A questionnaire for fogeys

I found this questionnaire over at Wes' blog, and, well, you know me and questionnaires.

Tired of all of those stupid surveys made by High School kids?

Here are some questions for some people who are a little more mature... ok old folks like us.

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?

I can't really think of one. We don't have any debt, so no credit card bills or anything. No car payments. We pay rent, but I don't hate paying that because it's necessary. Likewise for the utilities. Sean would probably say he hates the electric bill during the summer, but really we seem to have done pretty well this year in that sense. The cell phone bill is more than we'd pay for a land line, but not so much more that I care. Plus we got grandfathered in to a fantabulous plan with more minutes than we'll ever need.

So I'm pretty Zen about the bills, I guess.

2. What's the best place to eat a romantic dinner?

Outside, at sunset, with candles, in a place away from other people but with a gorgeous view. I have never done this!

I don't find restaurants particularly romantic. I haven't really been to an expensive restaurant, though...maybe there's a difference. But in general I find them to be too public for romance.

One time Sean and I ate dinner on our deck, and I really liked that. We had to sit on a blanket because we didn't have a table. The meal was that herb crusted chicken thing I always make (from Saving Dinner) and green beans. We probably had a starch, but I don't remember what it was. The important thing was that when I asked Sean if he wanted to eat on the deck, he said he really wanted to do that with me. That was really all the romance I needed.

3. Last time you puked from drinking?

I've never drunk enough to puke, and I don't ever intend to.

4. When is the last time you got drunk and danced on a bar?

I've never drunk enough to get drunk, and I don't ever intend to. :>

5. Name of your first grade teacher?

Mrs. Fosson? I think?

6. What do you really want to be doing right now?

I'm fairly content with sitting here answering a survey, honestly. But if I could be doing anything in the world right now, I'd be sitting in a yukata at Momijiso on Miyajima with a group of close friends, enjoying their company and snacking on traditional Japanese confections before snuggling into a futon with Sean to sleep and prepare for a day of exploring. (Let's pretend it would be the evening there as well as here right now, because I don't care to be jetlagged while I'm doing what I really want to do.)

7. What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I don't know that I had any aspirations. I thought I was good at writing, because I had been told that, but I don't know that I wanted to be a writer. I didn't think I wanted to be a nurse or an electrician, my parents' professions. But I didn't know what profession would be interesting. (Story of my life?)

In high school I first wanted to be a computer programmer, then a mechanical engineer, and I was very adamant that I would never be an English teacher.

8. How many colleges did you attend before you settled on the one you graduated from?

Two. UAH for aerospace engineering, and then UK because I lived nearby. It happens that UK is an awesome school, and I'm glad I got to go there.

9. Why did you wear the shirt that you have on right now?

Because I was going to wear my blue tank top, but I decided I'd slept in it enough that it needed to be washed, so I put this on instead. It's a red shirt that's part of a pajama set that Sean's mom gave me, but I'm not wearing the pants because they'd be too hot.

10. Gas prices! First thought?

Why are they 18 cents less in South Carolina? And why do I keep forgetting to fill up before I cross the state line?

11. If you could move anywhere and take someone with you, where would you go?

Okay, obviously, I'd move to Japan and take Sean. Specifically in Japan, I wouldn't mind living in Kyushu or near Tokyo, but I really think it'd be nice to live in a rural area somewhere in the Kanto or Hokkaido.

12. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?

I wasn't particularly coherent. I leapt out of bed and turned it off and was stretching my arms out over my head, blinking, when Sean came in and laughed at the look on my face. Then he went to bed...I finally mustered the brain cells to wonder if he's decided to wait for me to get up before he goes to sleep.

13. Last thought before falling asleep last night?

I had just finished reading The Boy in the Well, so I was thinking about how the Talismen series really seems to have a rich, epic plot, but that it was odd that they'd put out a book that couldn't really stand on its own.

14. Favorite style of pajamas?

Cotton/spandex, T-shirt and shorts. Anything comfortable and light, not too hot.

15. Favorite style of underwear for the opposite sex?

Ooooh, it depends. I can like both boxers and briefs, really, depending on how they look on the guy. Sean only wears one kind, and they're fine with me.

I've never seen a guy in person wearing a G-string/thong/whatever. Might be interesting.

