Tag: Quiz-Things

I saw this quiz split into two parts over at Sunday Stealing, so here it is stitched back together with baling wire.

1. What’s your favorite Dr. Seuss book?

Fox in Socks, I guess.

2. If you could live in any home on a television series, what would it be?

Serenity, on Firefly. (Yes, the ship is a home.)

3. What’s the longest you’ve gone without sleep?

Probably eighteen to twenty hours, tops. I never pulled an actual all-nighter in college, unless staying up until nearly 6:00 am counts. The Wife (then The Girlfriend) and I drove all night to move her stuff from Iowa to WNY back in 1994, but we took shifts sleeping.

4. What’s your favorite Barry Manilow song?

“I Write the Songs”. Seconded by “Copacabana”. It scares me to think that I actually have a favorite Barry Manilow song.

5. Who’s your favorite Muppet?

Animal. Or the stoner from “Mahna mahna”. Love those guys!

6. What’s the habit you’re proudest of breaking?

Hmmmmm…maybe my habit of not trying to write at least a line or two every day? Not that it’s helping out much, but still….

7. What’s your favorite website?

This one, duh!

8. What’s your favorite school supply?

Pens. Nice pens. Fountain pens, actually. I have about fifteen cool fountain pens. I don’t use ’em enough, but fountain pens are all kinds of cool.

9. Who’s your favorite TV attorney?

The guy who defends James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek episode “Court Martial”. It’s a really cool episode, even if the ending is a bit contrived.

10. What was your most recent trip of more than 50 miles?

Going to Pittsburgh on Easter weekend.

11. What’s the best bargain you’ve ever found at a garage sale or junk shop?

Hmmmmm. “Bargain” in this sense seems to me to indicate something you really wanted and got cheaply, as opposed to price versus actual value. When garage-saleing a few years ago, I picked up a lovely serving plate and matching serving bowl that have a lovely pattern: black rim with a single pink blossom on one side. It looks quite Asian to my eye.

The Library Book Sales always thrill, too; I document these each time I go (they’re quarterly — in fact, the next is coming up in a couple of weeks). There was one where it turned out someone had unloaded a large cache of old science fiction stuff. That one resulted in a full box!

12. Where were you on September 11, 2001?

I was on my way to work when the planes hit. When I got in my car, the first had already struck and no one was sure if this was an attack or something horrible gone awry on a plane. In fact, I first heard “a plane crashed into the WTC” and I thought that some idiot in a Cessna had screwed up. I was in the drive-through at Tim Horton’s, picking up a bagel, when the second plane hit. My immediate thought was one of utter confusion: “How does this happen twice? Was this…oh my God, this was intentional.”

When I got to work, the radio was already on and everyone was shocked. A while later the third plane hit the Pentagon. The next few hours were as surreal a day as I’ve ever spent in a job. There were radio reports of several more missing planes; then one plane; then a plane that the USAF had shot down. At one point a report came through of a car bomb detonating outside the State Department in Washington, DC. And in the midst of all that, the most horrific announcement of all: the first of the two towers of the WTC had collapsed.

The vagaries of that job — telesales, calling pharmacies to sell generic liquid medications — never seemed more unimportant than on that day. Which was sad, because I remember having a really good sales day that day. I found it awfully hard to give a crap, though.

At some point on that day, I scrawled out “9-11-01 Remember” on a post-it note and stuck it to my computer. I still have that post-it note in my stuff, somewhere ’round here, along with the copy of the Buffalo News I bought the next day. I made sure to keep that post-it when I cleaned out my desk on firing day.

13. What’s your favorite tree?

When we moved into our house in 1981, which is the house my parents still live in, the house sat on a very large parcel of land that had no trees on it. None. There was a tree line/hedge row on one side of the land, and on the other, but there were no trees whatsoever anywhere near the house. My parents spent a lot of effort (and, I expect, money) over the next couple of years buying trees and planting them. There is now an enormous weeping willow in the front yard, some impressively tall pines, and one pine that I asked for when we stopped at a garden center just a few months in. We planted that tree outside my bedroom window, where it grows still. That tree is now so big that it actually had to be cut back so my parents could use their front door to, you know, get in and out of the house! That tree is awesome, man.

There’s also a wonderful tree down the road from their house that isn’t particularly unique in itself, but it’s by itself in someone’s yard and every fall its leaves turn a spectacular red that makes it look from afar like the entire tree is aflame.

14. What’s the most interesting biography you’ve read?

I should read more biographies…but Jacques Barzun’s bio of Hector Berlioz is an amazing read.

15. What do you order when you eat Chinese food?

As much as I adore Chinese food and love many dishes…I tend to default to General Tso’s. Or I’ll get Sesame chicken, which is just General Tso’s without the chili peppers and with sesame seeds tossed on. Once in a while, Kung Pao. But hey! Last time out, I got pepper steak!

I should get Mu Shu Pork one of these days. It just tends to be very messy, though.

16. What’s the best costume you’ve ever worn?

My mother made me a Captain Marvel suit when I was in kindergarten and was enthralled with All Things SHAZAM!.

More creatively, in college, there was a party one night in the music department which was themed “Dress as your favorite musician”. So I, having been told that I looked like our school’s oboe teacher, threw on what he usually wore — a tie-less shirt, blazer, and five-o’clock shadow — and went as him. Got rave reviews. I wonder if anyone ever told him about that?

17. What’s your least favorite word?

For some weird reason, about ten years ago, all of a sudden everybody was using the word “copacetic”. And hey, if someone tells me my work is copacetic, great and thanks and all, but the word itself just sounds like an unpleasant medical condition.

“Will he live, Doctor?”

“I don’t know, Agnes. He’s gone…copacetic.”

18. If you had to be named after one of the 50 states, which would it be?

I’d want to be Even Newer York.

