Weekly Survey

1. Monday morning you crawl from bed, make your way to the bathroom, look in the mirror to discover you are now sporting a uni-brow, big, thick, black and curly end-to-end across your forehead. Describe your course of action.

I guess now I know how poor Gregor Samsa must have felt.

1. What is the most unusual way in which you have been awakened from sleep?

I had this friend -- once, long ago -- who awoke me from a sound sleep after a typically difficult night watch by repeating, "Wake up (Puck) ... we're at war!" This happened of a particular September you may remember.

2. Why do you think the 24/7 news-cycle focuses on what might happen tomorrow or six weeks from tomorrow?

Ummmm ... there is a 'round-the-clock news cycle ... but that speculation you're asking about isn't part of it. I do think that constant "interpretation" of the "news" is a bad thing ... the same way having to put those words in "quotes" is a bad thing ...

Could it be that you're asking if we think the disappearance of actual news reports is a bad thing?

Because, if you are ... yes ... it is.

And if you're not ... well ... I'm just repeating "bad thing" for no reason.

3. Have you ever rang the bells?

Rung.

And yes.

And incidentally ... any of you who haven't or aren't ringing the bells -- often and loudly -- well ... What the hell is your problem?

5. What time will the sun rise for you tomorrow? And what time will it set?

I love this question.

At first I thought it was worded incorrectly ... but it isn't.

Think about it.

Please think about it carefully.


6. If someone asked you to “Be the weather!” Do you think you could comply? What kind of weather would you be?

Oh my, yes. I could be the weather. In fact, I often find myself wishing I wasn't the weather.

It rains, you see ...

And sometimes ...

Well ... sometimes it rains very hard.


7. Do you take naps?

Indeed, I do.

Rest is important ... and recognizing exactly when you need rest is most important of all.

8. If someone you know told you they are now following the dark practices of Borneo and Assam would you be inclined to discover more?

Anyone who told me that would not be someone I know (or knew) ... so I guess the answer is "no."

9. Who would you wait in line for eight hours or more to see to speak with perhaps for fifteen seconds, not counting our gracious host?

I don't think there is any such person ... not that I can think of at the moment.

10. Where is the most unusual place you have gone to sleep?

Cemetery.

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4.
tell me what it means.

You know ... this is actually kind of funny ...

The book I'm reading -- Child 44 by T.R. Smith, if you care -- has no page 18 ... that is to say that page 18 is a blank facing page for a new chapter.

Excellent question, not-nadine.

I've missed these surveys. I always did have a lot of fun with these.

Excellent question.

Very good.

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can, What can you touch?

There is nothing within my physical reach to my left, as I sit now ...

I'm 0-for-2!

3. When's the last time you ate a homegrown tomato?

Had one for lunch today ... didn't you?

Tomatoes grow everywhere.

If they had any ambition at all, they could be corn.

4. How far away from your birthplace do you live now?

I could say 1,300 miles ... but that's not as much fun as saying "roughly half the country."

5. What was the name of your first pet?

Not Nadine (Hah!)

But seriously ... if someone else hasn't made that joke already ... shame on you!

My first pet was named Thunder, and I can assure you, he was a good dog.

6. Runny eggs?. or hard?

The world would be a better place if more short-order cooks knew what you meant when you said "over, medium."

7. Best nickname someone gave you.

It isn't so much that it occurred to someone to call me, "Mick" ... but that only one person ever did ... and no one else ever will.

8. Ocean or Lake?

Odd ... insofar as I have come to live in a place that bills itself as the Land of 10,000 Lakes (although, to be honest, a lot of them are ponds) ... but ocean ...

and it isn't close.

9. Eaten to death by an octopus or a shark?

Yikes!

I'm gonna say shark, because I would hope it might be comparatively more ... ummm ... abrupt.

I am claustrophobic beyond description, and the idea that very sharp teeth chomping down on me is preferable to being "hugged" to death should tell you more than you probably ever wanted to know about me.

Again ... good question

10. At the end of the work day you... do what?

The obvious answer is "relax" (whatever that entails), but you know what's funny?

