Inquiring Two-And-A-Half Year Olds Want To Know

Adorable little Donovan indulged my request for him to interview me.

1. I have lived in California and North Carolina. Did you ever live in North Carolina? (Where have you lived?)

I have lived in quite a few different places, but never North Carolina. My sister did live there several years ago and I visited her once. However, the first place I ever lived was just north of where you are...Virginia. I lived in a few different places in Virginia from the time I was born until I was 12 years old. I then moved to Texas, near Houston, for a few years. My last two years of high school were spent in Pennsylvania, about an hour outside of Philadelphia. From there, I went on to college in Ithaca, New York, which is where I met your Daddy. My last year of school was 12 months long and for much of that time, I lived in Rochester. After college, I moved to Florida, where my family was then living, but only for a couple of years. After Florida, I moved here to California, where I've lived for over 12 years now...longer than I ever lived anywhere else. I hope you like living in North Carolina as much as I like living in California.

2. Do you have anyone at your house that I can play with?

Well, I assume by that question you mean do I have any kids and the answer to that question is no. However, E and I are both pretty good with kids and I think we'd have lots of fun playing together. We have a whole bunch of toys and puppets too. I have some furry friends, but I think you'd be afraid of them. There is a little boy next door, who is about your age, so you'd maybe be able to play with him too.

3. I went roller skating today for the first time and it was fun. I also like playing in the dirt. Do you like roller skating? (If not, what is your favorite way to have fun?)

I have not been roller skating or played in the dirt for a very long time, but when I was a kid, I loved doing both of those things! I had my very own roller skates that were white with blue and red stripes. I had a giant red and white pom-pom on each skate. I thought I was bad ass, but I've also been clumsy and was never very good at it. These days, there are a lot of things I like to do for fun, but one of my very favorites is taking pictures of things. And lately, my favorite thing to photograph are squirrels.

4. I am 2 1/2 years old, so my Mom and Dad never give me their beer, even tho I say please. If I came to your house, what kind of drink would I get from you?

You shouldn't be too sad about the beer. It's pretty nasty stuff. Anyway, I'm not sure what I'd give you to drink as I'm sure you have restrictions. The one thing I always have on hand is ice cold filtered water. Other than that, there might be some apple and/or orange juice and possibly some unsweetened tea. I like my Diet Coke, which I'm sure would be off-limits for you, but I rarely keep it in stock. There is also always some sort of rum in the cabinet, but we'll have to wait until you are older to share that.

5. I am afraid of grampires and dogs. What are you afraid of?

I'm definitely not afraid of dogs, but there are lots of scary things out there. Your Auntie Karen has witnessed first-hand my fear of roller coasters (going fast and dropping). I'm scared of black widow spiders, but have gotten pretty good at killing them. Rattlesnakes spook me a bit too. There are lots of vague, grown-up type things that scare me, but I won't go into those right now. The strangest thing I'm afraid of is milk.

Thanks, Donovan! Those were fun questions!

If you, any of my readers, want to be interviewed by me, please leave me a comment or send and email saying "Interview me!" (or the like).

*I will respond by asking you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
*You will update your weblog with the answers to the questions.
*You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
*Then others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions and so on.

Michael: I could go for an appeteaser. Do you have any bagel bites or something?

I complained to Ren that I needed some blog ideas. I wasn't fishing for questions from her, but she sent me some anyway. Of course, she admitted her ulterior motive of being able to answer the same inquiries and get a "free pass" for an entry. She is a clever one. By the way, her answers will most likely be much more in-depth and interesting than mine. That's how she rolls.

1. What is your favorite ride at Disneyland?
I'm really bad at picking favorites. Grrr...it's annoying that I make it such a hard task. It is really hard for me to pick just one, so I'm going to say the Indiana Jones ride with The Haunted Mansion following closely behind.

2. What is your favorite candy bar?
I don't know if a Peppermint Pattie is considered a bar, but that's my answer and I'm sticking to it.

3. What is your favorite breakfast, lunch and/or dinner? You know, the easy go-to one that you can always rely on making you happy and full.
Pizza, pizza, pizza. If there is cheese and sauce readily available, I'll make pizza toast, pizza pitas, pizza whatever. I'll even eat frozen pizza, such as Bagel Bites or Lean Cuisine's French bread pizza. My favorite pizza is thin, New York style, with pepperoni and the place I like the best is Albano's. I was bummed when they recently temporarily closed their Studio City branch, but I did get a $5 discount for driving over to Melrose to pick up a pie last weekend. I also really love the "Emerald Alien" personal size pizza at the Nova Express Cafe. I get it on a honey wheat dough crust. It has olive oil, mozzarella, pesto, and broccoli. Yum!

4. Who is your favorite cartoon character (or Muppet)?
I'll just go with Snoopy (and Elmo). This may be one of the easier "what is your favorite..." type questions I've been able to answer.

5. Do you have a favorite food that you are slightly embarrassed to admit? (It should be FRITO PIE!)
I am in NO way embarrassed by my love of an occasional Frito Pie. I also refuse to be embarrassed by my love of Peeps, which apparently is pretty well known at this point. I'll just put it this way...I haven't really had to buy any this season...people just keep giving them to me! I'm probably more ashamed of being such an incredibly picky eater and not liking so many things that I feel like I should enjoy like sushi (or most fish, really), meatloaf, eggs, milk, etc.

6. If you could have any kind of car in the whole world, what kind would you like?
This is a tough question because in spite of my obsession with Car Talk, I am not a "car person." I really, really wanted my little Scion xA and I love it. I guess if I could have anything though, I'd like something electric.

7. You know that phrase you had in the high school yearbook? Like they may have put it under your name or in your profile or something? The quote that was supposed to define and sum up your high school years? If you could write that NOW for THEN, what would you write?
Okay, I thought I had answers to more of these questions than I actually do. Um, I didn't have this in any of my yearbooks. I guess I'd say something like Once A Dork, Always A Dork. Maybe I'd paraphrase a song: I Was Never Cool In School. I Know You Won't Remember Me.

8. What is on your calendar this year?
The usual film festivals, pet related events, concerts, Comic Con, summer at the Hollywood Bowl, and as many free or cheap things we can find to amuse ourselves. The thing I think I'm most looking forward to is seeing The Police live this summer, which is something I've dreamed about for a long time. It may very well be the second year in a row that I don't fly anywhere, but we'll see...there is a small chance. Hopefully, there will also be some weekend getaways, but nothing is scheduled yet.
Turns out, Ren literally meant, what is on my calendar. Well, let's see...I always have several. I have my two standard wall calendars at home. The one in the office has Mr. Winkle (sounds kind of dirty, eh?) and the one in the kitchen has American Eskimo Dogs. For work, I have a Moleskine planner. I also have a Bad Dog desk calendar, but after an oral sex joke and a drug use joke, it just seemed inappropriate for my workplace (which involves children), I put it in my cabinet.