For some reason, I’ve always remembered this: an episode of The Dukes of Hazzard where the villain was a femme fatale of sorts named Alabama. And the show’s narrator sagely informed us: “You should never trust a woman named after a state.” I think of that every time I meet some poor kid named Dakota.

19. Who’s your favorite bear?

The grizzly that stalks Tristan Ludlow (Brad Pitt) throughout the 70+ years of his life in Legends of the Fall. That’s some bear.

20. Describe something that’s happened to you for which you have no explanation.

You’re reading this blog! Don’t you have anything better to do?

21. If you could travel anywhere in Africa, where would it be?

I’d love to see the Pyramids in Egypt. And I’d love to see how many hours it would take me to work up the guts to jump into Devil’s Pool.

22. What did you have for lunch yesterday?

Leftover tacos from a couple of nights before.

23. Where do you go for advice?

Depends. Sometimes I post a question on Facebook or here. Or I ask someone in person, usually at work, whom I know to be knowledgeable in the area I’m looking for. Or I type a question into Google. Or I just plow on ahead and try to come up with my own answer.

24. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?

Dictionary, mainly for spelling. I don’t use the thesaurus all that often, but when I need it, it’s invaluable.

25. Have you ever been snorkeling? Scuba diving?

Snorkeling, but only in a synthetic reef thing at Disney World. I had a good time, but The Wife did not. She kicked with her feet and struck a piece of fake coral, ripping the toenail out of her big toe. This was Day Two of our vacation. I spent the rest of it pushing her around in a wheelchair at the Disney parks. But at least we didn’t have to wait in line for rides.

26. Have you ever been stung by a bee?

Sure. Hasn’t everybody?

27. What’s the sickest you’ve ever been?

Had the flu in late 1996. That’s the only time I have ever called off work because I was sick. It came and went fairly quickly, but man, was that ever unpleasant.

28. What’s your favorite form of exercise?

Walking/hiking, and bicycling.

29. What’s your favorite Cyndi Lauper song?

“Time After Time”.

30. What did you do for your 13th birthday?

I have no idea whatsoever.

31. Are you afraid of heights?

Not especially, although in some contexts I’d probably be freaked out. I’d love to go in Toronto’s CN Tower and stand on the glass floor. I’m not sure I’d ever voluntarily jump out of a perfectly good airplane that wasn’t in the process of spiraling downward toward its doom.

32. Have you ever taken dance lessons?

No. I wouldn’t mind. Dancing looks fun.

33. What’s your favorite newspaper?

By default, since it’s the only one I read with any regularity, the Buffalo News.

34. What’s your favorite Broadway / West End musical?

Without ever having seen it, Les Miserables.

35. What’s the most memorable class you’ve ever taken?

Oh, wow. I’ve taken a lot of great classes. Oriental Thought. Philosophy of Religion. Epistemology. Foundations of Science. Shakespeare. Poli Sci 101.

36. What’s your favorite knock-knock joke?

OK, I don’t really know any offhand, so I’m going to Google some and pick the one I like best. Hang out here a moment….

[insert filler music]

All right, here it is:

Knock knock
Who’s there?
Banana.
Banana who?
Knock knock
Who’s there?
Banana.
Banana who?
Knock knock
Who’s there?
Orange.
Orange who?
Orange you glad I didn’t say banana ?

I suppose it’s true, then: “Knock Knock” jokes, without exception, suck.

37. What’s your least favorite commercial?

Those of you who don’t live in the Buffalo Niagara region won’t have been tormented with these ads. I won’t soil my beautiful, beautiful blog by embedding the video, so, if you must — and I can’t urge you strongly enough not to — well, watch. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

38. If you could go to Disney World with any celebrity alive today, who would it be?

Sarah Palin. So I could chain her to one of the “It’s A Small World” boats and make her ride it for the rest of her life.

39. Do you prefer baths or showers?

Showers. Hot tubs are nifty, though.

40. What’s your favourite newspaper comic strip?

Get Fuzzy. I read that and Pearls Before Swine daily. (OK, I also read Funky Winkerbean, but I read that one more for the slow-motion-car-wreck thing it has going on these days.)

41. What’s your favorite breakfast food?

Waffles! Or pancakes. French toast is acceptable. And sometimes you just want a nice omelet. But mainly, waffles.

42. Who’s your favarite game show host?

Phil Keoghan of The Amazing Race. I also never really appreciated Survivor‘s Jeff Probst until just this recently concluded season; he’s always seemed OK and workmanlike, but he really is quite perceptive about stuff, and in the live finale, he did a really good job with the interviews, forcing answers to questions and deflecting some of Russell’s nonsensical replies.

Of game show hosts of the more traditional sort, I always enjoyed Bob Barker.

43. If you could have a super power, what would it be?

Flight. But Superman-style flight, not something like Angel of the X-Men. No big-ass wings for me!

44. Do you like guacamole?

It’s OK. I’m not a huge fan, but I don’t dislike it, either.

45. Have you ever been in a food fight?

Nope, unless being an occasional target for edible missiles counts.

46. Name five songs to which you know all the lyrics.

“Every Which Way But Loose” (Eddie Rabbitt); “Love’s Been Good to Me” (Rod McKuen); “Hey Jude” (some poof from Liverpool);

47. What’s your favorite infomercial?

I never, ever, ever watch informercials. Ever. I really don’t like them at all.

48. What’s the longest you’ve ever waited in line?

Hmmmm…I don’t remember, really. Probably some line for a popular ride at an amusement park. Those can be ridiculously long.

49. What’s on the cover of your address book or day planner?

Nothing. It’s a small checkbook-sized thing in a checkbook-like cover. I got it for two bucks somewhere, intending to actually use it for once.

And yet, I don’t.

50. Have you ever taken a picture in one of those little booths?

Nope. Sounds fun, though!

Share This Post

A quiz stolen from SamuraiFrog:

1. What are you listening to right now?

“The Isle of the Dead” by Sergei Rachmaninov.