When I was "punching a clock," I always knew how to "put my feet up" at the end of the day ... but recently I've begun working for myself -- which includes being my own boss -- and I've become troubled by the idea that I don't seem to know when work is over anymore. I always considered myself a very efficient and productive employee ...

But apparently, I'm a terrible boss.

1. Can you whistle?

I can, and do.

Sadly ... I whistle in much the same way that I sing ... which is to say badly and out of tune.

Mind you ... being bad at it doesn't stop me .... so ... you know ... you've been warned.


2. If you have a PC, how often do you clean it?

I'm gonna go with: "Not often enough," and just leave it at that.

3. Do you dread reading the news? Mostly to see if another entertainer has died?

No.

I'll say this: I don't like being of an age where it's perfectly acceptable for me to be reading the obituaries as a matter of course. When I was younger, I thought "tragedy" was bad (and it is). Only now that I am getting a cool, clear dose of "the natural order of things" have I come to understand that I was not as "in" on the joke as I thought I was.

None of us are.

4. Do you like tootsie roll pops?

More than likely, I remember them as better than they really are. I couldn't say with any confidence when it was the last time I actually ate one. But I'm sure it was good. What I like most of all is remembering that it takes three licks (as the wise, old owl tells us) to get to the center.

Here's something funny:

I'll go ahead and admit that I don't remember what it was actually like to be a kid ... but I remember that I was one, once.

You probably were, too.

5. Do you have to take medication daily for anything?

No.

I'm fortunate, I suppose. I get the sneaking suspicions -- sometimes -- that my doctor wishes I was more amenable to snake oil ...

but I'm not.

6. How often do you order out?

Almost never.

7. What was the last book you read?

The Mosquito Coast, by Paul Theroux.

8. What artist do you have the whole collection of?

You know ... I don't believe I have complete collected works of any particular artist ... but the one I'm most passionate about is still probably Graham Parker.

9. What size is your bed?

It purports to be "queen size."

I don't really know what that means.

It seems kind of small to me ... although I suppose that's because I only sleep on one side of it.

10. Do you still have any toys from your childhood?

Not from my childhood, no.

But I do have a teddy bear that is old enough to vote.

1. What was the last picture you took with your cell phone?

I'll admit to hanging on to my flip-phone because it makes me feel like Capatin Kirk.

Yes ... most people chuckle when I tell them that I use my phone, primarily, as a phone ... you know ... to call people ... and to receive calls ...

But the truth is that my phone can take pictures ... and the irony here is that the last photos I took with my hopelessly outdated technology are actually posted on this forum. It was last Thanksgiving ... the day after, actually ... and I was amused to note that -- although I hadn't seen any wild turkeys (which abound where I live) to that point in the season -- a bunch of them magically appeared on the Friday after our big turkey holiday.

So I went out in the yard and took some blurry pictures of them, and posted them here in some kind of "wildlife" thread I don't really remember.

You know what I think?

I think the universe has a sense of humor.

2. Complete the sentence--- I wish_____________.

I wish I was better at conveying what I see ... and how it makes me feel.

3. Have you ever eaten a crayon? Glue?

I don't remember ever eating a crayon -- why would anyone eat a crayon? -- but I remember very clearly building an igloo out of sugar cubes when I was in second grade, and not caring very much that some of the leftover pieces that found their way into a certain six-year-old mouth may have had ... let's say "some" glue on them.

4. What is your favorite word ?

Ask me this question a thousand times, and you will get a thousand different answers.

Right now, Quixotic is my favorite word.

5. What "labeling" word do you dislike the most?

Not a word, so much, as a convenience ...

... but not everyone with whom you may disagree is necessarily a "-phobe."


6. Favorite cartoon character?

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.

7. What is the worst injury you had?

I want to say broken heart, but Shirley someone must have made that joke already ...

I won't get into how I got my leg laid open above the knee. It's not really important. We all make choices. But I thought the needle that shot the anesthetic into my open wound was the worst pain I had ever felt ... until I realized that the anesthetic was not effective and the corpsman was sewing up my leg whether I could feel it or not.

Nine inside.

Twenty to close.

Not fun.

8. Smart or happy?

Happy.

How is this even a question?

9. Favorite free time activity?

Whenever I get the chance I play and sing.

I encourage y'all to do the same.