9. What summer movie are you most looking forward to?
This is a harder question that I thought, as I don't even really know what is coming out this summer. I'm am looking forward to the last Harry Potter book that's coming out, but you said movie. Hold on...I'll look it up...oh hey! Son of Rambow comes out on July 20th. I really want to see that. There was great buzz about it at Sundance, but I missed it there. I'm also looking forward to The Simpsons and Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix. I forgot about both of those. And oh yeah...Hot Fuzz!

10. If you could give the 16 year old you a onesentence piece of advice, what would it be?
It's not you, it's him...he's gay, so move on and stop wasting your time.

Snarky Dork...Who's There?

Since I am curious about who wanders by this site, I'm totally copying Nanette and asking a few questions of readers passing through. A few of you comment at least semi-regularly and a couple of you read and either comment via email or in person. Whether willing to admit it or not, everyone loves comments and that includes me. So, let me know who you are and feel free to never make your presence known again.

• Male or female?
  
• Age?
  
• Where do you live?
  
• Do you have your own blog?
• If this is your first time here, how did you find my blog?
  
• Do you know me in real life?
  

Random 10 From Ren

Ten fairly random questions…

1. What is the last song you listened to?

• "Sam's Town" by The Killers.
  

2. Who What makes you swoon?

• Besides Viggo Mortensen and Nick Rhodes? Not what you were hoping to hear, right? Oh well, also Kiefer Sutherland...especially the time I met him and we had a "moment"...eye contact and a brief conversation. *swoon*
  
• Many thanks to E for reminding me that Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies also makes me swoon. All it takes is his smile, paired with those gorgeous eyes. How could I forget?
  

3. What is your favorite cupcake?

• I honestly don't have an answer to this question. I'm not that into cupcakes. Sorry, please don't hit or not make me cupcakes.
  

4. What’s your favorite sweet?

• Peppermint Patty. Does that count? Well, it's my answer anyway.
  

5. What kind of writing instrument do you prefer to use?

• Pilot G2 Retractable Gel Ink Rolling Ball Pen in black. Yes, my answer is that specific.
  

6. What fascinates you, yet would surprise us that you are fascinated…by…it.

• I'm giving a fairly broad answer here. The only thing I can think of that might surprise some of you (but definitely not a few of my known readers) is the inner workings of the human body, with a special emphasis on deformities, diseases, what happens with death, etc. One of the greatest experiences of my life was my Gross Anatomy class in college. I wouldn't trade that experience for (just about) anything. I loved Body Worlds, and went to it twice, the second time after they added some different exhibits.
  

7. What did you NOT do in high school that you wish now you had?

• My answer to this is really lame and boring, but I seriously do wish that I'd studied Spanish instead of French. It would have been so much more applicable to my life now.
  

8. What kind of candy will you give out on Halloween?

• Preferably something with coconut and/or something sour. The number of trick-or-treaters we get diminishes each year, so there will be leftovers I'll want to avoid.
  

9. What gadget would you love to have but wouldn’t spend the money on?

• An Easy Button from Staples. I know they are pretty cheap, but come on, what a waste of money. And I doubt they really work. I like the idea though. I am that lazy.
  

10. Do you like horror movies?

• In general, no. I often enjoy horror shorts though, as a lot of those tend to be comedic also.
  

The mp3 Shuffle

I nicked this from Ian. It's a silly game where you ask your mp3 player questions and get a random answer. I did this with my non-iPod, Samsung brand mp3 player that has 5001 songs on it.

How does the world see me?
"Radiation Vibe" by Fountains of Wayne

Will I have a happy life?
"We Can Work It Out" by The Beatles

What do my friends really think of me?
"The Chemical Worker's Song" by Great Big Sea

Do people secretly lust after me?
"Will I?" (Rent Soundtrack)

How can I make myself happy?
"Miss Teen Wordpower" by The New Pornographers

What should I do with my life?
"Something's Gone Wrong Again" by The Buzzcocks

Will I ever have children?
"Scholarship Is The Enemy of Romance" by Billy Bragg

What is some good advice for me?
"Lullaby" by The Cure

How will I be remembered?
"So Cruel" by U2 (?!?!)

What is my signature song?
"Into The Blue" by Moby

What do I think my signature song is?
"Sufragette City" by David Bowie

What does everyone else think my signature song is?
"The Pirate's Bride" by Sting

What song will play at my funeral?
"Virus" by Duran Duran

What type of guys do I like?
"When She Talks" by Moxy Fruvous

What is my day going to be like?
"Back Where I Belong" by Dumptruck

Return of the 10 Questions

I'd forgotten that Ren sent me questions to answer, after the Oscars. She knew I was in a frenzy of cleaning and preparing for the party last week, so it was kind of her to tell me to wait.

Name three things you can see from where you are sitting right now.

• my unmade/stripped bed
• clean sheets and duvet cover on the desk in the office
• wilting sunflowers on the dining room table
  

Name three things you would rather see than the three you previously named.

• a beautiful sunset
• Viggo Mortensen
• the inside of my eyelids
  

What kind of shoes do you like to wear?

• open-toed slip on sandals
• clogs
• anything that gives me a little height and is comfortable
  

What did you have for dinner last night?
A club sandwich (no mayo) with a side of hash browns at Denny's.

What three things do I not know about you, but I probably should?

• I really, really appreciate all of the help you gave me at the party on Sunday. I don't think I thanked you.
• I still haven't figured the whole podcast thing out. I just listen to ones Eric downloads.
• I don't like mayonnaise.
  

What made you want a hamster?
I'd just kind of become obsessed with the cute little furry creatures. It stems back to discovering Hamtaro several years ago. I was never allowed to have rodents as pets when I was a kid, so I felt I'd missed out on something. I love Ami, my hamster.

If you could change your name to anything in the world, what would it be?
This is a tough one because I actually like my name. Gigi LaRoux would sound a bit more exotic and cosmopolitan though.

How do you drink your coffee?
I'd love to answer "black and strong, like my men," but none of those things are true. I like it light and sweet. So, if regular coffee, a fair amount of milk and lots of sugar, or in the case of a fancy coffee a vanilla latte with soy milk does the trick.

Did you have any pictures pinned up in your locker in high school?
I honestly don't remember. If I did though, I'm sure it would have mirrored my bedroom walls and included Duran Duran, The Police, and Matt Dillon.

Have you ever written a fan letter? If yes, to whom was it written?
I very clearly remember writing one to Shaun Cassidy when I was about 7 years old. I snuck into my mom's makeup, put on lipstick, and kissed the letter! No, I never got a reply.

