Thursday, March 30, 2006
The thirty-nine questions
Had to do this, so I could use the photo.
Some people claimed it was forty questions – where's No. 14, guys?
1) Who is the last person you high-fived?
Don’t think I’ve ever done this.
2) If you were drafted into a war, would you survive?
I would refuse to be drafted - would flee if possible and face the music if not.
3) Do you sleep with the TV on?
I used to – one of the reasons I don’t have one now.
4) Have you ever drunk milk straight out of the carton?
No. Not out of fastidiousness. I don’t like the taste of milk or cardboard.
5) Have you ever won a spelling bee?
No. I don’t think we had those.
6) Have you ever been stung by a bee?
Yes. In the armpit when it flew out of a pillow case I was changing. Very nasty.
7) How fast can you type?
75 wpm. Tried really hard to get to 80, but this seems to be my natural limit.
8) Are you afraid of the dark?
I was as a kid. Now I like the dark - not enough of it in the city.
9) What colour are your eyes?
Blue.
10) Have you ever made out at a drive-in?
No - I’m British.
11) When is the last time you chose a bath over a shower?
Couple of days ago. Could cope with giving it up to save water, though.
12) Do you knock on wood?
Yes.
13) Do you floss daily?
No, though I should.
14) Can you hula hoop?
Don’t know. I was quite good 40 years ago.
15) Are you good at keeping secrets?
Yes. But don’t find it easy.
16) What do you want for Christmas?
To be preparing for January meditation retreat in India
17) Do you know the Muffin Man?
No, but I used to.
18) Do you talk in your sleep?
Yes, at length, I believe.
19) Who wrote the book of love?
Marilynne Robinson – “Gilead” is the book that springs to mind, since I read it very recently.
20) Have you ever flown a kite?
Mmm, yes, lovely – it’s been too long.
21) Do you wish on your fallen lashes?
Huh?
22) Do you consider yourself successful?
No. I try not to think in those terms, but the conditioning goes deep.
23) How many people are on your contact list of your mobile?
Don’t have a mobile.
24) Have you ever asked for a pony?
Probably, but not very seriously.
25) Plans for tomorrow?
It’s Friday. I’ll be looking forward to the weekend.
26) Can you juggle?
Well, only two balls with two hands – that’s an achievement with my physical coordination.
27) Are you missing someone now?
Yes.
28) When was the last time you told someone I Love You?
Yesterday.
29) And truly meant it?
Can’t imagine saying it if I didn’t.
30) How often do you drink?
Maybe once a week - wine.
31) How are you feeling today?
Not too bad. Spring is coming.
32) What do you say too much?
Hopefully, ….
33) Have you ever been suspended or expelled from school?
No. I nearly was from university. Not for anything interesting – I left the job in France for which I was allowed to take a year off.
34) What are you looking forward to?
Spring.
35) Have you ever crawled through a window?
Yes. I was terrified of getting stuck.
36) Have you ever eaten dog food?
Ugh, no!
37) Can you handle the truth?
I hope so.
38) Do you like green eggs and ham?
What? Is that an American thing?
39) Do you have any cool scars?
One near my eye from walking into a lamp post – rather a nice cliché.
¶ 12:31 pm
Had to do this, so I could use the photo.
Some people claimed it was forty questions – where's No. 14, guys?
1) Who is the last person you high-fived?
Don’t think I’ve ever done this.
2) If you were drafted into a war, would you survive?
I would refuse to be drafted - would flee if possible and face the music if not.
3) Do you sleep with the TV on?
I used to – one of the reasons I don’t have one now.
4) Have you ever drunk milk straight out of the carton?
No. Not out of fastidiousness. I don’t like the taste of milk or cardboard.
5) Have you ever won a spelling bee?
No. I don’t think we had those.
6) Have you ever been stung by a bee?
Yes. In the armpit when it flew out of a pillow case I was changing. Very nasty.
7) How fast can you type?
75 wpm. Tried really hard to get to 80, but this seems to be my natural limit.
8) Are you afraid of the dark?
I was as a kid. Now I like the dark - not enough of it in the city.
9) What colour are your eyes?
Blue.
10) Have you ever made out at a drive-in?