10. What was the last thing you ate?

A nectarine, as it happens.

I like nectarines, but the one I ate was not perfectly ripe.

It was okay, but I find it difficult to catch the nectarine in that "just so" state.

I like them, but much like the peach (and other things that we compare to peaches), they are elusive.

1. Is there any book or movie that you consider, "your" story?

It is not so much a story that describes anything (or, at least, very much) about how my life has been, but Harlan Ellison's Jeffty is Five has always spoken to me in ways that are difficult for me to articulate.

2. What time did you wake up today?

Ohh ... if only I could wake up!

3. Have you ever attempted ventriloquism?

Of course.

I'm terrible at it. My mouth and teeth are way too small.

I was very good at manipulating the dummy, but I could not (cannot) create the talking illusion at all.

So, instead ... I perform ventriloquism through storytelling.

You guys want to know a secret?

When that stand-up comedian tells you about the funny guy he met on the plane ... there wasn't really any funny guy ...

It was the comedian.

4. What is something that you miss now, but didn't think you would?

Honest to kittens ... I never thought I would miss sweating for every penny ...

But there are times when I wake up and think: "I didn't earn this ... someone is going to take this."

Any y'all ever get that?

5. Has your first name ever been misspelled by anyone?

It's ae, kids.

I know some folks spell it ea ... but it's ae.

6. What was the worst weather you have ever been stuck in?

Just above the tree line on Mt. Katahdin up in Baxter State Park (ME). It's July and this thunderstorm comes barreling right down on us. Of course, we see it coming well enough, but there isn't anywhere to go ... so we end up huddling in this little thicket of scrub brush while lightning is playing havoc all around us and we're getting pelted with pretty fair-size hailstones. It only went on for about 20 minutes, but it was as close to dying from weather as I ever hope to get.

I'll tell you ... I've been in heavy seas, and I've been stranded by deep snow ... but I never really believed those madcap, capering gods of mischief were actually out to get me, except for that one time when I had the temerity to climb up high during the sleepy lull of summer.

The world will fool you ...

So it will.


7. What do you order when you sit down in a diner?

Diner?

"Diner" always speaks of breakfast to me ...

I order eggs -- three, over medium (which they always get wrong) -- and wheat toast with strawberry jam. Bacon (of course) and/or sausage (hopefully, and) ... and juice. Cold juice, and lots of it. Does anyone besides me find it odd that all the eggs and sausage you want is about three bucks ... and the glass of juice is ... about three bucks?

Or am I just a cheapskate?

8. When was time you laughed so hard that your belly hurt?

"You can take the redknecht out of the cornfield ... but you cannot take the cornfield out of the redknecht!"

Laugh?

I thought I'd cry.

Oh ... and every time I hear "No worries."


9. Have you ever cried for no reason but your own thoughts, in public?

Oh yes.

Yes, indeed ... I have.

I don't know much about much ... but I do know that you cage sadness at your peril.

10. When was the last time you said, "yabba dabba do?" A moment ago, I'm guessing.

I'll admit to not remembering the last time I channeled my inner Fred Flintstone ... but sure as hell, I'll remember the next time.

1. Is there any book or movie that you consider, "your" story?
I suppose, if we talk Stephen King books, I'd say Salem's Lot as it was the first of his novels I read and the first book that scared me.

2. What time did you wake up today?
About 9 am.

3. Have you ever attempted ventriloquism?
Maybe just mucking around. I went to see David Strassman live back in 2008.


4. What is something that you miss now, but didn't think you would?
My youth

5. Has your first name ever been misspelled by anyone?
Marc
6. What was the worst weather you have ever been stuck in?
This will sound stupid but I was playing in a work golf game on a Saturday and there was this flash thunderstorm/massive rain and this fairway ran downhill and this torrent of water came down and we were in one of those buggies and it hit the side and knocked sideways and we had to scramble to get away from being swept away.

7. What do you order when you sit down in a diner?
A typical truckie meal: bacon and eggs, fried tomato, fried potato or baked beans on toast

8. When was time you laughed so hard that your belly hurt?
I was looking at one of the Michael Palin "Ripping Yarns" episodes.
9. Have you ever cried for no reason but your own thoughts, in public?
Yes

10. When was the last time you said, "yabba dabba do?"
I used to say something that Top Cat used to say. Can't remember now what it was.