Ren Gets Bored and Inquisitive

Some new questions from Ren, who was bored yesterday:

1. Have you been listening to any podcasts lately? If so, what ones?
To be honest, I haven't quite figured out the whole podcast thing yet. So, no. I don't get a lot of opportunity to even listen to my mp3 player since I don't really have a desk job or a very long commute.

The only one I really ever listen to is Geeks On with Eric when we are driving somewhere. We know one of the guys on it, so Eric downloads it. It can be fairly entertaining. They lose me a bit if their episode is too video game talk intensive though.

2. I see you got a lot of interesting things for the holler-days. No one wants to pick a favorite but what really stood out to you?
I'd have to say seeing Little Drummer Bowie. I'm so sorry you didn't get to see it. It was hilarious and I laughed so much. It really helped bring me out of my holiday funk a bit. But yeah, I don't like picking a favorite, so I'm going to say Solvang was great too.
Oops! I realized I didn't answer your question appropriately. Yes, I did get some cool holiday gifts. Stand-outs include my artwork by Ted Meyer, the books I received, and my iDog. Oh, and I got a really, really cool fuzzy orange scarf!

3. Did you have fireworks at Disney on New Year'’s Day or was it too rainy? Did you see that crazy Tinkerbell? Would you do that? (if you don'’t know what I am talking about then clearly you didn't see it)
They did cancel the fireworks on New Year's Day, however we saw a bit of the display while having dinner in New Orleans Square the previous Thursday night. We couldn't see much of the fireworks, but we heard everything and saw Tinkerbell. I've see her a few times before and HELL NO! I'd never do that!

4. I have only been to Solvang once and I didn'’t get to have any aebelskiver (but I bought some mix and never made it)! What do you like to do in Solvang? (They have a good book store if I remember correctly).
There is a good book store and lots of other unique shops. There used to be a great toy store too, but it closed, as did several of the shops. I like to walk around, eat some aebelskivers and other Danish food. There's a pet supply store we always go to and that was one place we were able to take the dogs in. We really didn't go into many shops since the canines were with us. It was a beautiful day though and a great place to take photos. It's very small and quiet, so a few hours is usually enough.

5. Any particular stand out moment of 2005?
I can NOT narrow this down to just one. There were several, including:

• Seeing all five original members of Duran Duran in concert
• Our 10th Anniversary/Belated Wedding Reception/Oscar party
• Visiting with some college friends in NY
• My first trip to the Sundance Film Fest

6. Any thing you are particularly looking forward to in 2006?

• Sundance
• Comic Con
• Possibly getting a new digital camera (I'll be checking them out in Vegas at CES!)

7. I hate resolutions, I prefer to have motto for the year. What do you think your motto for 2006 will be?
"Less eating, more drinking!!!"

8. What do you think will be the "big thing" for 2006?
Impeachment of the President and/or portable media devices (hey, I can tell you more after CES!)

9. Come to think of it, what the heck was the "“big thing"” for 2005?
Portable media devices, Xbox 360 Playstation 3, and Blu-ray DVD

10. Please tell me one thing you will absolutely, positively get done this year…
Write and/or assemble and self-publish a book or two. (Maybe if I get them done in time for Comic Con, maybe a couple of nice geeks I know will let me put a few out at their booth in exhange for (wo)manning the table some!)

2005: The Year in Questions

I saw this year-in-review thing on my sister's blog and copied it:

January
1. Did you have a new year's resolution this year?
Yes and I did not keep it. And I'm not telling what it was.

2.Who kissed you at midnight?
Eric. I probably kissed him though.

3. Does it snow where you live?
No, thank goodness!!!

4. Do you like hot chocolate?
Yes, especially with a bit of peppermint extract and lots of marshmallows!
Or with rum. Lots of rum.

5. Have you ever been to Times Square to watch the ball drop?
No, but it would probably be fun. Just too cold. New Year's Eve tends to be a bit of a letdown for me because I build it up too much. I've had some good ones though.

February
1. Who was your Valentine in 2005?
Eric

2. What did your Valentine get you?
This is terrible, but I don't remember. I'm pretty sure it was a dvd, but I don't know which one.

3. When you were little, did you buy valentines for your whole class?
I don't think so, but don't really remember.

More important than Valentine's Day, is that Eric and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary in February '05. It happened to fall on the same weekend as the Academy Awards, which we usually have a big party for at our house. So, we booked a restaurant and held an Oscar/Anniversary party for about 100 guests. It was a blast!

(Oh yeah, and we saw Duran Duran in concert that weekend and were given a new car--Scion xB--as a gift! So, February was probably the best month!)

March
1. Are you Irish?
Not that I officially know of. There is a lot of Western European lineage in my genes, so maybe a little, but not enough to count!

2. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day?
I do because I work with kids and know I'd get pinched! I wear a green and white bracelet that someone made for me that is sentimental.

3.What did you do for St. Patty's Day in 2005?
Went to work, ate some dinner, probably watched tv. I have no idea, but know I did not do something celebratory.

April
1. Do you like the rain?
Nope. I detest it usually. I'm happy to live in a place that rarely has rain.

2. Did you play an April fool's joke on anyone this year?
Probably. Remember, I work with kids. I don't remember anything specific. (Do you see a trend with my memory?)

3. Do you get tons of candy on Easter?
No. I don't celebrate it. I do buy jelly beans and Peeps for myself though since I love those and they are on the shelves then.

May
1. What's your favorite kind of flower?
Daisies.

2. Do you like the spring?
Yes.

3. Finish the phrase: April showers bring may flowers, what do May flowers bring?
Sneezes!

4. What would you think of as a spring color?
Pastel green, pastel blue, yellow, pink.

June
1. What year did you graduate from school?
High School: 1988
College: 1992

2. Did you go on any vacations last June?
No. We were supposed to go to a family wedding in Philadelphia, but Eric got very ill and couldn't travel.

I did attend the L.A. Film Festival though, which was lots of fun for 10 days.

July
1. What did you do on the 4th of July?
I worked during the day.

That night, I went to the Hollywood Bowl for the annual 4th of July with fireworks show with a group of friends.

I was a little sad because we usually go to Mammoth Lakes with the dogs for 4th of July, but couldn't this year. I hope we get there next summer.

2. Did you go on any vacations during this month?
Yes. I went to a conference in Niagara Falls, NY, but also took a couple of days to visit friends in Ithaca and Lewiston. I also went to Comic Con in San Diego, something I do every year.

August
1. Did you do anything special to end off your summer?
I went to a couple of concerts and took a class.