2. What song(s) make(s) you sad?

“Rough Boy” by ZZTop, “Brothers In Arms” by Dire Straits, the “Liebestod” from Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, “I Can Only Imagine” (a Christian song that we had performed at Little Quinn’s funeral).

3. What is the most annoying song in the world?

I remember in 1994, when there was a pop version and a country version of a tune called “I Swear”, and they played constantly, so whether we had the pop station or the country station on at work, I had to listen to that festering song. Ugh. I also hate “I Believe I Can Fly”; “Mony Mony”; “Spinning Wheel” by Blood, Sweat and Tears; “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Poison; and more than a few others. And while I don’t hate it, I’ve read that the single most successful Beatles song is “Yesterday”, which I don’t like.

4. Your all time favorite band?

Ask me today and I’m saying Van Halen. Ask me tomorrow and I’ll say Pink Floyd. Ask me the day after, I’ll say Blackmore’s Night. Day after that I’ll say someone else. That’s how I roll.

5. Your newly discovered band is?

The Beatles!

6. Best female voice?

You know what? I like Taylor Swift’s voice. Is it the “best” voice going? Probably not, but that’s what I’m going with. Or Marni Nixon. Candice Night, too.

7. Best male voice?

Dougie Maclean.

8. Music type you find yourself listening to most?

Classical or film scores first; Celtic second. Pop and rock, not terribly frequently.

9. What do you listen to, to hype you up?

Anything up-tempo. Like the Bee Gees stuff from Saturday Night Fever.

10. What do you listen to when you want to calm down?

Anything slow or meditative — some Vaughan Williams works well for this, such as the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, or the miraculous “The Lark Ascending”.

11. Last gig/concert you went to?

The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

12. Band you find yourself listening to the most right now?

The Beatles.

13. Most hated band?

Despite the fact that Bret Michaels has seemed like a pretty good guy on this season of The Apprentice and the fact that he’s undergoing some health problems as of this writing, I never liked Poison. And I suspect I might like Guns-n-Roses if I could get past Axl Rose’s Godawful singing voice.

14. Song that makes you think?

Anything makes me think. “American Pie” has all those dense references; “Another Brick in the Wall Part II” has all that anti-establishment stuff; anything by Rush has some odd SF and other oddity going through it.

15. Band that you think the world should love as much as you do?

All of them.

16. Coolest music video?

As an avowed lover of overalls, I suppose I’m supposed to answer with “Come On Eileen” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners, but instead I’ll go with “Thriller”. (SamuraiFrog’s answer, “Take On Me”, is right up there, but the way that video is “concluded” by a-ha‘s subsequent video, “The Sun Always Shines On TV”, really casts a pall over “Take”.)

17. Music video with the most babe watch?

Not sure what “babe watch” means. Is it pretty women to look at? Again, nothing lately. I hear Christina Aguilera’s working on something.

18. What do you play/would you play in the bedroom to spice things up?

Blackmore’s Night.

19. Can you play a musical instrument?

I was a decent trumpet player back in the day.

20. Ever been in a mosh pit?

Never. In fact, I’ve never been to a rock concert of any type, unless Trans-Siberian Orchestra counts (which it well might).

21. Are you in a band?

No.

23. Ever dated a musician?

The Wife played the oboe, so yes.

28. Do you wish yourself that you were a musician?

I often wish I’d remained one.

29. Best chick band you know of?

Heart.

31. Last song that you heard on the radio/cd…etc…?

Radio? Not sure. Whatever was on this morning on the way home from church. I tend to not pay attention to the music in the car, unless it’s Prairie Home Companion or some such show.

32. What do you think of Classical music?

It’s my favorite music. People who don’t like classical music just bug the hell out of me — or rather, people who claim to not like it because they’re clearly intimidated by it. It’s just music, people. You listen to it like anything else!

33. What do you think of Country music?

Aside from the “rockabilly” stuff and the creepy Jingoistic strain of country that showed up after 9-11-01, I like a surprising amount of it. I especially love a lot of older country music; Willie Nelson is a genius, and I like Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris a lot. Of more recent ones, Taylor Swift and Jo Dee Messina make me happy.

34. What do you think of Death metal?

I flirted with it in high school, but for the most part, I prefer my metal to have some optimism to it. Or at least be epic in the sense of Iron Maiden if we’re not going to be optimistic. The “Death Metal” stuff strikes me as silly, not unlike those Oakland Raiders fans who dress up as skeletons for the games. I mean, come on, now.

35. Last BIG band that you saw live?

Trans-siberian Orchestra.

36. Are you a groupie?

No.

37. Do you listen to music in foreign languages?

Absolutely — opera and classical in original tongues, Celtic music in Gaelic or other Celtic languages, et cetera. Cantopop in Chinese.

38. What famous musician would you like to [enjoy carnal relations with]!?

Not answering this.

39. Worst concert moment?

I don’t mean to keep bitching about this, but the recent Buffalo Philharmonic concert, when I realized they were playing an edited version of Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2. This left a really bad taste in my mouth, and frankly has dampened some of the enthusiasm I was feeling for going back for more concerts.

40. Funny concert moment?

We were recording our annual Christmas program in college for Iowa Public Television when, during a soft passage, one of our percussionists picked up the cymbals, only to have the straps to one of them break. Luckily we were doing this performance for the cameras only; no audience was present.

41. Sad concert moment?

My last concert with the orchestra in college. The orchestra program there was very tiny when I got there, but grew threw the four years until I thought it was pretty good by the end. I was sad that I wouldn’t be a part of it after that.

42. Best local act you can think of?

Hell, I dunno — Ani DiFranco? The Goo Goo Dolls?

43. If you were a musical instrument what would you be?

The Uilleann pipes.

44. Do you listen to the radio?

In the car, and occasionally at home, if I’m home while Prairie Home Companion or Thistle and Shamrock are on.