I don't think we've had any new questions in a while - I'll give it a go.

August 7, 2016

1. If you had the chance to do it all again, tell me: would you? could you?

2. Are you a french fries or baked potato with your steak kind of person? Or no steak at all?

3. Shower or bath? Morning or evening?

4. What jewelry do you wear daily, if any?

5. What is your very first memory?

6. Do you/did you like your parents?

7. What do you wear to work?

8. Do you have any stickers on your car? What are they?

9. What's your favorite Summer Olympic sport to watch?

10. What brand/flavor of coffee/tea/soda do you prefer during the summer?


It would be fun to answer with pictures!!

August 7, 2016

1. If you had the chance to do it all again, tell me: would you? could you?

I don't know if I could, but I would. I surely would.

(and when I went to add a picture, it auto asked, could you would you .. with goat.) So I'll skip the pic.



2. Are you a french fries or baked potato with your steak kind of person? Or no steak at all?

Baked Tater with Steak and make it Bloody. Have a Martini too. I will feel bad about the cow later. no kiddin.

3. Shower or bath? Morning or evening?

Shower morning. It hears my worst language. I really should apologize.

4. What jewelry do you wear daily, if any?

I wear a long silver necklace inside my clothes that my mom gave me before she passed. It's just a silver ball on the end of it. It makes a delightful soft chime. There is something in there. People get confused. Did you hear that?


5. What is your very first memory?
So many came back, guess it was taking bath with my sister and she peed on me on purpose. I cried.



6. Do you/did you like your p.arents?

Yes my mom loved her. Now I will cry. My dad never spoke to us, but found out that he spoke about me to everyone, proud.

7. What do you wear to work?
Oh god. I have to do laundry. Whatever is next. 'business casual' and thinking of ditching the bra all day. no kiddin

8. Do you have any stickers on your car? What are they?

No stickers.

9. What's your favorite Summer Olympic sport to watch?

I don't watch them. ?

10. What brand/flavor of coffee/tea/soda do you prefer during the summer?

Coffee ~ Maxwell House Morning Blend
Tea ~ Iced. from the little store. Or Lipton if hot.
Soda ~ not so much. Root beer. yes Root beer.



Thanks for starting the survey again, Hollies!

Weekly Survey 06/05/16

1. Is there any book or movie that you consider, "your" story?
No, not really. Not yet.
2. What time did you wake up today?
5:30 My dog, Maggie seems to think that is her new feeding time.
3. Have you ever attempted ventriloquism?
I don't think so
4. What is something that you miss now, but didn't think you would?
My car
5. Has your first name ever been misspelled by anyone?
Some people seem to want to spell it as Alexandria not Alexandra
6. What was the worst weather you have ever been stuck in?
A snowstorm in 1971, it lasted 5 days and I was stuck at work.
Worked at the hospital then and slept on a stretcher in Radiology Dept.
7. What do you order when you sit down in a diner?
Hot beef sandwich with french fries and peas (extra gravy on the fries)
8. When was time you laughed so hard that your belly hurt?
This morning, when I read staropeace post 'Meanwhile in Canada'.
9. Have you ever cried for no reason but your own thoughts, in public?
Yes, whenever I have to say good bye to my daughters at the airport.
10. When was the last time you said, "yabba dabba do?" A moment ago, I'm guessing.
Can't remember, probably when I was a kid.

Great questions!

August 7, 2016

1. If you had the chance to do it all again, tell me: would you? could you?
- i would do cosplaying, but i'm freaking broke and i quit cosplaying years ago

2. Are you a french fries or baked potato with your steak kind of person? Or no steak at all?
- why not both, i love them, i love food

3. Shower or bath? Morning or evening?
- Bath, Morning because i'm too lazy to take a bath in evening

4. What jewelry do you wear daily, if any?
- no, i never wear any jewelry, seriously, i don't like them, well, except to wristwatch , i sometimes wear wristwatch

