Just Another Meme?
Mon., February 26, 12:16 PM
Why would I be doing this now? Like a mountain, it's there. But I also want to look at a few issues through a different lens, so to speak.
In theory, one sends these questionnaires out to friends and ask them to substitute their own answers. If you would like to do so, be my guest. I would be happy to read your answers. But there are no requirements here. You are welcome to look over my shoulder in case you are interested in what I have to say. Or to ignore the whole thing entirely.
- What time did you get up this morning?
I slept in today, so I didn't get up until quarter to eight. - Diamonds or pearls?
Pearls are my birthstone. I own some rather unusual ones -- no valuable pearl necklaces, however. I do have a very pretty diamond engagement ring as well as diamonds in my wedding ring. But I don't like fakes, so pearls are more to my budget. - What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
At the theater, huh? I have watched some DVDs at someone's house, but I think it was "Lord of the Rings" -- the first one. Was that "Fellowship of the Ring"? - What is your favorite TV show?
"CSI" grabs my attention first. The original, then New York, then Miami. Or old game shows, like "Password" or "Match Game." - What did you have for breakfast this morning?
Coffee. Followed by half a buttered bagel. That is, a plump Costco bagel flavored with onion and half a dozen different kinds of seeds. (Husband got up early and interrupted me. I gave him his pills and his breakfast, and I forgot to take my own pills.) - What is your middle name?
I was not given one at birth, y'know. I use my maiden name. It is unique; it is also unspellable. - What is your favorite cuisine?
Whatever doesn't eat me first. I can't think of any style of food that was completely repulsive. Kosher, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Italian, Greek, French, Mexican... I like 'em all. - What foods do you dislike?
Milk -- unusual since I will eat most milk-derived products like cheese and sour cream. Banana, especially overripe (that's a scent memory.) Improperly cooked foods, like overcooked vegetables. And (ugh) oatmeal, which I don't eat but must cook every morning. - Favorite chips?
Taco chips, that is, the corn chips that are designed to go with Mexican food. They taste good, and they don't compromise my blood sugar as much as potato chips. Thank you very much, I will add the flavorings separately. - What is your favorite CD at the moment?
None. I do have some very nice CDs, especially the Sinatra ones. But at home, which is where I am most of the time, it is easier just to put the radio on. - What kind of car (truck) do you drive?
I have been driving the same Honda Civic for the past umpteen years. I am now afraid to try driving anything else, but that doesn't really matter, because I will have to give up driving soon. - What is your favorite sandwich?
I used to love sandwiches, but they re not a good choice for me now because every bread I've tried contains more carbs than I should eat at one time. (One of the joys of diabetes.) Begin with a good deli-style sour rye bread, with a crunchy crust and plenty of caraway seeds. Then hot pastrami, I think. Maybe a slice of tomato. And spicy brown mustard. - What characteristics do you despise?
Ignorance is one of the worst; it's more than stupidity, it's the refusal to learn what one doesn't know. Along with that, greed -- the lust for money or whatever without ever thinking how it affects the rest of the world. That includes corporate theft, fouling the atmosphere, and misuse of power. I cannot spend the rest of my life preaching to the choir. Hopeless. - What are your favorite clothes?
There was a time when the answer was simple: a conservative business suit, worn with sheer hosiery and high-heeled shoes. In the second-last job I held, that was overdressed, because the men who ran the place stressed casual office, so that they wouldn t have to dress up. I seldom have the need for that look now. When the weather and circumstances permit, I like shorts and sandals. - If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would it be?
Anywhere in the world -- that's a good choice. London. Washington, D.C. San Francisco. Cities with places to go and things to see. - Favorite brand of clothing?
You're kidding, right? Famous brands seldom look good on me; heck, they seldom fit me. And I certainly would not advertise any brand unless I received some sort of consideration for my support. - Where would you want to retire?
I really am not sure the place is as important as the kind of place. Somewhere that my primary responsibility is only to myself, where I could choose how much I do or don't do, where I have transportation to go out and see the world around me. If the weather is bad, I want to stay in and not have to worry about it. It might be here in this area, or it might be another state altogether. Some of what keeps me here is the proximity of my kids and the excellent medical care available in this part of the country. - Favorite time of day?
I consider that a ridiculous question! Winter or summer? What do I have to do that day? How do I feel? Who else is present? - Where were you born
You understand, this is strictly hearsay. My mother told me I was born in Stamford Hospital, Stamford, Connecticut. It could be true, but her other children weren't born there. (Birth certificate confirms city only.) - What is your favorite sport to watch?
Something nonprofessional, where teams are still teams. The loss of good professional baseball is still a sad comment on our world. Women's college basketball is probably my favorite right now. I am immensely proud of our University of Connecticut women. (The difference between men's and women's basketball? The women are students who play a game -- fiercely, but they know it's a game. The men are all auditioning for the NBA; maybe they will graduate and maybe they won't.) - Who do you think will not send this back?
