my master’s colourless, olive face, square, massive brow, broad and jetty eyebrows, deep eyes, strong features, firm, grim mouth, — all energy, decision, will, — were not beautiful, according to rule; but they were more than beautiful to me

  from 351 good questions to ask

273. What's the most disgusting-sounding word in the English language?  'horseradish'

274. What was ruined because it became so popular?  Starbucks

275. What outdated slang to do use on a regular basis?  pretty sure that most of my slang is outdated - and don't give a hoot in Hell

276. What was the biggest realization you had about yourself?  that I have, over time, transformed from 'independent' to 'grumpy, isolated perfectionist'—and I didn't like it. Releasing a lot of control and giving up on the idea of perfection has been wonderful.

277. What's your best example of 'easy come, easy go'?  clearing out my closet

278. What small change greatly improves a person's appearance?  eyebrow maintenance

279. What topic could you spend hours talking about?  tattoos

280. What happens regularly that would horrify a person from 100 years ago?  I'm not convinced that there will be people in 100 years, so I'm not going to waste much time thinking about this

281. What do a lot of people hope will happen but is just not going to happen?  many people seem to believe that there will be a solid dividing line between Before COVID and After COVID. That suddenly everyone will be healthy, happy, and financially secure. That is naïve, bordering on delusional.

282. What's the weirdest thing that has happened to you while working at your job?  meeting up with a deputy sheriff at a Dollar General to sign a 'missing item' report, and having him tell me that he wouldn't want my job for anything - because it's too dangerous

283. What question would you like to ask a time traveler from 200 years in the future?  'What was the best way to earn outrageous profits during 2020?'

285. What's the most physically painful thing you have ever experienced?  recovery from surgery, the summer before starting law school

[from here; the title quotation is by Charlotte Brontë, from Jane Eyre]