2. What was your favorite summer memory of '05?
Visiting with college friends in New York.

3. Do you go swimming a lot in the summer?
No, but I do like to swim.

4. Do you go to the beach a lot?
No and I love the beach. We didn't go even once last summer. Boo! My favorite local beach is Westward Beach. It's quiet and beautiful. I enjoy hiking up and around Point Dume.

September
1. Did you attend school/college in '05?
No.

2. Who is/was your favorite teacher?
Ms. Shaw, my 11th and 12th grade French teacher.

3. Do you like fall better than summer?
Here in Southern California, fall is often an extension of summer. I like both. I do miss the autumns of the Northeast.

October
1. What was your favorite halloween costume ever?
Wow! I love Halloween and getting dressed up. My favorite costume ever was a sock monkey. Eric and I made costumes and they were a big hit. We used them a couple of times.

2. What's your favorite candy?
At Halloween, candy corn.

3. What did you dress up like this year?
I had 3 costumes! For work, we did Peter Pan and I was John Darling.
For a zombie ball I went to that weekend, I was dead Raggedy Ann.
On Halloween night, I was a bottle of ketchup. (Eric was mustard and our dog Rusty was a hot dog).

November
1. Whose house do you usually go to for Thanksgiving?
Mickey Mouse's!
Most years, we go to Disneyland on Thankgiving. This year we went to Eric's mother's since we were back East for his 20th year high school reunion.

2. Do you like stuffing?
Yes, usually. I'd rather not have oysters in it though.

3. What are you thankful for?
Being alive and relatively healthy, my husband and family, friends, my dogs, good live music, the internet.

December
1. Do you like Christmas?
It's okay (see previous posts).

2. Have you ever been kissed under mistletoe?
Don't know.

3. What do you want this year for christmas?
World peace would be nice, but is unrealistic.
I want Eric to like his gifts.
I'd love a new camera, but don't really need one, so that's just selfish.

4. What's the best present you ever got for Christmas?
As a kid: Charlie's Angel's tree house, Weeble's Marina, Bionic Woman board game.

Last year was hilarious because Eric and I bought each other the exact same juicer for Xmas!

5. Do you like cold weather?
Absolutely not!

Return of the Ten Questions

Yay Ren!!!

It’s the return of TEN QUESTIONS FOR JODI!

This time though, we have structure and rules!!! This time it’s called “Either/Or” and the only rule is that you have to pick one. You can’t say NEITHER but you can qualify your answer. You COULD say both if you felt like it though.

1. Vanilla or Chocolate?
The first question is the easiest!
Chocolate!!!

2. Left or Right?
Okay, this one is a bit tougher. I immediately thought hand dominance, but then thought it could be related more to politics, etc. Hmmm...
Left

3. Batman or Superman?
Batman

4. Sun or Rain?
Sun, sun, sun!
I'm just not a fan of rain, or any precipitation come to think of it.

5. Cold or Hot?
Again, this is a tough one. It depends, but I can't say that.
Hot

6. Tea or Coffee?
Generally, I prefer tea, but have been on a real coffee kick lately. However, I can not make coffee for myself, so if I'm left to my own devices, there is only one answer.
Tea

7. Hogwarts or Durmstrang?
Hogwarts

8. Fire or Ice?
Fire
I've been known to have a little pyro in me.

9. Monkeys or Dogs?
Dogs...I mean...BOTH...you did say I could say both!

10. Comfort or Style?
Comfort

Dinner for 15

Ren sent me some great questions to answer today, so here goes:

1. Ok, say you were having a dinner party and you could invite any 5 (living and real) people in the world, who would you invite?
-Peter Gabriel
-Viggo Mortensen
-Kurt Vonnegut
-Eddie Izzard
-Julie Andrews

2. Now, you can add, 3, I'm adding 4, dead people (but don’t worry, they won’t be brain eating zombies).
-Jim Henson
-John Lennon
-Charles Darwin
-Leonardo da Vinci

3. And now please add 5 fictional people (or animals, if you prefer).
-Gandalf
-Ron Weasley
-Capt. Jack Sparrow - got to have at least one drunk!
-Atticus Finch
-Napoleon Dynamite

4. What would you serve for dinner (and you don’t have to cook so it can be whatever you want, fully catered) .
This is a very hard question for me as I am a somewhat picky eater AND a people pleaser. I can only imagine the stress. I wouldn't want to serve things guests don't like or are offended by. Yikes, the pressure! I think I'd have to go one of two routes. Either I'd just do a barbecue (and include some things like veggie kabobs and burgers) or have a Chinese food meal catered. There are lots of options with that cuisine and almost everyone likes it.

5. What would the centerpiece on the table be?
An unscented candle or candles.

6. What kind of music would you play?
Something mellow and not too loud so we could converse. Maybe something like Pat Metheny.

7. Say all your guests were shy, what would you say to spark a conversation?
That would be a big problem, as I can be shy at times myself. I don't think I'd have to worry about that, but say that I did, I'd ask if anyone has read any good books lately.

8. What would you serve for dessert?
Fruit tart, marshmallows to toast (if I went with the barbecue), and mint chocolate chip ice cream, just because I like it.

9. Let’s make it dinner AND a movie. What movie would you suggest?
Grizzly Man by Werner Herzog. It is a beautiful and compelling documentary. It is mostly observational without being too judgemental. I think it is a fascinating look at what happens when man crosses the line with nature. It would be great for creating ongoing discussion.

10. I see you need to get yukky candy for your trick or treaters, what do you think you’ll get that you won’t eat but won’t make kids hate you?
Something sour. Kids like that stuff and I don't.

I Hope She's Not Sorry She Asked

My weekly 10 questions from Ren:

1. What’s in your pockets right now?
The pants I'm wearing right now only have one tiny pocket. I have my pager clipped to it. (No, I'm not a drug dealer...I'm at work still!) I generally hate to carry anything in my pockets.

2. What’s in your purse?

• Doggie shaped cosmetic bag with inhaler, powder compact, 2 Burt's Bees lip shimmers, hand sanitizer, nail clippers
• 3 wallets (I'm not even sure why. I guess I need to do some consolidation. There's about 80 cents total in them.)
• 2 digital cameras
• mp3 player
• Cell phone
• Palm Tungsten E
• Container with extra memory sticks for my cameras
• USB jump drive
• Tiny portable radio/mp3 player/recorder
• Pen and pencil
• Notepad
• 5 colorful gel pens
• Pill box with Sudafed and extra vitamins
• Employee phone list from work
• Keys
• Emo Philips button
• Piece of paper with a quote from my dog calendar**
• Paradise Kiss, Vol. 1 (manga book)
• Target catalog with an orange purse in it I want (but Target doesn't have it yet)
• Birthday card from a co-worker

3. How many bags do you carry daily?
For work, usually 2. I have my purse (which is a large-ish shoulder bag, if you hadn't guessed by all of the crap that's in it) and a bag with lunch or at least water and snacks.