16. What errand/chore do you despise?

Dusting and doing floors. Ugh. Any task that's wide in scope, really. I like chores that are more bite-sized, like the dishes. I even don't mind laundry so much now, because I can do it all in one place rather than having to carry stuff back and forth.

17. If you didn't have to work, would you?

I would definitely do something. When I don't have something productive to do I get lethargic and very unhappy. I'm not sure if I'd freelance at something or what I'd do, though. If I didn't have to work I imagine I'd spend a lot of time traveling, but while I was traveling I might try to do things that would get my name out there, like photography or writing.

18. Get up early or sleep in?

I like both. It depends on how much sleep I've gotten recently. I really prefer to be up early, but I also adore sleeping, and if I sleep into the afternoon I don't typically feel badly about it.

19. Your favorite cartoon character?

Freakazoid! (And if you're wondering, my favorite anime character is Yuuri from Kyou Kara Maou! Anime != cartoons.)

20. Favorite NON-sexual thing to do at night with a girl/guy?

Get comfy, watch a good TV show like Smallville and discuss it.

21. If you could get away with it, who would you kill?

I've answered this question before! And my answer was Osama bin Laden! At this point I'm not sure it'd be in the world's best interest to kill him, though. I'd like to see him stand trial.

I can't think of anyone I'd want to kill, really. I know, I'm a boring goody-good. But I can never be sure that my personal opinion is correct, and therefore I could never be sure that I was killing for a just reason, that the person deserved to die, etc. The death penalty is different, because at least in that case the person's guilt is decided by jury, but I still don't know that I'm completely okay with it.

I was telling Amanda at work today that I didn't know if the death penalty was a good prohibitive measure against sex offenders, because I'm not sure it would really deter them. There's some sort of imbalance there to begin with that makes them think it's okay to do those things. Would they really rationally think "Oh, I could die for this"?

And that makes me wonder if it's right to use it as a punishment, either. It would be better if there was a way to fix people so they wouldn't do it again and would truly understand why it was wrong. (Or, as Amanda suggested, we could literally "fix" them...)

22. What was your first car?

My grandma's old 1982 Mercury Marquis. It was really the family car, but I had it for about six weeks at the end of my second (and last) semester at UAH. Then, when I got a job at a music store, I bought myself a 1993 Ford Taurus.

23. Your best Your Mamma joke?

I hate Yo' Mama jokes.

24. Your favorite lunch meat?

Bologna :)

25. What do you get everytime you go into a WAWA?

I have no idea what that is. From this, it looks like it's a gas station/convenience store? So I'll just answer as if it's asking about Stuckey's or something.

I don't have a standard thing to get, but I do like to get Little Debbie snacks when I go to gas stations. It reminds me of going to them on the way to the lake when I was a kid, for some reason.

Of course, I rarely go into a gas station, unless I'm on a road trip and need to pee.

26. Beach or lake?

Either one. They both have water.

27. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual that was invented by people who died at 20?

I think the idea of committing yourself fully to one other person is beautiful. I do think marriage should be something separate from the law, and that tax breaks and household matters and other legal issues should be based on civil unions, which would have nothing to do with love or religion or anything and everything to do with who you live with, whether it be out of romance or family or necessity.

28. Who do you stalk on MySpace?

I have two (count 'em two) friends who actually use their MySpace accounts, so I'm subscribed to their MySpace blogs. There's also a MySpace group I go to every now and then. But mostly MySpace seems to be a place for people in bands to get their music out to the public.

29. Favorite guilty pleasure?

Webcomics, and they're only a guilty pleasure because I sometimes read them when I shouldn't be. I really don't feel much shame about the things I like. (Maybe I should be more embarrassed when I eat snacks...)

30. Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?

As I mentioned above, I don't really get embarrassed. I like who I am, and I don't care if people know my secrets. In fact, I want them to. I'm self-centered that way.

So what's a movie I like that would be embarrassing to someone else to admit to? Hmm.

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure?

31. What's your drink?

I'll always have a special place in my heart for Dr Pepper.

32. Cowboys or Indians?

Indians, because they were so fascinating and scary in the Little House books.

That, and the fact that Native American culture is so rich.

33. Cops or robbers?

Cops in real life; robbers in movies. High class robbers, that is, like in Entrapment.

34. Do you cheer for the bad guy?

It depends. I honestly do cheer for Lex in Smallville. How could you not?

