From Mrs. Chili:
1. If you were to attend a costume party tonight, as what or whom would you go?
Tonight? I would have to go as a pudgy technical writer.
2. What are your choice of toppings on a hamburger? And do you prefer gas or charcoal grilling?
I love a burger, and am not at all picky on toppings. I can be made happy with anything likely to be available in a burger dressing environment.
That said, when it’s wide open, I top with mayonnaise, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, American cheese, and black pepper. I like the Wendy’s chili seasoning on Wendy’s burgers. I’ll also get in the mood for a weird boutique burger at a stuff-on-the-wall once in a while.
I have a slight preference for charcoal grilling, but on my deck, said preference isn’t nearly pronounced enough to offset the convenience of propane.
3. You are chosen to have lunch with the President. The condition is you only get to ask one question. What do you ask?
Harriet Miers?
4. It’s your first day of vacation; what are you doing?
Standing ankle-deep in the Gulf of Mexico, enjoying the breeze and the sensation of the return surf pulling the sand from under my feet.
5. What is your concession stand must-have at the movies?
Don’t always snack (hence no “must-have”), but when I do, it’s usually popcorn and Sprite. (The movie theater, with movie theater popcorn, is the only place in which Sprite is my first choice. No idea why.)
6. Which do you dislike most: pop-up ads or spam email?
Pop-ups, probably. My email is filtered effectively.
7. What do you think Captain Hook’s name was before he had a hook for a hand?
It’s James. Wikipedia is your friend.
8. Rock, paper, or scissors?
Paper. Ultimately, it’s the most powerful of the three.
9. How long was it from ‘the first date’ until the proposal of marriage? How long until the wedding?
I can’t remember the exact date I proposed, but it was two years and seven months from our first date to our wedding. I’d estimate the breakout at a year and five months for the former, and a year and two months for the latter.
10. Which is worse, being in a place that is too loud, or too quiet?
Definitely too loud.
11. What is one quality that you really appreciate in a person?
Peace with oneself.
12. At the good old general store, what particular kind of candy would you expect to be in the big jar at the counter?
Stick candy. My mother used to drag us to this godawful store in Oxford called the Country Manor. They had potpourri, candles, doilies—you know the kind of stuff. We’d generally spend three to five days in there.
Anyway, the one redeeming quality of the place was that if we survived the Country Manor without misbehaving, we got to pick out some stick candy at the front counter. They had perhaps 30 different kinds.
Once in a while I’ll get in the mood for some of that stick candy at Cracker Barrel, and I always think of my mother and the Country Manor when I eat it.
13. What is the most distinguishing landmark in your city?
We have a vertically-oriented, actual-size model of a Saturn V rocket at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. You can see it from many places around the city. We also have a real one, recently restored and displayed in stages inside a new exhibit building.
14. Everyone hears discussions that they consider boring. What topic can put you to sleep quicker than any other?
Celebrity gossip.
15. How many times did it take you to pass your driver’s test?
Once. I passed it in a lovely and stylish 1984 Oldsmobile Delta 88, in silver with a white vinyl top.
16. If you had to have the same topping on your vanilla ice cream for the rest of your life, what topping would you choose?
Hot fudge. Is there another reasonable answer to this question?
17. What food item would need to be removed from the market altogether in order for you to live a healthier, longer life?
Pasta.
18. You are offered an envelope that you know contains $50. You are then told that you may either keep it or exchange it for another envelope that may contain $500 or may be empty. Do you keep the first envelope, or do you take your chances with the second?
If the odds are 50/50 or better that the second envelope has $500, I’d give the $50 back for a shot at it.
19. If you had to choose, which would you give up: cable TV, or DSL/cable internet?
I’d give up cable TV without hesitation.
20. What is your highest level of education?
I have a B.A. in Communication Arts. I minored in Russian.
21. How much is a gallon of gas in your city? What was the highest it’s been?
It’s $2.859 right now. I can remember it hitting $3.149.
22. What kind of lunch box did you have as a kid?
The Incredible Hulk.
23. What would you rather have, a nanny, a housekeeper, a cook, or a chauffeur?
Housekeeper.
24. Would you rather be trapped in an elevator, or stuck in traffic?
Stuck in traffic, as I would retain far more control over the situation.
25. Let’s say a brick fell on your foot, and your kid is standing right next to you, what is your ‘cleaned up’ swear word?
I curse much less than I used to, but all too often my in-front-of-the-boys go-to is still “dammit.”
You might also like:
- The wedding meme
Here’s a fun one from Saintseester, all about the coolest person in the world and the day she became… - The randomness meme
From Organic Mama: Do you have any special talents? I can place my entire fist in my mouth. I am fre… - 45 miscellaneous things
From Saintseester: What’s your name spelled backwards? How about my preferred handle backwards: Epoi… - It’s a memelicious extravaganza
So many of these things float around. I try not to use them too much, but it’s a good night for it. … - Ten ago, ten from now
Spotted this at cajunvegan’s house and liked it: Ten seconds ago I moved a load from the washer to t…
Okay. THIS?!
15. How many times did it take you to pass your driver’s test?
Once. I passed it in a lovely and stylish 1984 Oldsmobile Delta 88, in silver with a white vinyl top.
Is scary. I LEARNED to drive in a little Carolla – the driver’s ed. car. When it came time to take my test, though, my parents (of course) wouldn’t take me or let me use one of their cars, so my adopted mom let me use hers – a 1984 Olds Delta 88!! It was silver with a burgundy hardtop. Seriously. That’s why I got docked points for the too-wide right turn; I wasn’t used to driving a land yacht!
Who’d a thought that Saturn V? Ha ha. On the driver’s test, I honestly do not remember taking it. I did learn to drive in my granddad’s Chrysler New Yorker. That thing was HUGE! 4 people could easily sit across the front bench seat.
I learned to drive and took my driver’s test in a 1977 Buick Electra Limited. Two door (and them were some big-ass doors) brown with tan vinyl top. Even had the spoke hub caps. We called it the Tuna Mobile.
After my first driving lesson (on the gravel roads behind my dad’s office at Miss. State) the Tuna Mobile developed a hole in the radiator. That very same day. Coincidence?? The jury’s still out to this day.
But I did not know you minored in Russian. How cool. I took 4 semesters of Russian in college. Pretty much can still sound out things but not necessarily know what they mean. And can still say “go to hell” and “practice makes perfect” in Russian. Why those two phrases stuck and not much else … who knows!
Ah…old Detroit iron for everyone. And Chili, there’s another little spoke of uncommon commonality, eh?
Tami, I miss Russian. It’s a beautiful language, and sixteen years ago, I had learned it almost to fluency. Then I lost any reasonable connection to the local Russian-speaking community in a breakup, and a lot of it has fallen away. Still, when I pick up some of my old texts, I find that more of it comes back more quickly than I would have expected.