4. What would you consider “essential” for any given day?
wallet (the one with my i.d.), cell phone, 1 camera (preferably the one that zooms), inhaler

5. What one thing do you really NEED when you travel?
Lots of underwear. It's more of a compulsive thing than the fact that I have accidents (which I don't). I just feel better knowing I've got plenty just in case.

6. I like to read graphic novels (which is just a snooty way of saying LONG COMIC BOOKS) on planes. What do you do on the plane?
Usually I read (nothing specific) and/or listen to music.

7. I know you don’t like the fast rides at the fair and I don’t like the fun houses or bumper cars….what can we go on together?
The carousel? Or maybe the giant slide...I'd do that...I think!

8. Where is Viggo from? And did you see him on the Daily Show? He was pretty funny.
I have no idea where Viggo is from...okay, I just looked it up...Manhattan. Yes, I did see the Daily Show and he was very funny. He's odd, which I like. I also watched him on Charlie Rose where he got pretty political. I happen to agree with his politics.

9. It’s almost Halloween…do you have a favorite monster?
No, I can't say that I do, even though I love Halloween. I have a feeling that I may become a big fan of Were-Rabbits though!

10. How about a favorite trick or treat candy?
I love candy corn! Although, when I was a kid and went trick-or-treating in Virginia, our one neighbor would always give us Rice Krispie treats which was so cool. (We knew her very well and this was before the days of tainted stuff).

** "I hope if dogs ever take over the world, and they choose a king, they don't just go by size, because I bet there are some Chihuahuas with good ideas." -Jack Handey

Ren Asks, I Answer

...but not necessarily in the most coherent manner.

1. How many (paying) jobs have you had in your life time?
I suppose this discounts the numerous babysitting jobs I had since I started doing that in 6th grade (which is exclusive of all of the non-paid babysitting I did for my brothers). Okay, I'll get to the point. The answer is 6. Only 6.

• Kinney Shoes, Exton Mall, Exton, PA
• Western Main Line YMCA, Downingtown, PA
• Student Cook, Terrace Dining Hall, Ithaca College
• My first job as a Physical Therapist at a hospital in Jacksonville, FL
• My current job as a Pediatric Physical Therapist (11 years in a couple of weeks)
• Per diem job at a local hospital I had for a couple of years approximately 5 years ago

Pretty limited and boring. Maybe I should branch out and become a waitress or something.

2. Please name three things you have learned from television.

• The scary monster is usually just the town creep wearing a mask to frighten people. He'd get away with it too, if it weren't for those meddling kids!
• The Smurfs theme song, which I hum (out loud) on nearly a daily basis.
• "Reality" as portrayed on tv is not very realistic.

3. Please name three things you have learned from books.

• Male dogs like having their chests scratched/rubbed because it mimics the feeling they have when mounting another dog.
• Florence Nightingale observed the benefit of animal companions for sick people in the 1800s.
• Often we have to choose between what is right and what is easy. (Albus Dumbledore)

4. And now three things you have learned from ME! Heheh yeah, I know, I know, it's a tough one.

• Unfortunately, the definition of a "merkin."
• The New Pornographers are a great band!
• Blueberry wine from New Jersey rocks!

5. Someone's BIRTHDAY is coming up!! Did you ever want a pony when you were a little girl?
Honestly, no. My best friend in elementary school, Vickie, actually had one named Pepper. We occasionally rode her around the front yard.

6. What did you most want and never get for your birthday?
I'm sure there is something, but I honestly can't remember. Since my birthday is later in the year, I have probably ended up getting whatever I didn't get (and bothered to complain about) for Christmas.

7. What did you get that you really, really loved?
A certificate for my own dog, which ended up being Little Guy.

8. What would be your ideal way to spend your special day?
I'd love to spend the day at a spa, being pampered and relaxing. I could really use a massage, that's for sure. After the spa, I'd have a nice dinner and a drink or two (and maybe a movie or show) with Eric and possibly some friends.

9. Do you feel old yet?
On some days, no I don't. On others (like most Mondays), yes. Ask me again this weekend. I may feel old by then.

10. You've got a long way to go before you are old. Any goals to achieve before a certain age?
Lots of goals, but one of the problems is I do not have a certain age to meet them by, so they end up being vague.

• Lose weight
• Write a book or two
• Practice animal-assisted therapy
• Take a photography class
• Travel to New Zealand
• Travel to Europe

The IF YOU Edition of Ren's 10

1. If you were a tv show, what tv show would you be?
Six Feet Under. I am fascinated by life and death, as this show was as well. I tend to be a realist and SFU dealt with things realistically, not in a sugar-coated, wrapped up in a pretty bow way like a lot of programs tend to do.

2. If you were a dog, what kind of dog would you be?
According an online quiz I've done, a French Bulldog. I've done it more than once and always come out the same. Funny thing is, I happened to meet a cute French Bulldog puppy in Michael's Wednesday evening. Her name is Bella.


If I got to choose though, I'd be a mutt that looked like Little Guy with Rusty's personality and Cosette's intelligence.

3. If you find these questions as silly as I do then tell me. I see you bought a book about skepticism, tell me one thing you are skeptical about.
The questions are silly, but fun. Fun is good.

I'm skeptical about lots of things. Some specific things are chiropractic, the realism of "reality" tv, whether or not I'll ever be on time for work...I could go on and on, but won't. Just suffice it to say, I lean more toward a scientific explanation for things as opposed to just having faith.

4. What in particular tends to catch you eye and make you want to take a photo?
Animals, nature, color. Things that are orange, interesting or funny signs, dogs, unique street lamps, colorful flowers, sunsets, tiny cars. There are a lot of things around L.A. I'd like to photograph.

5. Please name one thing you would like to know how to do but don't YET know how to do.
Fix photo flaws, such as a giraffe wound, in Photoshop.

6. What was your first real job and did you like it?
Salesperson at a shoe store. I did not like it. I do not like to sell. I would get reprimanded for not being pushy enough. I also worked with some really creepy men there.

7. What one very expensive thing would you like to have but can not justify so you will do without?
A new car.

8. What one very inexpensive thing has made your life so much better?
Berry flavored sparkling water. It is pretty inexpensive at Trader Joe's and is helping me drink a lot less soda.

9. What impresses you?
People who are incredibly talented either artistically, professionally or otherwise, but who remain grounded and humble.

10. What are you thinking about doing this weekend?
I'm going to the Hollywood Bowl on Friday, working Saturday, and going to watch some kung fu films at a friend's house on Sunday. Other than that, I plan to help Eric get things ready for an upcoming screening, do some household chores and some reading.

