1) In five words, explain what ended your last friendship?
stress and poor diplomacy skills

2) How was your prom night?
Skipped it – hung out with friends elsewhere, instead. I was pretty anti-establishment paired with shy.

3) Do you have any famous relatives?
We all do, if you go far enough back! Seriously… I’m from assorted Bavarian and Russian stock. Maybe the most famous and immediate living relative is Peter von Berg. Ever hear of him, dear journal? Thought not. He’s been in in lots of stuff, though I’ve never met him in person. See yesterday’s entry about more distant relatives of fame. I guess it’s not really fame if you’ve never heard of the guy.

4) Have you taken out loans to pay for college?
Nope. I did it “the hard way”. However, I have no student loans of my own to pay off now.

5) What did you receive last in the mail?
Part of BHK’s birthday present!

6) What beverages have you drank today?
Iced Tea, Water, diet cherry pepsi, lemonade/iced tea mixed

7) Do you leave nasty messages on people’s answering machines?
Not as a rule, no. I often don’t bother leaving a message, though – most of my friends are bad about voicemail checks, and prefer to call me back without listening to it, anyhow.

8) What’s the most painful surgical procedure you’ve had done?
Back surgery was probably the most extended and painful, though it helped more than my back hurt prior.

9) What is out your back door?
Our back yard, garden, possibly a turtle, lots of frogs, maybe a little tuxedo kitty wandering around, assorted finches, cardinals, and jays and fence-gate leading to the world beyond.

My initial answer was smart-alec-y and inspired by CCR:

There’s a giant doing cartwheels, a statue wearin’ high heels – look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn!
A dinosaur Victrola list’ning to Buck Owens, tambourines and elephants are playing in the band.
A flyin’ spoon and a wond’rous apparition provided by magician.


10) Do you usually go out on the weekends?
It seems that we at least visit family one of the days. Staying in happens, too. We generally get a little air on Saturday mornings, at least.

11) Do you like what the ocean does to your hair?
I don’t really worry about it either way… if it knotted it in cornrows or shaved it all off, I’d be more concerned.

12) Have you ever visited a planetarium or do you even know what one is?
Many times… I like them when they have comfy seats and good a/c on a summer day.

13) What is your favorite flavor of pudding?
I’m pretty much a chocolate fan. I don’t know if there’s a commercially available pudding flaver that I dislike. Pistachio, Butterscotch, Banana and vanilla are all fine by me.

14) Describe your keychains:
outside of keys and rings, there’s a piton, an assortment of barcode fobs for store discounts (hair cuttery, Calvery county library, casual male, winn dixie, cvs, giant and ace hardware), a mini flashlight, a usb drive, a tiny maryland snow globe, remote of the locks on the element, and a universal tv remote.

15) Where do you keep your change?
In my left front pocket, or in a big plastic utz pretzel jar by my desk.

16) When was the last time you got up and spoke in front of a large crowd?
How large is large? About 25 people at the last employee meeting – maybe a week ago?

17) What kind of winter coat do you have?
double coat… a heavy outer one with a polyfill inner quilted.. one can be zipped into the other on very cold days.

18) What was the weather like on your graduation day?
Sunny and mild. I did not attend my graduation. I got my diploma and moved on. (see prom, #2 above)

19) Do you sleep with the door to your bedroom open or closed?
Open – Newton and Pye like to roam the house unhindered.

20) Is there anything purple within 20 feet of you?
A plum-colored chair is to my rear left, about 5 feet from me.

21) What is the strangest thing you’ve put in the microwave?
Grapes, or marhmallows.. grapes are more interesting.

22) Can you speak any Japanese?
I know some words, but nothing serious. Some foods, greetings and such.

23) Do you look good in the color yellow?
I do ok… I prefer cooler colors- blues, greens, etc.

24) Do you spit or smoke?
Nope and nope. also, yuck, and yuck.

25) What is your favorite color(s)?
Rust / Orange – Forest Green

26) Ever played an instrument?
Baritone, Tuba, Sousaphone, Recorder, a smidgen of Alto Sax – Learning the Bass Guitar and Uke when I’m not procrastinating.

27) Do you believe in Bigfoot, or Sasquatch?
I suspect the Yeti and suck xeno-kin are unlikely, but remotely possible. If you would like to hire me to pursue him, I’d be happy to be a bigfoot hunter for the rest of my life, or until I find one, whichever comes first.

28) Ever been to a palm reader?
Not professionally. I’ve had readings from hippie friends and such.

29) Did they tell you the truth about your future?
I don’t know! My future hasn’t happened yet! Nothing they forcast has occured yet, to my knowledge.

30) What are you thinking about at this very moment?
I was feeling a little out of sorts today. I wonder why? Sort of a free-floating malaise. I started feeling better this evening than I did this morning and last night, then got worse, and now I’m better again. I’d really like to pop the hood of my brain and see what’s in there without all the subconscious stuff clouding issues. I feel sorry for any mentalist rummaging around in my briain – the mind is organized but a lot of clutter in there, too.

31) Have you ever received a black eye?
Yup – from fists and inanimate objects.

32) What is your biggest current disappointment?
That there are only 24 hours in a day… lots of stuff to do, but for fun and for life improvement.

33) What are some of your favorite drinks?
Sun tea, Arnold Palmer (lemonade mixed with iced tea), diet cream soda, diet cherry vanilla dr pepper / diet cherry pepsi

34) Do you have anything that hurts on your body at this time?
Let’s see.. a quick mental spot check for pain. In varying but low levels – left ankle, left knee, middle back, right hip, base of neck, behind left eye. Most of the pain is very minor at the moment, like a muscle ache or nerve pinch. No agony.

35) Have you ever ridden in a taxi?
Many times. I prefer the water taxi to any on land.

36) What is the last alcoholic drink you had?
A pair of raspberry ciders last weekend, with the dagwood sammich Yummy!

37) Did you do anything special last night?
Spent time home alone with BHK at dinner and watched Middleman… doesn’t get much better than that!

38) What is your very favorite food?
Heck if I know! I’m currently in the mood for Joss sushi, just because I’ve not had it in a long while. I lean towards Americanised “Fusion” versions of Mexican, Thai Curry or Japanese food. If I had my druthers, I’d go for a tempura veggie roll with some peanut sauce tossed on right now.