Grownup Meme

Courtesy of the Empress.

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
Every damn one of them.
2. Do you miss being a child?
Yes and no. I'm not thinking about it full-time, but yes, I have fond memories of childhood. Not so much adolescence. I wouldn't do that again for a million bucks.
3. Chore you hate the most?
Paying bills, I think. (See #1)
4. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
Likewise, not in this century. So long ago that I don't remember.
5. If you could go back and change one thing what would it be?
These days, I'm thinking it's that I would have been less short-tempered and snide to my mother.
6. Name of your first grade teacher?
Miss Croghan, whom I recall as a very young and very uptight anti-Semite. I can name all my elementary school teachers, and probably 7 - 12 as well. She's the only elementary school teacher I don't have fond memories of.
7. What do you really want to be doing right now?
I need to get my lunch together for tomorrow, and my clothes. What I want is to be blissfully asleep.
8. What did you want to be when you grew up?
After I got over the cowgirl phase, courtesy of the Mickey Mouse Club western days, the only thing I ever wanted to be was a teacher.
9. How many colleges did you attend?
Three. First two years undergraduate at the University of Maryland. Last two years undergraduate and second master's degree at Montclair State College (then)/University (now.) First master's degree (in library science) at Rutgers University.
10. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
I like the color (sage green) and it feels soft.
11. What are your thoughts on gas prices?
I rarely look at the prices. I need gas, so I get it, and I usually go to the station near my house where they've never lost my gas cap. (I've lost two of them at other stations.) In general, the prices are obscene.
12. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
For the first alarm and the two following snoozes: NOOOOOOOOO!
13. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
Hmm. Probably, I hope I feel asleep right now.
14. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
Let's see. I'm going to limit it to famous person currently living. Hmmm ... no, dead. Shakespeare.
15. Have you ever crashed your vehicle?
I've been in accidents, and all but one of those was someone else hitting me. Relatively little damage; I've never totaled a car. Does that count?
16. If you didn't have to work, would you volunteer?
I'd like to, if I could. I used to think I would volunteer to read stories and entrtain children at the children's cancer center nearby. Now I'm thinking that I'd like to start by boxing and stocking items at the local food pantry.
17. Get up early or sleep in?
On school days, the first alarm goes off at 5:50 in the a.m. Otherwise, if I'm un-disturbed, I can sleep til a good 9:00 most days. It's delicious.
18. What is your favorite cartoon character?
It would certainly have to be Mickey Mouse. Quick Draw McGraw runs a close second.
19. Favorite thing to do at night with a guy/girl?
Like on a date? Wait, let me get in my time machine and go back and check.
20. When did you first start feeling old?
When I started to ache all over, and when my arms weren't long enough to hold a back as far as I needed it to be to read it.
21. Favorite lunch meat?
I like pastrami, but never have it for lunch. I like ham and sometimes bologna.
22. What do you get every time you go into WalMart?
I've only been in a Walmart once or twice in my life, and have no plans to go back.
23. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
No, not at all.
24. Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?
I like a lot of movies, and am not generally embarrassed about any of them. The other night I recorded Toby Tyler, or, Ten Weeks With the Circus, a Disney classic. (I had a tremendous crush on Kevin Corcoran.)
25. What's your favorite drink?
I love coffee. I'm also fond of root beer.
26. Who[m] from high school would you like to run in to?
Anybody? I don't think so.
27. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?
CBS-FM, the New York City oldies station, for the last 30 years or so.
28. “Sopranos” or “Desperate Housewives?”
Neither, although I watched the first three and last three episodes of The Sopranos. I've never seen a minute of Desperate Housewives.
29. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?
I can think of a few, but probably writing that "Dear John" letter to the Hubs when we were in college.
30. Do you like the person that sits directly across from/next to you at work?
No such person anymore. I wasn't so keen on the SCM, who retired in January. I will endlessly miss the Colleague, who used to be the library secretary.
31. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purposes?
No.
32. Last book you finished reading?
I don't even remember. Wait a minute ... it's been weeks, apparently. The Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell.
33. Do you have a teddy bear?
My old teddy bear, which my sister gave me for my 14th birthday, is around someplace. I do have some very old toys, but my babyhood stuffed animals are long gone. (I had a sock monkey named Jocko instead of an actual teddy bear, and a clown thing -- can't remember what those were called.)(A few minutes later: it was a Jingle Bell Jack that my mother made for me.)
34. One thing you couldn't live without?
At this point, probably medical attention.
35. Do you go to church?
Never, although it would be a synagogue for me, but not that either. I wasn't raised to.
36. How old are you?
56
37. Can you take apart a motor, put it back together, and have no extra parts?
Please. At one point, I could do all kinds of things with computers, but motors are not my friends.
38. Are you for or against the death penalty?
I'm going to go with against, although it does seem that there are some people who don't deserve to live after crimes they've committed. It just shouldn't be up to me, or anyone else, to make that judgement.
39. If there is a God and you could ask him/her one question what would it be?
I'm pretty sure there isn't. If I had that hypothetical opportunity, however, it would probably be "Why?"
40. Do you think it’s possible that there is life on other planets?
I'll use the empress's exact answer: Not only possible but probable.







watching FAMILY GUY :: ENTRY #2128
READING: Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan
READING: Reading Lolita in Teheran by Azar Nafisi