Why should anyone send it back? I am not addressing it to anyone. - Person you expect to send it back first.
Boy, would I be surprised! See previous answer. - Pepsi or Coke?
Sugarless is more important than brand, although some diet whatevers are downright revolting. The ubiquitous Diet Coke is usually a safe choice. If I want to look sophisticated, I will have a tall glass of seltzer with a twist of lemon. - Beavers or ducks?
Huskies, of course. See question 20. - Are you a morning person or night person?
When I am the only person involved, I would have to say morning. I have no trouble getting up early unless it is the middle of winter -- and dark. I usually function best in the morning. The best thing about being retired is the luxury of a nap in the afternoon, leaving me lively enough to have supper and watch a few hours of television. And that's when I interact with the night people. - Pedicure or manicure?
For years I did both myself, and I did it quite well. Why should I pay someone else to do it for me? The problem is not agility -- I can still reach my feet easily -- but eyesight. If you look at one toe and you see two of them, which nail do you cut? If you close one eye to eliminate the double vision, you lose perspective; now try to get that brush back into the little bottle. I shall do the best I can (by feel) for a couple of months and then visit the nail shop for both pedicure and manicure. - Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?
"Not a new." The last news was my son and daughter-in-law getting married. You've heard about that already. - What did you want to be when you were little?
I know I changed my mind a lot, because I have so many diverse interests. But I think I mostly wanted to be a nurse. Be careful what you wish for. - What is your best childhood memory?
Just about any time I spent with my dad. There was less of it after my brother war born, because he was the boy, But I cherished time with Dad because he understood me so much better than my mother did. - Piercing?
One in each ear lobe. - Ever been to Africa?
Just another might-have-been - Ever been toilet papering?
I wouldn t think of it! No redeeming social value. But we didn't have tp to waste when I was a kid anyhow. - Been in a car accident?
Nothing major, thank goodness. None that were my fault; jacki abound everywhere. - Favorite day of the week?
Can’t answer that one any better than the one about time of day. Day of the week are pretty much alike if you’re retired. - Favorite restaurant?
In one sense, I don't have one. If the food is good and I don't have to prepare it, I'm happy. But to choose just one, I would say Royal Palace, which still serves the best Chinese food I've ever had. And they treat me like an old friend. - Favorite flower?
Roses are my birth flower, and I am always happy to see them and smell them. One of the best places I ever visited was the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. But there are many other flowers I love, including marigolds like the ones my grandmother grew. Or orchids -- I can count on my fingers the number of times I've been given orchids, but they are so glamorous. - Favorite ice cream?
You do understand that this is my favorite food. I tend to favor the non-fruit flavors, but I will eat almost any kind. Ever had a Ben & Jerry s flavor called White Russian? (Coffee liqueur.) How about a coffee brickle? Well, I love coffee ice cream, and I will include variations on it. - Favorite fast food restaurant?
Most don't appeal to me at all. I have on occasion felt hungry and driven past half a dozen fast food places to get home and make something more appetizing. On the other hand, I will eat fast food if I am with another person who would like it. - How many times did you fail your driver's test?
Never! Remember, I didn t get a chance to take it until I was thirty-seven years old. I took so many lessons the teacher ran out of spaces in his appointment book. It would have been humiliating to fail. - From whom did you get your last email?
I think it must have been Golf Widow, from whose page (not e-mail) I took this. The mail was the notice that she had updated. - In which stores would you choose to max out your credit card?
I don't do that. From the very first credit card I ever got, my rule of thumb was, you don't charge more than you have in your checking account. Old habits die hard. I can't think of anything I want so much I could get it simply by spending money I don't have. - Bedtime?
Whenever I'm tired. It might be mid-afternoon. My favorite way of going to sleep is to set the tv on timer and choose a program where I can visualize what's going on while I lie down with my eyes closed. Easy, restful sleep. - Who are you most curious about their responses to this?
I didn't do it for conversation; I did it for self-examination. - Last person(s) you went to dinner with?
M.D. and our friend, PF. (Food was good, conversation was even better.) - What are you listening to right now?
U.D.'s cat complaining about (probably) the presence of another cat outside. - What are your favorite colors?
Almost any shade of blue. The multiple greens of springtime. (Despite my grey hair, I do not care for purple.) - How many tattoos do you have?
I wrote a whole post on how I do not understand tattoos. There are three tiny dots that triangulated where my radiation therapy was to go. About the only useful visible tattoo I can imagine would be to mark my left arm, "do not constrict." But if I were so out of it that I could not tell that to a medical care provider, in comparison any damage by constricting that arm would be trivial. - How many are you sending this email to?
I send it to no one. You want to read it, fine. You want to ignore it, also fine.
It seems to me I have written much of this material before. Should you be curious about any of it, let me know and I will be happy to send you links. I'm just to lazy to look them all up now. But I did enjoy the discipline of writing html code.