The Monday Ten From Ren

9/13/05 @ 1:00 am: I wrote these answers when it was actually still Monday. I was feeling really awful, thought my head was going to explode, so I went home early and saved this.

This week: It's all about you, baby!

1. How are you today?
Tired and headachy.

2. What would make your day better?
No work, a tall rum drink, no headache, a nap, and a good book.

3. Is there anything I can get you?
Alleve

4. What would you like to do today?
I'd like to go see Emo Philips, so I will do that!

5. Let's say I'm making dinner for you. What would you like to have?
I could really go for a nice filet mignon with mashed potatoes and green beans.

6. How was traffic for you today?
It was great since I overslept and then slept some more. I was on the road at 10:15 instead of 7:00 and it was lovely. I'd planned on taking the subway today actually, but by 10:00 there is no more parking.

7. You get to watch whatever you want on tv tonight. What will you be watching? (assume you will be watching tv and not doing something else)
I don't even know what comes on tv on Monday nights. If I got to watch anything I wanted to, it would be my new Barenaked Ladies dvd that I got last week and haven't opened yet.

8. How's your CMYK and RGB? (heh)
They are both moist, thank you very much.

9. If we went to the movie tonight, what would YOU want to see?
I'm too tired tonight and already have plans, so let's wait until Friday and see Thumbsucker.

10. Well,l I asked BeaucoupKevin for one question: Miniature or regular golf? Show your work.
Miniature. I've tried 9-hole "real golf" with James and Eric. It was so boring...ugh! I suck at mini golf, but it's fun.

Tellin' You Questions, Asking Me Lies

More fun questions from Ren!

1. Do you have a favorite restaurant in L.A.?
Wow, there are so many good restaurants here. I honestly can't say I have one favorite. So, I'll list some of my favorites by cuisine or type of place:

• Indian: Electric Lotus
• Thai: Ruen Pair
• Pizza: Albano's
  
• Diner: Fred 62
• Deli: Canters
• Mexican: Casita del Campo
• Japanese: Yamakawa
• Burgers: The Counter
• Italian: Vitello's
• Fast Food/Chain: Sharky's
  

2. How about in the world?
Glenwood Pines, Ithaca, NY. (First thing to pop into my head). I haven't really been too many places in the "world" and certainly didn't have very good food on my limited travels abroad...we can discuss steak and kidney pie in another entry sometime.

3. Do you have a favorite quote?
No, I don't. I did see a quote recently that I like though:
"Anatomical dissection gives the human mind an opportunity to compare the dead with the living, things severed with things intact, things destroyed with things evolving, and opens up the profoundness of nature to us more than any other endeavor or consideration."
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), German Poet

4. Depeche Mode is going on tour again. I saw them a long time ago and although I have always liked them, I was a little surprised how much I loved them in concert. Is there any band that you kind of went to see begrudgingly and then ended up loving?
Great Big Sea. We went along with a friend who was a big fan. I went thinking it'd be okay, but not expecting much. What a fun band...now one of my favorites! (I'd love to see Depeche Mode sometime).

5. What is the coolest thing you have seen in the past seven days?

Chocolate Peeps!

6. Are there any new tv shows you have heard about that you are curious to see or looking forward to seeing?

• My Name is Earl
• Prison Break
• Invasion
• Extras
  

7. When you go in a bookstore, what section do you head to first?
The dog section of animals. That or humor.

8. If you got a tattoo, what would it be and where?
I have no idea. If I knew, I'd have it.

9. What one skill do you not have but wish you did?
Musical ability of some sort. Maybe singing.

10. What is your favorite flower?
Daisy

Answers subject to change depending on day, mood, hormonal state, etc.

The Weekly Top 10

1. THIS IS THE ONE I KEEP FORGETTING! And now you are going to think it's a really good question too, but it's not. If you had to give of one of your five senses, which one would it be and (briefly) why?

I'd give my sense of smell (which would affect my sense of taste, but oh well). I have a pretty "sensitive nose" and actually get sensory overload at times by various aromas. I get nauseated by various smells, such as omelets. I nearly barfed in my driveway last night after taking out the garbage because there was an extremely foul odor emitting from the black can. I know those are extreme examples, and I'm not saying I have the scent detecting abilities of a bloodhound, but I detect more subtle things too. I'm frequently saying, "Do you smell that?" and receiving only quizzical looks.

2. I recently wrote a little bit about Los Angeles and what I can love about it, even as I do not love living here. What do you love about L.A.?

• I love that here in L.A. we have the best of many worlds. We have city with its theaters, coffee shops, free independent newspapers, etc. We also have massive amounts of "nature" such as canyons, hills, etc. I love hiking up into Griffith Park or Runyon Canyon and getting to certain spots where you are just surrounded by greenery (and brownery this time of year as it is so dry) and forgetting briefly that you are even in a city. In addition, we have the beach, mountains, and desert within close reach.
  
• The variety of cultures represented by L.A.'s residents. I feel fortunate to work in a profession and location that forces me to interact with lots of people from a multitude of cultural backgrounds. I continue to learn new things almost daily from these experiences.
• As a result of above, there are fabulous restaurants here. You can find just about any cuisine you have your heart set on. There is also a plethora of late-night and even 24 hour dining options which is important to me.
• Great art deco architecture in various parts of the city, such as the Miracle Mile area.
  
• There are a lot of opportunities through various organizations to see free film screenings. A few movies I have not paid for in the past year include: The Aviator (complete with Q&A with Scorsese), Crash, Madagascar, I *heart* Huckabees, Team America, The Incredibles, Batman Begins...just to name a few.
  
• Great bands and musicians play here, often in smaller venues.
  
• The Hollywood Bowl
• The "weather". Yes, we really don't have much variety and yes, it has been "Africa hot" here lately, but that's what a/c is for, right? Having spent a fair amount of time in the Northeast and the Southeast, I found I don't really like weather too much.
  
• In general, I find the beggars to be rather friendly (as compared to NYC and San Francisco where they can be downright scary!)
• Museums.
• Overall, this is a fairly "dog friendly" city.
  
• I could go on and on, but I'll wrap it up by saying that there is so much to do and discover that I'm seeing, doing, and learning new things here in and about L.A. all the time.
  

3. You’ve been going to a lot of concerts recently. If you were a rocker, how would you rock?

Wow, this is a really tough question because I am about the most tone deaf and least musically talented person you could meet! I'd most likely rock some off-beat, avant garde, pop-punk type band. A girl band. Sort of like my friend's band kittenfreaky maybe.

4. And what would you play?

To go along with the incredibly insane fantasy that I would ever be in a band, I'd have to say keyboards and theremin. In reality, I'd probably do better off with a triangle.

5. And what would you name your band?

I have two, of course: Sparkling Cheese or Sapphire Underdog.
(Damn, those are pretty bad!)