45. Do you watch music TV?

I watch performances on PBS, if that’s what we mean.

46. Do you follow the music charts, like the top 40?

No. I could not possibly care one whit less.

47. Have you met any famous musicians?

Former Buffalo Philharmonic music director Semyon Bychkov, and I met Wynton Marsalis. I wanted to be more impressed with Marsalis than I was.

48. Are any of your friends/family/etc. musicians?

Not that I know of.

49. Song that best describes your feelings right now?

Geez, I haven’t a clue.

50. Song that describes your life?

“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”? Wow, what a boring choice. How about “Comfortably Numb”? “Love Walks In” by Van Halen?

51. Do you know the names of all the band members that you listen to?

No, I’m sure I don’t.

52. Does a musician’s physical attractiveness play a role in the music that you listen to?

No.

53. What famous musician do you want to marry?

Huh?!

53. Favourite movie sound track?

Star Wars. Or Lord of the Rings. Or….

55. Any musician pet hates?

I’ve covered this before, but in the film score fan community, I’ve always thought that the reverence slathered upon Jerry Goldsmith far outstrips the actual quality of a lot of his work.

56. What do your parents listen to?

I can’t really say these days, but their tastes can be really eclectic.

57. What are you listening to right NOW?

“Drink Up Me Hearties” from the score to The Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.

58. Do you wear band etc T-shirts?

Nope. Never have.

59. Do you cook to music?

Not usually, although I like to. There’s no stereo in there.

60. Do you sing in the toilet?

I’m never in the toilet. If we’re talking about the shower, then…no. I sing in the car, though.

Share This Post

What better way to get back in the swing of things than with a quiz? From Sunday Stealing:

36. If you suddenly became single or are single, do you think you could last in a relationship for 12 months or more?

Right off the bat, I’m not sure I understand the question. I’ve been in a relationship for nineteen years now, so I think I’m pretty good at the long-term thing.

37. Do you forgive or forget?

Both. Unless I’m really pissed, in which case I hold a grudge for years.

38. Do you trust people?

Until they screw me! (Actually, I don’t really trust people until I get to know them.)

39. What are you not looking forward to?

The series finale of LOST, because I don’t watch the show and don’t care.

40. Do you get mad easily?

I can, but I try not to.

41. Tell us about the last time you were told you that you have pretty eyes.

Hmmmm…a few years ago a co-worker told me I looked good in blue because it brought out my eyes. Does that count?

42. Do you have strange dreams?

Yup.

43. Ever licked someone’s cheek or forehead?

Er…no.

44. Tell us about the last time you fell asleep in someones arms.

Er…no.

45. When did you last play a game?

Yesterday. And I’m about to play the same game in a few minutes: Super Mario Brothers!

46. What do you have on you at all times?

I try to never leave home without my cell phone.

47. Do you go out in public without getting all dressed up?

Define “all dressed up”? As in, do I go out in sweat pants? No. I used to live in sweat pants, but now I just wear them at home or to the gym.

48. Do you like fruity or minty gum?

Minty. But in general I’m not much of a gum person.

49. Favourite musician or group?

Dougie Maclean. (Just naming one at random.)

50. Do you like anyone?

Nope. I’m a giant heap of dislike.

51. Favourite computer game?

Galactic Civilizations, which oddly I’ve never played.

52. First album you ever went and bought with your own money?

The soundtrack album to The Empire Strikes Back.

53. Think back five months ago, were you single?

Yes. I mean, no.

54. Do you believe in celebrating anniversaries?

Yes, although not terribly lavishly.

55. Do you think someone is thinking about you right now?

I hope so!

56. Last thing you bought?

I bought a couple of small knickknacks for The Daughter at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History the other day.

57. Are you a jealous person?

Sometimes, but I don’t like to be.

58. Does it take a lot to make you cry?

Not always.

59. Do you have a friend of the opposite sex you can talk to?

Yes.

60. Have you ever had your heart-broken?

Yes.

61. Have you ever done something while drunk that you still cannot believe you did?

Was I drunk when I mooned a professor of mine? I can’t remember. Maybe.

62. Is there anyone you secretly wish you could be spending your time with right now?

Nope. I’m pretty open to my wish that The Wife was home right now instead of at work.

63. Do you text?

Rarely. We don’t have an unlimited texting plan. I like texting, but it’s expensive.

64. Do you wish someone would call or text you right now?

Text…e-mail…leave a comment…sure, why not?

65. Is your life anything like it was a year ago?

Same job, same apartment, same overalls…yeah, pretty much is.

66. Go back one year on your blog. Leave us a link to your favorite post.

Looking around that general date, here are my thoughts on the ending of ER.

67. You can only drink ONE liquid for the rest of your life, what is it?

Water.

68. Tell us about someone that you have lost contact with someone you wish you didn’t.

You know, it’s weird…Facebook has had a tendency to reconnect me with people left and right. There’s the girl I had the crush on when I was a sophomore and junior in high school, I suppose…I wonder whatever became of her.

69. What is the last thing you said out loud?

“Love you!” (Talking to The Wife on the phone.)

70. Will this year be better than last?

Yes. Unless no.

Share This Post

Time for a quiz-thing! Stolen from Cal in his Canadian Cave.

1. Never in my life have I been: to Mozambique.

2. The one person who can drive me nuts is: You. Geez, can’t you give it a rest!

3. High school: wasn’t really a train wreck for me. Sophomore year kind of blew, but I rebounded nicely.

4. When I’m nervous: I get all kinds of nervous energy.

5. The last song I listened to was: a track from James Horner’s score to Avatar (which isn’t a terribly good score, nor is it a terribly bad one — it’s just basic Horner, with some really nifty moments surrounded by a lot of workmanlike stuff).

6. If I were to get married right now my best man/maid of honor: would be asking, “Hey, what happened to the first wife?”

