I'm not suggesting that there is a biological tendency to ... write bad checks

3. What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day? 

    if it's otherwise nice out, a walk in the rain can be incredibly soothing and lovely. My usual walking route is more in nature than not, though, with fallen leaves and other tree parts (e.g. nuts, twigs, bark, etc.) that are even more treacherous when wet, so I sometimes have to take a different path on those days. A wandering-aimlessly walk in the rain, though, is one of my favorite things.

 

6. Tell about one of your favorite relatives. 

    one of my oldest cousins on my dad's side of the family is the third (youngest) daughter of my godparents (Dad's youngest sister and her husband). That makes her about 10 years older than me. She married young, to the point of requiring parental consent. I find it interesting that her marriage started in a way that people might consider fragile footing, yet has succeeded and even flourished. She and her husband (also awesome) are quietly fun, funny, loving, open, kind, decent, supportive people. Their children (five?) have turned into cool adults much like their parents, and are raising their own children the same way. I adore her, and admire her.

 

8. What would you like to come back as in your next life?

    a housecat. They live a pretty sweet life, all things considered. Three hots and a cot. (That phrase, incidentally, has become a politicized rallying cry far removed from its military origins.) A particular cat I know has 11 different lounging areas, 7 scratching surfaces, innumerable toys, and windows looking in 3 different directions. It's not a hard gig.

 

18. Describe a memorable teacher you had. 

    my favorite Political Science prof (in undergrad) was a guy named Jim, who taught in the American government track. He was conversational rather than lecturing, and often used colloqialisms that were not quite familiar, as if he were an alien who'd downloaded an outdated translation package. A surprising and disconcerting degree of what he said in class was memorable for its double entendre. I loved his classes, learned a lot, and have never forgotten him. 

 

12. Of all the places you’ve lived, tell about the one you like the best. 

    'the architectural condo', where I lived from 2011 'til 2013. I've posted many photographs from it before, including this post. 

    I was desperate to move out of the rathole duplex (detailed here). I toured every open rental dwelling within about 20 miles of work. One of the best possibilities was a "carriage house"—an apartment over the garage of a big house in the country. I wouldn't get garage space for my vehicle, because the renters of the house got that. I would, however, get the responsibility to clear the (big) driveway after any snow. If it's even physically possible, it would have taken hours to shovel that drive. The other decent choice was another upper, this one above a business (construction? Concrete? Something noisy and dirty). It was about one-third the size that my two-bedroom had been, cost half again as much as that apartment, and was at the top of some rickety, awkward steps. When I called that landlord to tell him I was not interested, and explained more

of my current situation, he told me about a different place. It was outside my price range and much larger than I needed. I knew from the first view that I wanted it. It seemed like home. Crazy high ceilings, all white walls, two massive bedrooms and two baths and a heated 2-car garage. It was very cool. It was also bordering on a sketchy neighborhood, and was the only place I've ever lived where I never got to know any neighbors even just to wave to. 

    But it was beautiful, and I was proud of it. My plants loved it there. The landlord was a dream come true. And despite the crazy-high rent, it really worked for me.

 

47. Tell something most people would never guess about you. 

    I've been on a months-long quest to find the perfect peanut butter cookie recipe. During that time I have tried at least ten recipes, each slightly different from the others, hoping to find the right combination of peanut butter flavor, smooth dough, tender but not chewy, not crumbly, and easy to make. My parents have been my willing testers. The only problem with that is my dad, who tends to view the cookie in hand as the best one ever, infinitely preferable to those gone before or yet to come.

 

41. Tell about a childhood friend who used to get you in trouble.

    my most enduring best friend in high school was someone whose name I would never post here. From the time that we met, in 7th grade Spanish, she was a constant source of irritation, fun, and frustration. In all ways the opposite of me, she was loud where I am quiet, fast where I am sedate, fun-loving where I am (sometimes) studious, flirtatious and bubbly where I am . . . not. My mother thought she was devil spawn.

    We got my only two detentions together, the first in 7th grade Clothing class (screwing around talking and laughing rather than making our pathetic attempts at constructing a garment) and the second in high school, probably sophomore year? I'm sure that was for the same sort of thing. 

    She always knew where the parties would be, and I would sober-drive and keep us out of the way when the cops came. She was friends with kids from other schools and introduced me to some bad memories therein.

    We had a really good time together when she wasn't treating me like the hired help, expecting me to come toddling along after her while she blazed a trail and did whatever she wanted—and when I wasn't failing to do so because I'd found actual friends to spend time with. And the trouble we got into was mostly mild, and mostly there to keep us safe. Ironically, the day that this will post happens to be her birthday.

 

[from The Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation, Keep It Going, Build Networking Skills and Leave a Positive Impression by Debra Fine; the title quotation is from #18, above]