No - I’m British.
11) When is the last time you chose a bath over a shower?
Couple of days ago. Could cope with giving it up to save water, though.
12) Do you knock on wood?
Yes.
13) Do you floss daily?
No, though I should.
14) Can you hula hoop?
Don’t know. I was quite good 40 years ago.
15) Are you good at keeping secrets?
Yes. But don’t find it easy.
16) What do you want for Christmas?
To be preparing for January meditation retreat in India
17) Do you know the Muffin Man?
No, but I used to.
18) Do you talk in your sleep?
Yes, at length, I believe.
19) Who wrote the book of love?
Marilynne Robinson – “Gilead” is the book that springs to mind, since I read it very recently.
20) Have you ever flown a kite?
Mmm, yes, lovely – it’s been too long.
21) Do you wish on your fallen lashes?
Huh?
22) Do you consider yourself successful?
No. I try not to think in those terms, but the conditioning goes deep.
23) How many people are on your contact list of your mobile?
Don’t have a mobile.
24) Have you ever asked for a pony?
Probably, but not very seriously.
25) Plans for tomorrow?
It’s Friday. I’ll be looking forward to the weekend.
26) Can you juggle?
Well, only two balls with two hands – that’s an achievement with my physical coordination.
27) Are you missing someone now?
Yes.
28) When was the last time you told someone I Love You?
Yesterday.
29) And truly meant it?
Can’t imagine saying it if I didn’t.
30) How often do you drink?
Maybe once a week - wine.
31) How are you feeling today?
Not too bad. Spring is coming.
32) What do you say too much?
Hopefully, ….
33) Have you ever been suspended or expelled from school?
No. I nearly was from university. Not for anything interesting – I left the job in France for which I was allowed to take a year off.
34) What are you looking forward to?
Spring.
35) Have you ever crawled through a window?
Yes. I was terrified of getting stuck.
36) Have you ever eaten dog food?
Ugh, no!
37) Can you handle the truth?
I hope so.
38) Do you like green eggs and ham?
What? Is that an American thing?
39) Do you have any cool scars?
One near my eye from walking into a lamp post – rather a nice cliché.
¶ 12:31 pm
Comments:
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I chuckled at the drive-in answer (aw, c'mon: baby Brits have to happen *somewhere*, no?) ;-)
I had to comment on the "green eggs & ham" question. That's an allusion to a popular children's book by Dr. Suess. The main character is a fellow named Sam who refuses to try green eggs & ham. (There's a sing-songy refrain that goes "Sam! Sam I am! I will not eat green eggs & ham!")
After much protestation, Sam tries green eggs & ham and discovers they're not too bad. Presumably the moral of the story is to try new things 'cause you might like them.
So, have you tried any metaphoric green eggs & ham lately? :-)
I had to comment on the "green eggs & ham" question. That's an allusion to a popular children's book by Dr. Suess. The main character is a fellow named Sam who refuses to try green eggs & ham. (There's a sing-songy refrain that goes "Sam! Sam I am! I will not eat green eggs & ham!")
After much protestation, Sam tries green eggs & ham and discovers they're not too bad. Presumably the moral of the story is to try new things 'cause you might like them.
So, have you tried any metaphoric green eggs & ham lately? :-)
But Lorianne, we don't have drive-ins! Can you explain also that lashes thing?
Jean - did you do a French degree then? Jealous if so!
Anna.
Jean - did you do a French degree then? Jealous if so!
Anna.
# posted by 
: 1:38 pm
: 1:38 pm
Yes, Lorianne, as Anna says we don't have drive-ins here - I wasn't being snotty! Oh, Dr Seuss -I've heard of him, but never read the books. As discussed elsewhere, have lived with children and read many a bed-time story, but not in an anglophone country.
Anna, yes, French and Spanish. If they'd not let me go back to Cambridge I was going to stay in France and study Psychology at Nice. I wonder, if I had...? - a "Sliding Doors" thing.
Anna, yes, French and Spanish. If they'd not let me go back to Cambridge I was going to stay in France and study Psychology at Nice. I wonder, if I had...? - a "Sliding Doors" thing.