6. I recently bought maps of Dublin and Edinburgh, two places I have visited and to which I would love to return. Both cities felt very comfortable to me. Where do you feel most comfortable (in that sense, not in like a jammies and bed sort of sense)?

I recently had the opportunity to return to Ithaca, NY, a place I really love. To visit. I don't think I could live there though. A couple of other places I really like, again as a comfortable place to visit, even for an extended time, is Mammoth Lakes, CA and New Hope, PA. (The caveat being that I visit neither of those places in the winter).

7. Speaking of comfort, it was to my surprise that I found that may ultimate comfort food is‚…tofu. Do you have a comfort food? (did I ask you this before?)

No, you did not ask this. I'm not sure I have just one answer as it depends a bit on mood. I can narrow it down to two though: dark chocolate and tortilla chips.

8. I know there are no better dogs in the world than your three but do you have a favorite breed (and I do not condone dog breeding or anything of the sort, but all dogs come from some breed way back).

I've truly come to love the small to medium sized "mutt," but I am also very fond of the "Spitz" breeds such as American Eskimos, Pomeranians, Keeshonds, etc. They are typically intelligent dogs and I like the fox-like features of snout and pointy ears. There are other breeds I do like such as long-hair Dachshunds, long-hair Chihuahuas, and Westies. I grew up with, and my parents now have, German Shepard Dogs which I also have an affinity for, but I personally don't think I'd have a dog that large anymore.

9. Other than dogs, do you have a favorite animal?

Non-human primates. Monkeys, chimps, apes, you name it.

10. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Mint chocolate chip. Yum!

Questions courtesy of Ren. Thanks!

This Week's 10 from Ren

1. So you think George Michael was kind of sexy back in the day? Well who didn't? (neither of those were the actual questions though keep reading) Who is sexy now? Give me three please.

• Viggo Mortensen
• Taye Diggs
• Kiefer Sutherland
• Nick Rhodes (yes, still...his voice alone is to die for, but I find him physically sexy too.)
  

2. So what makes a person sexy?

A good sense of humor is a must. Good teeth help, but if there are enough qualities, that can be overlooked (hell, look at Viggo's teeth! Egads!). Intelligence, interest in the world outside of oneself, creativity, good hair or complete lack of hair, confident, but not arrogant. I find many different "types" sexy, so it is definitely a "whole package" sort of definition.

3. I use itunes on my computer but I can't use the random play feature because...ok, lets just say I have a lot of music that I rarely want to listen to but I still must keep. If you use a random play feature on your mp3 player or your cd player or whatever, what are the first 5 songs you get and will you skip any of them?

From my Samsung mp3 player on shuffle (random):

• "Talking Loud and Clear"-OMD
  
• "So Much to Say"-Dave Matthews Band
• "Beating of Hearts"-XTC
• "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"-Tears for Fears
• "Slap and Tickle"-Squeeze

I'd honestly probably listen to all of those songs. It is rare though for me to listen in that mode and not skip songs. With 4,756 on the player currently, there are a lot of things I rarely want to listen to, but must have on there "just in case." I tend to be in very specific musical moods and go for a particular artist, track, or album. Random play is usually reserved for road trips.

4. How was Vegas?

I'm going to cheat on this one and say "see my next post!"

5. I know that you have some trouble sleeping sometimes, just like me. More about time to sleep really, but do you have and good tips for getting a good night sleep?

Personally, I have to have background noise to sleep...white noise. It can't be a tv or radio because then I stay awake listening to it. I always have at least my air purifier running in my bedroom, and often a fan and humidifier as well. That's my G-rated answer.

6. So, say someone gives you, I don'’t know a million and a half dollars but with the proviso that you can't spend it on yourself. What would you do with it?

Give it to Eric so he could make his feature film.

7. Can I go home now? I'’m really tired…

Sure!

8. Who is your favorite South Park character?

Timmy!

9. Oh, I have this really good question but I keep forgetting what it is! So...um..favorite color?

Currently, I'd have to say orange.

10. What did you have for dinner last night?

We scrounged in our freezer and cabinets. I had some frozen Mrs. T's pierogies. If I'd answered this on Monday when I received it, I'd have said a cheeseburger from In-N-Out.

10 Answers to 10 Questions

Once again, my weekly 10 questions from Ren. What silly fun!

1) Do you have a favorite "adult beverage"?
I have a difficult time choosing favorites, but I'll have to go with hard cider. In a very close second place is drinks made with rum.

2) You see a lot of movies, is there one that stands head and shoulders above the rest as your favorite?
I think this answer changes for me depending on the day, my mood, the moon cycle, whatever. Maybe I can pick a favorite by genre...I don't know, this type of question is stupidly hard for me. I'll list 5 movies I love, in no particular order, as of today, August 16, 2005:

• Babe
• Empire Records
  
• Lord of the Rings Trilogy
  
• The Sound of Music
• Murderball

3) Where would you like to go within the United States, that you have never been before?
Another list of 5:

• Bryce Canyon, Utah
• Eureka, (Northern) California
  
• Seattle, Washington
• Vermont
• Alaska

4) What about in the world?
This is the easiest question I've been asked to date. New Zealand!

5) You seem like the kind of person who is always up for something new. Do you see yourself as adventurous and adaptable or is that all a façade?
I do consider myself adaptable, yes. Considering the numerous times I've moved, started new schools, and made new friends in my lifetime, I'd have to say I'm pretty good at adapting to new situations and circumstances. But, no, I do not consider myself adventurous. I am a big chicken and afraid of most things that could potentially result in my death or severe nausea (e.g. roller coasters, free fall rides, scary movies, etc). I have tried being a bit more adventurous and even rode on the gondola up Mammoth Mountain last summer (while there was lightning storm rolling in). Sounds like nothing to most people, but it was huge for me!

6) Is there something (without reavealing a weakenss that you don’t want to reveal, remember, there are supervillians reading!) that you just can’t handle?
Well, I'm not so sure I can handle the idea of supervillians reading my silly little blog!

Seriously though, I don't do so well in confrontational situations in which I'm being yelled at or feel threatened for some other reason.

7) Well, let’s say you are a super hero? What is your name and what are your powers?
My name would be Vapor and I'd have the power of invisibility. I wish on nearly a daily basis that I could be a fly on a wall to observe or just hide from life for a few minutes. (Apologies if that is some kind of real super hero name. You know I'm not so up on all that!)

8) What one thing about yourself are you willing to tell that would surprise your friends?
I can sometimes be very shy and have a hard time talking to people I don't know, especially if they seem really cool.