5. What is your very first memory?
joining a doodle contest with these pieces (but i did not win but the experience tho)

6. Do you/did you like your parents?
- i love my parents, especially my dad (i'm a daddy's girl tho)

7. What do you wear to work?
- i'm working at school as a student, so it was school uniform lol

8. Do you have any stickers on your car? What are they?
- No, pops doesn't want to stain his car with stickers

9. What's your favorite Summer Olympic sport to watch?
- i did not watch any summer olympics seriously

10. What brand/flavor of coffee/tea/soda do you prefer during the summer?
- green tea, especially if i'm in drafting rooms

August 7, 2016

1. If you had the chance to do it all again, tell me: would you? could you?
Some things, yes. Others...never!
2. Are you a french fries or baked potato with your steak kind of person? Or no steak at all?
baked potato
3. Shower or bath? Morning or evening?
Shower. Anytime of day, usually morning, but again if I feel the need.
4. What jewelry do you wear daily, if any?
Nothing I wear daily.
5. What is your very first memory?
My earliest memory is of sitting in some kind of seat watching my mom hang cloth diapers above a couch and wood burning stove. My mom swears I can't remember this, that someone must have described it, but it's a very clear memory. When I described it to her, she said it was the living room of the place we lived when I was a baby. We moved from there when I was about 15 months old.
6. Do you/did you like your parents?
That's complicated...I love my parents very much, but my mom and I have a difficult relationship. I don't always like her. I almost always like my dad.
7. What do you wear to work?
I work at home, so whatever feels comfy for the day. Usually a tshirt and a pair of shorts. Sweat pants and a flannel shirt if it's cold.
8. Do you have any stickers on your car? What are they?
I have an Oakland Raiders sticker on the back window on one car, no stickers on the other.
9. What's your favorite Summer Olympic sport to watch?
Gymnastics
10. What brand/flavor of coffee/tea/soda do you prefer during the summer?
I drink Folgers coffee year round when I drink it, occasionally lemon or raspberry flavored Arizona iced tea, no soda ever.

Debbie913 said:

August 7, 2016

1. If you had the chance to do it all again, tell me: would you? could you?
Some things, yes. Others...never!
2. Are you a french fries or baked potato with your steak kind of person? Or no steak at all?
baked potato
3. Shower or bath? Morning or evening?
Shower. Anytime of day, usually morning, but again if I feel the need.
4. What jewelry do you wear daily, if any?
Nothing I wear daily.
5. What is your very first memory?
My earliest memory is of sitting in some kind of seat watching my mom hang cloth diapers above a couch and wood burning stove. My mom swears I can't remember this, that someone must have described it, but it's a very clear memory. When I described it to her, she said it was the living room of the place we lived when I was a baby. We moved from there when I was about 15 months old.
6. Do you/did you like your parents?
That's complicated...I love my parents very much, but my mom and I have a difficult relationship. I don't always like her. I almost always like my dad.
7. What do you wear to work?
I work at home, so whatever feels comfy for the day. Usually a tshirt and a pair of shorts. Sweat pants and a flannel shirt if it's cold.
8. Do you have any stickers on your car? What are they?
I have an Oakland Raiders sticker on the back window on one car, no stickers on the other.
9. What's your favorite Summer Olympic sport to watch?
Gymnastics
10. What brand/flavor of coffee/tea/soda do you prefer during the summer?
I drink Folgers coffee year round when I drink it, occasionally lemon or raspberry flavored Arizona iced tea, no soda ever.

Click to expand...

...and beer, don't forget the beer and fat guys that bogart your Gatorade...

GNTLGNT said:

...and beer, don't forget the beer and fat guys that bogart your Gatorade...

Click to expand...

Of course! Beer. And I give my wonderful giant friend all the Gatorade he wants!

August 7, 2016

1. If you had the chance to do it all again, tell me: would you? could you?
-If I could do so with no memory of my current life there would be no hesitation whatsoever, sign me up for a do-over.


2. Are you a french fries or baked potato with your steak kind of person?
-Baked potato. Always a baked potato.

3. Shower or bath? Morning or evening?
-Shower, morning definitely, sometimes at night before bed also. Especially during summer.

4. What jewelry do you wear daily, if any?
-Whatever matches my eyes....just kidding, no jewelry except for my wedding band and the clock is ticking on removing that.