7. My hair is: long and graying.

8. When I was 5: I saw Star Wars.

9. Last Christmas: could’ve been better. Could’ve been worse, too.

10. I should be..: writing Star Wars.

11. When I look down I see: the bib of my overalls.

12. The happiest recent event was: getting a lot of praise for a job I did really well at The Store.

13. If I were a character on ‘Friend’ I would be: one of the extras in Central Perk, wondering why I can never get to sit on that really comfy looking couch.

14. By this time next year: I’d like to be even better at my job than I am now.

15. My current gripe is: Teabaggers who are oh so worried about budget deficits and civil liberties now that a black guy is President, but said not a word while the previous guy was violating both at a record pace.

16. I have a hard time understanding: why so many people loathe the Star Wars prequels.

17. There’s this girl I know that: owns the ugliest Christmas sweater in history. The thing has lights on it.

18. If I won an award, the first person I would tell would be: The Wife. Followed by you. How’s that for service!

19. Take my advice: Measure twice and cut once (but don’t measure if you don’t have to).

20. The thing I want to buy: a house.

21. If you visited the place I was born: You’d see other babies getting born too. It was a hospital that’s still there. (Well, I assume the exact location of the maternity ward has changed since 1971.)

22. I plan to visit: Pittsburgh, this coming weekend!

23. If you spent the night at my house: you’d be grossed out by the cats licking each other’s arses.

24. I’d stop my wedding if: George Lucas walked in and offered me the position of screenwriter for Star Wars Episode VII.

25. The world could do without: libertarians.

26. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: lick the backside of a cockroach.

27. Most recent thing I’ve bought myself: A few books at the library book sale, I think. (Believe it or not, the last couple of times I’ve been in Borders I didn’t buy anything!)

28. Most recent thing someone else bought me: some candy bars from Vidler’s, which I threw in The Wife’s basket.

29. My favorite blonde is: The Wife. (Ha! Good safe answer! Huzzah!)

30. My favorite brunette is: Stana Katic

31. My favorite red head is: Christina Hendricks

32. My middle name is: C. Just an initial. Just like Harry S Truman.

33. In the morning I: get up too early for work.

34. The animals I would like to see flying besides birds are: giant squid.

35. Once, at a bar: I ate a whole bunch of chicken wings. (OK, I did this more than once. A lot more than once.)

36. Last night I was: reading, eating dinner, watching Tomorrow Never Dies with the family.

37. There’s this guy I know who: must be destroyed. Oh, yes.

38. If I was an animal I’d be: a horse in Middle Earth.

39. A better name for me would be: Lord Ponneril the Elder. (I just made that up.)

40. Tomorrow I am: working, reading, blogging, and scheming.

41. Tonight I am: making dinner, watching The Amazing Race and The Celebrity Apprentice.

42. My birthday is: September 26, just like George Gershwin. I got rhythm!

Share This Post

From Sunday Stealing comes a quiz! (Sunday Stealing is all about quizzes, actually. That’s what makes it fun.)

1. How far away is the last person you kissed?

Right now, about 15 or 20 miles. I’ve never actually measured how far it is from home to where The Wife works.

2. Has someone ever told you they would be with you forever?

Sure. We’re doing pretty well.

3. Last person you were in a car with?

The Wife and The Daughter, earlier this morning.

4. Any plans for tomorrow?

I have to work and finish reading a book for a review.

5. How long does it take for you to take a shower?

If I’m washing my hair, I can be in there about 25 minutes. I like long showers. I know, not very ecological. Sorry for that.

6. Best friend or close friends?

Close friends, I think. I’ve gone the best friend route and it doesn’t always work out so well.

7. Is tomorrow going to be a good day?

Maybe! Mondays can be a real grab bag of suck, or they can be not-so-bad. We’ll see what happens.

8. Did you kiss anyone friday?

I kiss The Wife every day.

9. Ever thrown up in public?

Sigh…yes. Not in a really long time, though. In fact, nearly thirty years! I was with my parents on a road trip around Western NY the first year we lived here. My sister wasn’t along, for some reason that I don’t recall. We drove to Batavia and shopped at the mall there (that alone tells you how long ago this was: there were stores in the Batavia Mall), and then we drove to Williamsville where we went to the Eastern Hills Mall for the first time. I have no clue what I ate that caused this, or what bug I got, but with virtually no warning I threw up in the middle of the Walden Books there. I could have died. (In the figurative, “Oh God get me away from all these people” sense, not the literal sense.)

10. What’s on your mind RIGHT NOW?

The last time I threw up in public. Thanks, quiz.

11. Who was the last person you talked to?

The Daughter.

12. What is the WORST subject they teach at school?

Typing/keyboarding. Who cares what the “proper” way to type is?

13. Have you seen anyone lately that you don’t get along with?

Sure. I just go about my business and he goes about his.

14. What is your favourite colour top to wear?

Ummmm…red? Blue? Purple? Tie-dye? I like all colors, actually. Yesterday I was in a charcoal-gray hoodie. (I dislike the word “hoodie”, by the way.)

15. Have you ever been in a car accident?

No.

16. What’s the closest thing to you that’s green?

A ceramic wall-pocket that The Daughter made for me in art class. Or a book cover. Or a pen. Or some note cards. There’s a lot of green stuff right around me; not sure what’s closest.

17. Where would you like to be right now?

Pittsburgh. We’re going there next weekend, and I’m excited.

18. Write down some lyrics to the song you’re listening to?

It’s actually silent right now…and I’d probably be listening to orchestral music anyway, so the lyrics would be something like “Hummmmm…doo da doo da doo dummmmm…ya da dummmm….”

19. How many dogs do you have?

Zero. Quarters are too cramped at Casa Jaquandor for one of those four-legged drool factories. Maybe when we finally get a house of some sort.

20. Is anything bugging you right now?

Well, I continue to be bugged by my display of Mechanic FAIL yesterday. And it bugs me that my current favorite pair of overalls has a hole in the butt. I considered wearing them out yesterday with a pair of shorts underneath, but that still seemed weird.