OH MY GOD...Jean, psychology in Nice... oh, yes, I wonder what that might have led to. I am your age and I wonder (and wander) all the time about the path not taken. I can see with such clarity the points at which I made a wrong turning. I wish now that I'd taken your route - a language degree; I was toying with it after A levels but eventually chose the history route (and American history at that!) which, although I loved it (and indeed am still trying to finsh it), it isn't something I want to do forever, and am now wondering about taking up my French again. At this rate I'll run out of time to actually do anything.
Anna.
Anna.
# posted by : 3:04 pm
: 3:04 pm
Anna, you want me to tell you why a language degree is not useful unless you want to teach...? Well, yes, I could certainly say the same about 'wrong' turnings taken, but, then, if I'd not taken those turnings, I'd be someone else by now, so how can I say... I think such feelings are a middle-aged rite of passage.
Yes, I suppose you're right about middle-age angst and rite of passage: it just always seemed such a cliche and now I'm living it :-) Did you ever teach?
Anna
Anna
# posted by : 3:25 pm
: 3:25 pm
Anna, I have *no idea* what the lashes thing refers to, other than to guess (???) it's some kind of superstitious thing, like tossing spilt salt over your shoulder.
And I didn't know you were an American history person...really? What period is your specialty? I never liked history in school, but now that I teach American lit I necessarily have to learn/be curious about history. It seems karmic, actually, that I'd end up studying the very thing I typically slept through in school. :-)
And I didn't know you were an American history person...really? What period is your specialty? I never liked history in school, but now that I teach American lit I necessarily have to learn/be curious about history. It seems karmic, actually, that I'd end up studying the very thing I typically slept through in school. :-)
America doesn't have drive-ins anymore either, I think. I haven't seen any for ages.
But that deprivation in youth is nothing compared to growing up without Dr Seuss. Can such things be?
But that deprivation in youth is nothing compared to growing up without Dr Seuss. Can such things be?
There is, actually, an old drive-in a couple towns over here in NH. I've never been to it, though: actually, I've *never* been to a drive-in theater.
alas, the drive-in theatres have gone ... when the kids were little, they were bundled into their pyjamas, and with teddy bears and blankets, we set out for a night at the drive-in
after reading your mention of Gilead, I walked to the library to pick it up ... it's interesting to me because of my work at hospice ... thanks for the heads-up. have you read her other novel Housekeeping?
I'm with Dale ...can't imagine a life without Dr. Seuss
after reading your mention of Gilead, I walked to the library to pick it up ... it's interesting to me because of my work at hospice ... thanks for the heads-up. have you read her other novel Housekeeping?
I'm with Dale ...can't imagine a life without Dr. Seuss
I love Dr. Seuss so much I used to beg my kids to let me read it to them.
Really, I think you must read Green Eggs and Ham before you die. Sam is simply too exuberantly delightful to miss.
Really, I think you must read Green Eggs and Ham before you die. Sam is simply too exuberantly delightful to miss.
Just so that you will be up with important American literature,here is one set of words from "Green Eggs and Ham". Of course, it's far more fun to read it with those hilarious illustrations next to it, and with the plot intact. Dr.Seuss was challenged by his publisher to write a book using no more than 50 words, and this was the result.
(By the way, there are a few Drive Ins left out West, where I live. Not many, though.)
I do not like Green Eggs and Ham
I do not like them
Sam, I am
I do not like them here or there
I do not like them anywhere
I do not like them in a boat
I would not, could not, with a goat
I will not eat them in the rain
I do not like them on a train
I do not like them in a box
I will not eat them with a fox
I do not like them in a house
I would not, could not, with a mouse
I do not like Green Eggs and Ham
I do not like them
Sam, I am
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(By the way, there are a few Drive Ins left out West, where I live. Not many, though.)
I do not like Green Eggs and Ham
I do not like them
Sam, I am
I do not like them here or there
I do not like them anywhere
I do not like them in a boat
I would not, could not, with a goat
I will not eat them in the rain
I do not like them on a train
I do not like them in a box
I will not eat them with a fox
I do not like them in a house
I would not, could not, with a mouse
I do not like Green Eggs and Ham
I do not like them
Sam, I am
# posted by : 4:00 pm
: 4:00 pm<< Home