9) Do you have a favorite dessert?
No, not in particular. Feels like a good time to do another list:

• Mint chocolate chip ice cream
• Cannolis
• Banana pudding with vanilla wafers
• Frozen blueberries with a bit of sugar sprinkled on top
• Green tea mochi ice cream

10) What talent are you most proud of?
The ability to touch my nose with the tip of my tongue. In general, I don't think of myself as someone who has talents, unless you count being sarcastic as such.

Thanks, Ren! I'm tired now!

This Week's Questions from Ren

Here are the questions my buddy Ren posed this week:

1) What is your favorite word?
Currently, I'd have to say "absolutely." I don't know why, but I like saying it.

2) And what one word do you say the most (i know it'’s rude)?
How dare she! Well, she's right, I tend to talk like a sailor at times. Ever since Comic Con, the word "cluster fuck" has frequently flown out of my mouth.

3) Last 3 cd’s you bought? Were they any good?
This answer will be different tomorrow as I'm going to Amoeba tonight!

• Joe Jackson Band-Volume 4: Good cd with a bonus live cd. I picked it up after seeing Joe Jackson live a couple of months ago and realizing my collection was missing some really good stuff.
• The New Pornographers-Electric Version: It's great! I'm addicted to their sound. Their new cd comes out August 23rd, so we'll have to pick that up to hear the new songs prior to the show in September.
• The Devils-Dark Circles: Nick Rhodes and Steven Duffy (original lead singer of Duran Duran). I honestly need to listen to it more. It's pretty mellow and a bit melancholy. Lately I've been in a more upbeat musical mood. I just haven't given it a fair shake yet.

4) Let'’s say you could be any character in any book you have ever read. Let'’s say you have to be a character in a book you have read. Who would you be?
This is a very hard question for me. I'm not nearly as well read as Ren, and a lot of people for that matter, and I have a difficult time retaining what I do read. I spent quite a bit of time reading the 6th Harry Potter book flipping through the 4th and 5th to refresh my memory on references.

While thinking about this question, I go back to two books I read as a child which have (somewhat) stuck with me. I think back to The Secret Garden and The Island of the Blue Dolphins. I don't think I'd want to be the girl on the island, alone and fighting off wild dogs, so I'll choose Mary Lennox from The Secret Garden. She does teach her sick cousin how to walk again, so perhaps in some ways this character inspired my chosen profession without my realizing it. (I doubt it though!)

5) Do you have a morning ritual? Because i know you used to have the diet coke thing going but no more…
I gave up aspartame (Nutrasweet, etc), so yeah, no more morning Diet Coke for me. My morning ritual consists of me snoozing my 5 alarms (I'm not kidding! 3 on my cell phone, 1 radio and 1 buzzer) for a bit. I have to know what's going on in the world first thing so I listen to NPR on KCRW in the bathroom and shower. I'm the type of person who has to take a morning shower and wash, blow dry, and straighten my hair in the morning (as opposed to the night before) so that is ritual on work days. I don't really have any food or beverage rituals currently. It depends on what's in the fridge. Lately, the fridge has been empty and I have been making some am trips to Starbucks. I can't afford to do that every day though, so I'm putting a stop to that asap.

6) Are there any programs you use regularly on your computer?

• Photoshop- only basic stuff like cropping and brightening up a photo. I'd like to play around with that program more.
• Napster-the program sucks, but my Samsund mp3 player demands I use it for uploading my music.
• CDex-good ripping program.
• V-com virus scanner

7) Why don'’t you just stop running around all the time and take a freakin' nap, woman?
Wow, that is a good question. I enjoy the running around, but as you know, I do get tired and crash. Eric thrives on running around, so I'm often trying to keep up with him. I do squeeze in naps where I can though. For example, after work yesterday, before going to the Emo Phillips show and then to the movies, I took a nice 45 minute nap. The other thing is, I do tend to get a second wind around 10 or 11 pm, so if I stay up that late, I can go until 4 or 5 in the morning. Not good I know. All sorts of studies are coming out saying that lack of sleep shortens your life. I might as well be smoking it seems.

8) I am kind of mildly obsessed with magazines. I always buy any new ones that start up and i buy all kinds of things just to see what they are like, teen magazines, wine magazines...right now i am v. fond of scientific magazines. What magazines do you like to read and why? And are there any you hate, hate, hate?
There are definitely some magazines I really like, but I'm not nearly as obsessed as Eric is with them. Right now my favorites include:

• Paste-great music coverage with thoughtful writing. I like that it comes with a sampler cd and a dvd (if you subscribe, which I did).
• The Bark-literary dog magazine. When I discovered this, I quickly put down my Dog Fancy which is mostly good for photos and info on pure breeds only. The Bark has intelligent articles, art, book reviews and more.
  
• Q and Mojo-British music magazines. Q has great articles which I discovered by comparing their cover story on Green Day which ran around the same time as Entertainment Weekly did the same. There was a huge difference in the two. I found the British article to be funnier, much more informative, and a far better overall read than the American one (not a huge surprise). Mojo comes with great cds. I don't buy these often though due to the price.
• Newsweek-I love the political cartoons and quotes section. I think Newsweek has good articles on current world events.
  
• People-guilty pleasure. I no longer subscribe, but it is a must read whenever I fly somewhere or go to a waiting room.
  
• Discover-good science magazine. I wish I read it more often.
  
• National Geographic-gorgeous photography and wonderful articles.

I don't really like the home improvement magazines that Eric gets like This Old House and Handyman. I hate doing home improvements, so I don't really want to read about them.

9) So, you saw david bowie in your dreams, eh? What is the best real star sighting you have ever had?
This is another tough question. I've had quite a few and have trouble picking a "best." So, I'm going with recent. A few weeks ago, I went to the Sunset Laemmle Theater to see a movie with a few co-workers (yes, I was actually socializing with co-workers and I actually had a lot of fun!). Three of us went directly from work and were waiting for two others who were off that day. We were sitting at a table outside of the theater and Matthew Perry came over and sat at another table very close to us. He was on his cell phone. We got a bit giggly and he ended up getting up from the table and moving away a bit (I think because of us). It was fun to see the others' reactions when they arrived. He went into the theater with a female, but not to see the same film as us. So, it wasn't necessarily "the best," but it was one of the most fun being with other girls, who are far more girly than me, of course.

10) Going back to the no more diet coke thing...I know you drink tea more now. is there a specific type you like? (pg tips makes great iced tea. v. dark. like your soul!!)
Well, I like to make iced tea from the passion fruit flavored "Paradise Tea." Trader Joe's has a store brand of regular 'ole iced tea bags that make nice tea also. Yes, I may have a very dark soul, but I don't like my tea very dark. I water down my iced tea and will add a bit of milk to hot tea if it is too dark.

11) Do you want ten more next week? because i can ask stupid questions for a looooong time....
Absolutely!