21. Is life going right for you now?

Sure, I guess. No major disasters right now; just some ongoing annoyances and conundra.

22. Is there someone you care about more than yourself?

No! It’s all about ME ME ME ME MEEEEE! (The Family, actually. Duh!)

23. What made you laugh today?

The Wife and The Daughter, both.

24. What was the last movie you watched?

We watched half of Tomorrow Never Dies last night. Good action movie, not so good a James Bond movie.

25. Whats the last conversation you had about?

I instructed The Daughter to get the laundry out of the dryer; she said OK.

26. What were you doing at 7:00 this morning?

Sleeping.

27. Do you like your hair long or short?

Well, look at the pictures! What do you think?

28. Do you want to see somebody right now?

I always want to see George Lucas.

29. Do you like the rain?

I’m not against it. I don’t mind big fat rain that falls down straight; wind-driven sideways rain is not my cup of tea.

30. Did you have a valentine this year?

I’m married, so I’m good to go in that department. Yay!

31. The last person you kissed needs you at 3 am, would you go?

Absolutely…and since she’s sleeping right next to me, “going” would involve moving about eight inches.

32. Would you honestly say you’d risk your life for someone else?

It depends on who the person was.

33. Honestly, if you could go back 1 month and change something would you?

My last month has been pretty much blunder-free, so I’m good. Maybe I’d get myself to the Y more often.

34. How do you feel about boys smoking?

Smoking sucks and should go away.

35. Could you see yourself with someone forever?

Forever’s a long time, isn’t it? How about one lifetime?

That’s it!

Share This Post

There’s a blog out there called Sunday Stealing that does nothing but provide quiz things. So I’m officially doing one of theirs. Hooray!

TEN TO START.

1. Are you single?

No.

2. Are you happy?

Kinda.

3. Are you bored?

Not right now.

4. Are you naked?

I like to keep readers, so…no. (Really! No.)

5. Are you a blonde?

No. But I was at birth, oddly enough.

6. Are you moody?

Sure.

7. Are you a lover/hater?

I hate loving. Or love hating. OK, not really, but I’m not sure what this means.

8. Are you hot/cold?

Right now I’m on the warm side. But I can cool off quickly.

9. Are you Irish?

Half. The other half is German.

10. Are you Asian?

Wow, that came out of nowhere. No, I’m not.

TEN FACTS.

1. Name:

I don’t give out my name.

2. Nicknames:

“Hey you!”

3. Birth mark:

A map of Poland, with its pre-1939 borders.

4. Hair color:

Brown, but graying rapidly. Just typing that answer saw three more gray hairs appear.

5. Natural hair color:

The one I’ve got now.

6. Eye color:

Blue or “hazel”, whatever the hell color “hazel” is.

7. Height:

5’10”.

8. Facebook Mood:

Errr…not sure.

9. Favorite color:

Purple

10. One Place to Visit:

Well, you can visit the State Penitentiary, but I don’t recommend it unless you know someone there.

TEN THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE.

1. Do you believe in love at first sight?

No. But I believe in overwhelming physical attraction.

2. Do you believe in soul mates?

No. That is to say, I don’t believe we only have one.

4. Have you ever been hurt emotionally?

No. Somehow I’ve spent 38 years on Planet Earth, interacting with other human beings, and never suffered the smallest emotional trauma. Yay!

5. Have you ever broken someone’s heart?

I hope not.

6. Have you ever been cheated on?

Lord, I hope not!

7. Have you ever liked someone and not told them?

Always! And never!

8. Are you afraid of commitment?

Yes. Wait until The Wife figures this out, huh?

9. Who was the last person you hugged?

The Wife.

10. Who was the last person you kissed?

The Wife.

TEN THIS OR THAT.

1. Love or lust?

Luvst. Mix ’em together, says I!

3. Cats or dogs?

Cats. Dogs are OK, but they mostly bug me.

4. A few best friends or many regular friends?

Both.

5. Television or internet?

Internet, which is where I get my teevee. We don’t even have cable. Don’t need it. (Hey, what if they had the Internet on television? They could call it WebTV! Gotta call the patent office….)

6. Chinese Or Indian?

Food? Chinese.

7. Wild night out or romantic night in?

Romantic night out, followed by a wild night in.

8. Money or Happiness?

Money, with which I will buy happiness. Yes, you can totally buy happiness. Don’t believe the naysayers!

9. Night or day?

Night.

10. MSN or phone?

Neither. E-mail or Facebook message. You can call, but I almost certainly won’t answer. I will call back, though. I just don’t answer my phone unless I’m married to you or the person I married gave birth to you.

TEN HAVE YOU EVER.

1. Been caught sneaking out?

No.

2. Been skinny dipping?

Yes, and I have photos right here. (No, I haven’t, and no photos, either. What kind of weirdo do you think I am?)

3. Stolen?

Yes, but either accidentally (as in the small item I forgot to pay for at the checkout, or the usual “swiping a box of paperclips from the office” thing).

4. Bungee jumped?

No. Would like to, however.

5. Lied to someone you liked?

Yes. I like you, after all, and some of these answers are false.

6. Finished an entire jaw breaker?

Yes. Don’t like ’em.

8. Wanted an ex bf/gf back?

No, because they were uniformly insane. (Except one, actually. She’s the one I felt bad about.)

9. Cried because you lost a pet?

Absolutely.

10. Wanted to disappear?

Absolutely.

TEN PREFERENCES IN A PARTNER.

1. Smile or eyes?

Smiling eyes.

2. Light or dark hair?

Any color hair is fine. Red’s awesome, though.

3. Hugs or kisses?

Both.

4. Shorter or taller?

No preference. If taller, not a foot taller or something like that.

5. Intelligence or attraction?

I’m attracted to intelligence.

