C'est Moi 2

Well, I’m back at it. Answering your questions and finding inspiration in your queries. This is it, though. After this I’m going back to blogging about things you could care less about.

Questions from Karen:

What is your absolute dream job?
Well, as much as I hate being serious on this blog, I will admit that my absolute dream job would involve facilitating dialogue between groups of people helping them to grow and support each other across differences. I’d write about it and travel extensively, making a more peaceful world.

See, nobody wanted to hear that.

What do you *hope* Zane does for a living when he grows up? (and none of this, "whatever he's truly happy doing." we all know that's crap to a certain degree.) I mean, what would make you pee your pants happy?
Hecks no, I don’t want Zane to be truly happy. Truly happy usually means something social work-y or teacher-y, and we both know that road leads to the poorhouse.

One of the things I think would be really cool (and might make me pee my pants with happiness) is if Zane were an Olympic-caliber athlete. I know, it’s crazy, but every time I watch the Olympics (which I do obsessively when it’s on), I think how cool it would be to see your kid up on a podium – or even just participating in such an event of excellence.

I don’t care what sport, though. It could be curling. As long as he’s happy. :)

Questions from Anonymous:

When are you building the mother(-in-law) suite?
Bite your tongue.

Questions from allrileyedup:

Why does SRH's work email reject me?
SRH’s work email is notoriously fickle and unloving.

Should I have directed the above question elsewhere?
I don’t think so. “Elsewhere” is notoriously dishonest and unreliable.

I too would like to know what you and SRH did on your first date?
That makes two of us. He’s not fessing up, though, and I honestly have no idea. At this point he could tell me anything, and I’d just be glad to have a “memory” that I’d believe it.

Since we're cosmic twins and all, can I end every comment on your blog from now on with "Cosmic Twin Powers Activate!" (If you don't understand this, I'm sure SRH has knowledge of where this phrase originated.)
I understood. I wasn’t a big fan of the show, but I am a child of the 70’s and some cultural phenomena are inescapable. And yes, please add this to any and all comments.

(As a complete aside, there is an organization here in town named The Justice League. Cracks my stuff up every time they come to a meeting and talk about their agency. I mean, really.)

Have you always lived in Ohio?
No, actually. I was born in northeastern Ohio, but we moved to Iowa when I was five. My mom’s family is from Iowa, and we lived there until I was 12. Then we moved back to Ohio for my mom’s job. But we moved to rural, southern Ohio.

So, although you might not guess it, most of my childhood was spent in the country. I would actually prefer to not to be a city dweller, but moving to the country is not in our immediate future plans.

What is your degree in?
My undergrad degree is in Individual/Family Studies with an emphasis on Family Life. That degree doesn’t allow one to do much – besides running a childcare center, which I wasn’t too keen on – so I knew from my junior year on that I would have to go to graduate school.

My graduate degree is in social work, allowing me to be a psychotherapist – a job that I did for a few years before I figured out that I didn’t really care much for people.

If you could have any job in the world and money was no object, what would you do?
Okay, in the interest of giving you a different answer than I gave Karen, my other dream job is one where my overly sensitive taste buds and sense of smell make me money.

I’d like to be a taster/sniffer – but only of really delightful products. Ice creams and perhaps ranch dressings (but not the low-fat kind)? See, I’d really need to specialize.

I’m not sure there’s much of a market for a very sensitive and yet incredibly picky sommelier of ice cream. If you hear of something, let me know.

Favorite movie?
After noodling on this for a good 10 minutes, I’m just going to admit that I don’t like movies all that much. I am usually incredibly bored by the end of most of them. In fact, a “good” movie to me is one where I don’t make poke-my-eye-out-with-a-fork gestures at some point during the film.

My friends have multiple stories about my dislike of movies. It’s a wonder they still take me to the theatre. (Let’s just put it this way, you’re not a true friend until I’ve walked out of a theater in the middle of a film we’re watching together.)

Most hated kids TV show?
Easily, it is Disney’s Little Einsteins. It’s nonsensical and insulting to the intelligence of children. It’s creepy and asinine, and little Quincy is a modern-day minstrel.

Other than that, it’s fine.

Ever heard this joke: What's halfway between Dayton and Marion? Engagement.
Nope…never heard of it. Very impressive use of Ohio city puns, however.

Happy Anniversary!
Back at you!

Questions from Anonymous:

What one thing currently makes your head want to pop off immediately (i.e., what really pisses you off)?
You mean besides my friends coming onto my blog and spilling my secrets? (see your last question) Not much.

Okay, that’s not true. Mixing meats in a sandwich pisses me off. Okay, now we’re back to my food issues. This is turning out poorly for everybody.

Did you ever steal a yoga mat from the studio you hope to work at some time in the future?
Nope, my stupid conscience was all, “Don’t steal. It’s wrong.” And I was like, “Pipe down, you.”

But it didn’t work. Hence, no stealing.

So, why does she stay?
Good one, you! Fine, that’s another thing that makes my head want to pop off. Got me on that one.

What inspired you to start this blog that I must start my day with daily?
I guest posted on SRH’s blog a few times and got very positive feedback (i.e. comments). So I said to myself, “Well if a bozo like SRH can do it, I can probably do a blog-thingy, too.” Then I conned some of my friends into reading, and a not very popular blog was born.

How have you managed to hold onto so many great friends over the course of your life when a) you're a cutter offer; and b) you are not the greatest at keeping contact (your words not mine)?
My friends are clearly gluttons for punishment. That’s all I can glean from their continued participation in my life.

Questions from Dustin:

Red or white wine: which do you like better?
I don’t really care for either. I’m just not a wine-o.

Is it wrong to register for $60 steak knives (set of 8) when getting married?
Absolutely not! One’s job when registering for wedding gifts is to give people a range of gifts from the cheap and practical to the extravagantly impractical gifts. You’re not making people buy anything. You’re simply offering choices.

Plus, good steak knives are divine.

What you should feel badly about registering for is that Hansen cd with the Radiohead cover.

Should I believe KJ when she says that ice cream helps her do better in yoga class (thus necessitating that she get the last bite of Hagen Daaz)?

You know I'm a big fan of KJ, and she has my full support on this one. I think it might have something to do with Hagen Daaz actually improving the flow of prana through her sushumna nadi.

It's a yoga thing. You wouldn't understand.

Questions for Sue:

Ok - if you could have a super power, what would it be?
I’d have the ability to make SRH throw things away. Oh, I know it’s subtle, but it would truly change lives. It would change my life, anyway.

Have you ever known anyone to walk by a trash can with trash in their hand and still place said trash on the counter/floor/steps?

Geesh!

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Someplace temperate with mountains available.

I don’t have the exact location narrowed down (maybe pacific northwest?), but when I find it, I’m toasting this taco stand and heading there with my boys.

What is your very first memory and your approx age?
Have I mentioned that I have quite a bit of childhood trauma? You probably don’t really want to know my first memory.

However, my first happy memory is getting a Sit and Spin for Christmas when I was 2 ½. I had just had surgery on my bladder, so I put my little catheter bag on top and spun myself silly. (This memory still makes me smile.)

This rounds out the “ask me questions” section of my blog. It has been great fun – thanks for your assistance with it all.

Anytime you want questions from me, just ask!