My Past. A virtual Where Are They Now of the chapters of my life so far. The results? Well, most would probably be alarmed to know how easily they are found, particularly since their names aren't generally very common and they're not famous (the zillionaire is an exception - and there's really no point in "stalking" someone who added me to his RSS feed, right?). A couple have locked things down a little better since the last time I poked in their direction; Brian from Mad-town, for instance, is now nothing but a thumbnail photo on the Web. Toby is now FB friends with Ulysses, and I'm a little disturbed to realize that I still think he's good looking, even though he's a real waste of oxygen. Brian-the-Army-guy is teaching at a school district so far south as to practically be in Mexico; I'd imagine it rivals the tip of Florida for the southernmost part of the continental U.S. My M.A. thesis advisor is now teaching at the University of North Texas, which puts him only about three hours away from P.Bear, and four from The Chef. I guess it's easier to do all this online wandering and poking around than it is to address the distance that I feel between me and not only the past but the present. The future isn't even worth considering (at the moment).
I know it's just a phase. Just a familiar path into which I, to some extent, choose to fall. But I'm getting kind of weary and wouldn't mind seeing something else for a while.
[title quotation by Witter Bynner, "Coins"]
7.06.2011
the cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea
- Your ex's car is on the side of the road, on fire. What do you do?
depends. Which ex? If it's my former spouse, I'll risk a lot to pull him out (if he's in it). If it's Nick, I'll risk perhaps more to shove him in (if he's not already there). - Your best friend tells you she is pregnant. What is your reaction?
just for ease, here...I'll assume it's the goddess H. My reaction: a wry laugh, a hug, and about a million questions starting with, "how do you feel about this?" - When is the last time you wanted to punch someone in the face?
today. - What is the last thing you spent money on?
lame whatever at Target this evening - Do you think you gained or lost weight this past month?
lost - I've dropped a bit since the moving saga began. - Crunchy or Puffy Cheetos?
puffy - The first person on your friends list just called you a bitch. What do you do?
shrug. At this point, after the last six weeks - after this MFing day - nothing surprises me. - Congratulations! You just had a son. What's his name?
Alpha Omega - Congratulations! You just had a daughter. What’s her name?
meh - the same would work for her, too - What are you craving right now?
nothing worth mentioning - What was the last thing you cried about?
last weekend I had a migraine that made me want to murder, indiscriminately. Two nights in a row I fell asleep praying that before morning it would either stop hurting, or that I would be dead. I think I cried through that. - When you buy something and your change is 2 cents, do you keep it or tell the cashier to keep it?
no. If they give it, I take it. If they give me 'the look', I don't insist. It's their routine. - What color is your tissue box?
which one? I've got one in every room. Not a big fan of having to travel far for the necessities. - Do you have a ceiling fan in your bedroom, and if so, is there dust on that fan?
no fans. Boo! - What was the last voicemail you received about?
Landlord Bob, calling to make arrangements to make some repairs. - Have you ever blocked someone on Facebook?
yep, I'm a big fan of the block function. - Scariest thing you’ve experienced in the last year?
living in the rat hole - Do you wear a name tag at work?
never. - What kind of car do you want?
still want a Jag. - What do you order when you go to Burger King?
I honestly don't remember the last time I ate from BK, but I'd probably get a chicken something, with fries & a Coke or a chocolate shake. I don't veer far from the standards no matter which burger place I hit.
beauty wins all my worship
Why is this so funny? Why can't I stop watching it? Good lord.
[title quotation by William Leighton]
7.05.2011
reckless
There is a part of you, you see now, that is reckless. A part of you that still wants to die but never wants to really go after it. So it makes mistakes instead. Or it says, when trouble comes in and has lemonade, I wonder what this will look like. If I sit still. If I do nothing. So you say, Oh, I don't think so.
[Alexander Chee, from Edinburgh]
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