6. Romantic or spontaneous?

Why are these mutually exclusive? Spontaneous can be romantic, can’t it?

7. Funny or serious?

Funny.

8. Older or Younger?

Either.

9. Outgoing or quiet?

Either.

10. Sweet or Bad Ass?

Sweetly bad-ass.

TEN HAVE YOU’S.

1. Ever performed in front of a large crowd?

Yes.

2. Ever done drugs?

Aside from alcohol, no.

3. Ever been pregnant?

I’m a guy, so….

5. Ever been on a cheer leading team?

No.

6. Ever Been on a dance team?

No.

7. Ever been on a sports team?

No. (Should have tried out for swim team in school, though.)

8. Ever been in a drama play/production?

I was in the orchestra for a couple of shows, does that count?

9. Ever owned a BMW, Mercedes Benz, Escalade, Hummer or Bentley?

Why would I want to? A car should get me from point A to point B, be able to play some decent music while doing so, and have enough room for my tools. And it shouldn’t cost a ridiculous amount to fill it (or require filling freakishly often).

10. Ever been in a rap video?

You gotta love these quizzes where questions come out of left field.

TEN LASTS.

1. Last phone call you made:

To dial my own voicemail. (Before that, The Wife.)

2. Last person you hung out with:

The Daughter. (Non-relatives: a friend from work.)

4. Last time you worked:

Friday.

5. Last person you tackled:

I sacked Tony Romo for an eight yard loss in the Cowboys’ third preseason game last year. (No, I didn’t. Tackling? Is there some slang definition of “tackling” I don’t know about?)

6. Last person you IM’d:

It’s been a really long time since I IM’d anyone. Odd, since I always liked IMing people as a means of communication.

8. Last person(s) you went to the movies with:

The Wife.

9. Last thing you missed:

I winged a large rock at the head of a rhinoceros, but missed. OK, no, I didn’t. I’m not sure what this means — I miss my mother in law, who died a year ago. Is that what this means?

10. Last thing you ate:

A banana. In a little bit I’m going to drink a Dr. Pepper.

That’s all she wrote!

Share This Post

I haven’t done a quiz-thing in a long time, so here I go! This is from Cal’s Canadian Cave of Coolness. The quiz starts off genteel enough, but then at question nine, veers into controversy.

1. What were doing 10 years ago?

Wondering what the next step in life was. The Daughter was nine months old, I had no idea what I wanted to do in life, and…yeah.

2. Five snacks that you enjoy in a perfect, non weight-gaining world?

Snacks only? Not just foods? Cheetos, popcorn popped in coconut oil, cookies of all types, donuts, and potato chips.

3. Five things you would do if you were a billionaire:

I’ll assume to this to mean “I’ve just acquired one billion dollars”: buy a nice house on a big plot of land someplace near Buffalo, preferably in East Aurora and preferably an old farm house; give ten million dollars to the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, the BPO, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Burchfield-Penney, and the Buffalo Science Museum; buy as much of Forrest J. Ackerman’s old collection as I could and move it to Buffalo for display; find some enterprising young buck who wants to own his own business and give him money so he can bring In-and-Out Burger to Buffalo; and I’d buy pizza. For everybody I know. For a year.

4. Three of your habits:

Blogging, coffee/tea drinking, eating things I shouldn’t.

5. Five jobs that you’ve had:

Library aide, office tech, restaurant shift manager, telesales drone, maintenance genius

6. Five places that you’ve lived:

Pittsburgh, PA; Hillsboro, OR; La Crosse, WI; Elkins, WV; Allegany, NY.

7. Five things that you did yesterday:

Went to church, watched Return of the Jedi, wrote, read the paper, made school lunch.

8. Five people you would want to get to know more about:

George Lucas, Sergei Rachmaninov, my great-grandparents (I know virtually nothing about my family history), Robert Schumann, and you! Yes, you! You, the one reading this!

9. Abortion: for or against it?

I’m pro-choice, as I think the decision belongs with the woman, and I can’t bring myself to the belief that what exists at conception, or at most points along the way, is an actual human being.

10. Do you think the world would fail with a female president?

Eventually, yes. Same as with a male president. We’re humans; failure is what we do. Now, would the chances of learning from our failures go up with a woman President? I’d like to think so.

11. Do you believe in the death penalty?

No. Not at all. I’ve tried the “Well, if the crime’s bad enough” thing, and I just don’t know how you make that call. Easier to just say, “No.”

12. Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already?

Sure, why not?

13. Are you for or against premarital sex?

I could not possibly care less if people engage in premarital sex.

14. Do you think same sex marriage should be legalized?

Yes. Now.

15. Do you think it’s wrong that so many Hispanics are illegally moving to the USA?

Nope. The more, the merrier! Come on over, folks!

16. Should the alcohol age be lowered to eighteen?

It bothers me when I see in the news that a young man, aged nineteen or twenty, has been killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. If you can legally put yourself in harm’s way for your country, then you should be able to have a wee dram now and then.

17. Should the war in Iraq be called off?

You know, I was one of those boneheads who supported it at first (but not as some essential component of the “War on Terror”; I just thought that Saddam was a very bad man and that the world’s powers should do more to deal with very bad men when they become dictators). But as it went on, more and more I thought, “What the hell are we doing here?!” Now, I think we need to get the hell out of there.

18. Assisted suicide is illegal: do you agree?

One should be able to choose to die. I do think it should only be legal for terminal persons, however.

19. Do you believe in spanking children?

No. No, no, no.

20. Do you worry that others will judge you from reading some of your answers?

Not really; there’s not likely to be any real surprise to any of my answers here, for anyone who has read my blog for any length of time.

Share This Post

SamuraiFrog did this one. A negative quiz! Yay!!!

Foods which disgust the crap out of me: Broccoli’s health benefits, coupled with the fact that it tastes like the essence of Satan distilled into a vomitous weed, offer proof that God has at least a wee bit of perversity inside him.