5. What is your very first memory?
-Watching my grandfather pack his pipe with Prince Albert tobacco. I think the smell of the tobacco is what burned that memory into my brain at such an early age. I was around 4 years old from what I've described to my mom.

6. Do you/did you like your parents?
-That's a complicated one. As I get older, it seems we've all come to somewhat of an uneasy peace, but lots of water under the bridge with both of them.

7. What do you wear to work?
-Business casual. I still wear cargo type BDU pants, I get lonely without all the pockets.

8. Do you have any stickers on your car? What are they?
-Nah, don't like stickers cluttering up my ride.

9. What's your favorite Summer Olympic sport to watch?
-Air rifle, that's about the only event I watch.

10. What brand/flavor of coffee/tea/soda do you prefer during the summer?
-RC Cola, always been my favorite. Preferably with a moon pie.

August 7, 2016

1. If you had the chance to do it all again, tell me: would you? could you?
Yes, to most of it

2. Are you a french fries or baked potato with your steak kind of person? Or no steak at all?
Either

3. Shower or bath? Morning or evening?
Shower. Definitely every morning......sometimes also in the evening

4. What jewelry do you wear daily, if any?
None

5. What is your very first memory?
Sitting on my Grandpa's lap at his kitchen table, watching him over pour his coffee into a saucer, and him letting me slurp the coffee.
My Mom is amazed that I can remember this, because I was only about 16 months old.....but I remember it vividly. Grandpa was wearing a cornflower blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and I was wearing a yellow one piece pajama with feet. The coffee cup and saucer were white with swirls, and had a gold rim around the edge.

6. Do you/did you like your parents?
Always like my Mom......as I grew up, dad, not so much

7. What do you wear to work?
Sometimes skirts, sometimes jeans and tees.....usually wedge heels.

8. Do you have any stickers on your car? What are they?
No car stickers for me. When buying a new car, I've even told car dealers that if they put an advertisement logo sticker on my car, that the deal is off.

9. What's your favorite Summer Olympic sport to watch?
Swimming

10. What brand/flavor of coffee/tea/soda do you prefer during the summer?
Sweet iced tea.....Luzianne

August 7, 2016

1. If you had the chance to do it all again, tell me: would you? could you?
Mostly, yes. I'd kind of like to have a George Bailey moment though - "What would everyone's life be like without me?"

2. Are you a french fries or baked potato with your steak kind of person? Or no steak at all?
Yes! Why NOT both?


3. Shower or bath? Morning or evening?
I prefer before bedtime bubble baths. I'd much rather sleep later.

4. What jewelry do you wear daily, if any?
My wedding ring and engagement ring. Around my neck - Catholic mojo aplenty: silver crucifix, Miraculous Medal, and a St. Anthony pendant from my daughter - mine is not like the one below - someone painted it for her. It's gorgeous. I cannot leave the house without my mojo on. It freaks me out.



5. What is your very first memory?
Rolling around on the floor while mom was taking pictures of me. I remember holding the flashcubes. I must have been around 18 months. Debbie913 - I totally believe you could remember something from 15 months old.

6. Do you/did you like your parents?
I've always believed that my mom dislikes me. So that clouds how I feel about her. My dad was the fun one. Though he was also volatile - just a yeller, not a hitter. You had to know to ignore him. He died when I was 18, and he was the one who talked to me and hugged me and made me feel loved. I like ghost19 's answer: it's complicated.

7. What do you wear to work?
These days sundresses and sandals. I guess business casual is a good way to say it. I worry about my toe nail polish being the right color. That messes me up all the time. I'll be getting in the car and have to go change clothes because I just noticed I'm wearing blue toe nail polish. The struggle is real.

8. Do you have any stickers on your car? What are they?
St. Jude Hospital bumper sticker - my niece is a survivor. Diagnosed with Neuroblastoma Stage 2 when she was 3. She's 8 now and still doing great. That place is full of miracles.

9. What's your favorite Summer Olympic sport to watch?
Diving usually but right now I'm loving the women's gymnastics.

10. What brand/flavor of coffee/tea/soda do you prefer during the summer?
I'm digging Starbucks Willow at the moment.

And I try to limit it to 2 a week - I love Green Apple Gatorade.