TV show I loathe: Anything on FOX “News”, particularly Glenn Beck, which I sometimes have to endure at the Y because I’ll get the exercise bike that’s in front of the teevee playing it. The man’s a stupid and deranged lunatic.

Movie I loathe: I could go on for some time on this (and probably have), but for now, let’s just say The Usual Suspects.

Music genres I loathe: I wouldn’t say I “loathe” any particular kind of music; there’s just music that is of little appeal to me. Rap, for example — I have no use for it at all.

Magazine which annoys me: Entertainment Weekly sometimes has some fun content, but its “Hipper than thou” tone and its critics in general make me want to open a vein when I read them. Lisa Schwarzbaum makes me want to vomit, she’s just so twee in her effort to anoint herself as the next Pauline Kael (whose writing never really rang my bell either, to be honest).

Makes me cranky at restaurant: When the server completely disappears when literally all there is left for me to do is pay the check. That bugs the crap out of me.

Makes me cranky in public: It’s pure luck of the draw, of course, but I’m always irritated when I arrive at the place where I’m buying coffee, and all I want is a medium coffee, and I get behind the person who orders the Double Caramel Latte With Extra Foam.

Makes me cranky in general: In Washington, “Bipartisanship” is defined as “Republicans getting what they want no matter what”. Also, gutless Democrats.

Pisses me off at home: For a long time, our apartment building had only three of eight units rented, and it was nice and quiet. Now they’re up to six of eight and it’s noisy and the people downstairs play crappy music and there’s often less hot water when I shower than I would like.

Pisses me off at work: People who assume that my tools are common property and that they therefore have a God-given right to borrow them at will, without even asking. Sometimes they’re mystified when they learn I take them home every weekend.

Pisses me off in general: Ayn Rand fans, Creationists, climate change denialists, and the New England Patriots.

Celebrity I hate: “Hate” is kind of strong, but Kirk Cameron is incredibly irritating.

Music artist I hate: Again, no “hating”, but most of today’s pop music leaves me cold.

I couldn’t care less about: the notion of “fashion”. It’s herd mentality nonsense.

Blogger’s habit that annoys you: Hmmmm…I’m generally happy with the blog, actually.

Feature on your blog you hate: I don’t hate anything about my blog.

Movie star you despise: Despising movie stars seems kind of out there…but I’m not much of a fan of Robert Pattinson.

Politician that you hate: Most, if not all, of the R’s, and some of the D’s.

Beverage you hate: TAB soda. Remember that stuff? It was the broccoli of the pop world!

Share This Post

I don’t remember where I got this one, because I wrote it and saved it a long time ago for future posting…and then forgot completely about it. The rule is simple: it’s twenty things you’d like to say to someone, but don’t because it would either be socially awkward, unwise, or just plain impossible. But you do this without naming names! Cool, huh?

So, here are things I’d like to say. To…someone.

1. With your pathological need for being right combined with your obsessive taste for arguing the smallest point in any discussion in order to salvage some ground on which to claim victory, it’s a wonder you’re not a lawyer.

2. Look, instead of cutting entire sections out of the piece because they’re hard, why don’t we roll up our sleeves and rehearse them so we can do them?!

3. You can show me all the pictures of your spouse and kids all you want, but I refuse to believe that you have ever released one ounce of your pent-up sexual energy.

4. Don’t you think that the fact that the house you were working on was torn down on order by the city after being condemned reflects poorly on your work as a contractor?

5. Yes, I realize that you have a photographic memory for where all conversations ended, but I don’t, so please stop trying to pick up on “where we left off” in discussing something six months ago without giving me any kind of context, OK?

6. That flower I gave you yesterday? I gave that to you because you’re ridiculously cute and I want to go out with you. Why didn’t I say that yesterday? Because I’m a moron.

7. I see. And just telling me that at the time would have been so much harder than all the angst since then, right?

8. Oh, you’re holding me accountable on the basis of ____. Well, that’s all very nice. And I’m sure you’ll be having similar conversations with everyone else here who does the exact same thing. Of course, if you do that, you won’t have anybody left to turn out the lights at the end of the day, so….

9. Hey genius: If you knew the movie was going to suck as much as you’re saying that you knew it was going to suck, then why the hell are you here at midnight seeing the damn thing? Who willingly stays up this late to have an experience they know is going to be unpleasant?

10. You’re really telling me that, for the purposes of pricing, your daughter is under the age of twelve. When she’s six foot two, is driving your car under your supervision, and is wearing a D-cup.

11. Hey, is there some particular reason that my asking you out basically turned me from a person you’d say “hello” to and chat with to a person you wouldn’t douse with a bucket of water if flames were rushing across my body? Because seriously, that’s some harsh etiquette, there.

12. I can’t imagine why she likes you. You’re short and stupid.

13. I can’t imagine why you like me. I talk too much and accomplish too little.

14. Oh, you’re a Republican. Well, this means that we can never have coffee together. Oh wait, it doesn’t mean that at all.

15. I’m not hitting on your girlfriend just by asking if I can refill her empty coffee cup, dumbass. I’m a manager here, and one of the things I do to interact with my customers is wander about offering people refills. So slapping your hand over her cup and giving me the skunk-eye just makes you look like a dick.

16. Welcome home, and I’m grateful for your service over there.

17. Hi, you called yesterday and left me a message about coming in for an interview. I’d love to! When’s a good time?

18. Oh my God, you’re actually serious. You’re making us watch a videotape of the junior high girls’ basketball team you coach, when the Steelers are on.

19. Were it not for the fact that you know who you know, you wouldn’t amount to anything at all in this company.

20. So what? Is there some minimum amount of time you can be gone before I’m allowed to wish you were here?

So…was I talking to you? (Almost certainly not, unless some people suddenly read this blog for the first time…and in some cases, travel through time to do so….)

Share This Post