When a story is so fully fleshed out that you can understand each character's motivations, then you can find yourself cheering for any of them. Even the ones you know are doomed to fall.

If it's a black and white story, then I normally don't like the bad guys. And you're not supposed to, are you?

35. What Hollywood star do you think resembles you best?

I'm sure all Hollywood stars will be pleased to know that none of them look like me.

36. If you had to pick one which cast member of seinfeld who would you be?

Okay, I've been correcting the grammar, capitalization, and punctuation in these questions, but this one is too hilarious, so I left it just the way it was.

I suppose I'd be Jerry, because he's the one who has things the most together, and he makes enough money to live more than comfortably.

37. What do you want when you are sick?

To feel better :P I hate being sick. I don't want soup, I don't want sleep, I don't want anything but to not be sick.

Fortunately, I don't get sick much.

38. Who from high school would you like to run into?

It'd be cool to run into Eric Thigpen. I seem to run into him randomly, but it's been awhile since the last encounter. (It'd help if I spent more time back home.)

Otherwise, it'd of course be cool to see my old friends, like Kristanne and Margaret.

I can't think of anyone whose contact information I don't already have that I really want to run into. I wouldn't mind running into anyone, of course :)

Actually, our ten year reunion was a couple weekends ago, and I totally skipped it.

39. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?

I think it's on 95 Rock, but it varies. I also listen to 93.9 The Drive, HD92.3, Eagle 102, and occasionally 104.3 WBBQ (unless Delilah's on, UGH) and Power107.

41. Stiffler or Oz?

Um. What?

Oh. American Pie. I guess I should watch that movie someday.

...Wait. Where's question 40?

I googled and only found one blog with this questionnaire that had a #40. It was: Political affiliation?

I don't know if I can really categorize my political leanings.

42. Norm or Cliff?

Norm, of course :)

43. The Cosby Show or the Simpsons?

AJ loves The Cosby Show. I never really got into it. I do highly enjoy The Simpsons, though.

44. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?

Saying "I love you" when I didn't mean it. Although I'm not sure taking it back would have changed how things ended, and I'm not sure I would want to change that ending anyway. I think that relationship taught me a lot.

45. Do you like the person who sits directly across from you at work?

If by "across" you mean "over my left shoulder", then yes! And since there is no one else in the room anyway...

46. A secret that you wouldn't mind everyone knowing?

How is that a secret, exactly?

I've been sitting here for like fifteen minutes and I can't think of an answer to this question.

It's not that I'm secretive--hardly! It's just that I can't think of anything that 1) I classify to myself as a secret and 2) I wouldn't mind suddenly sharing. In fact, the only things I can really think of that are secrets are things I don't want to share--one personal thing, which I've actually shared before on this blog but which I don't want to share anymore; things that are between me and Sean; and things that people have told me that it isn't my right to share with others.

47. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?

Is it sad that the first name that popped into my head was Drew Barrymore?

I think I answered a question like this once with "Junichiro Koizumi".

But you know who it'd be really interesting to talk with? Stephen Hawking. ...although how would dinner work, exactly? :>

48. What famous person would you like to sleep with? [Note: This question didn't exist on Wes' blog; I found it while searching for the elusive #40!]

All things equal, assuming neither of us were in a relationship...um...

Drew Barrymore :>

49. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?

No, but I know people who have!

50. Last book you read for real?

The Boy in the Well, as I mentioned above. I'm still trying to read Sword and Blossom, too (if "trying" can be defined as "leaving it on my nightstand in the hopes that I'll pick it up again someday").

51. Do you have a teddy bear?

I have a panda. His name is Peter. He's sitting on a chair in our bedroom. I got him from Grandma.

He's actually not the original Peter Panda. I took the original to Illinois on a family trip once and forgot him. The next year when we returned I planned to ask for him back, but when I saw that he'd obviously been played with a lot by my young cousin I decided not to.

So instead I asked Grandma if I could have her other, identical panda.

52. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?

Thinking...thinking...

Japan isn't all that weird, and I didn't brush my teeth in an odd place in Japan except for the sink at my host family's house, because it's right there in the hallway, not even in a room. You turn left after coming in from the entranceway and there it is.

I may have brushed my teeth outside at some point in my life, but I don't really remember doing it.

53. Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?

I've never been anywhere in California. I'd like to see San Francisco, because I've heard it's lovely, and because those hills look awesome. Plus, the Golden Gate Bridge is an amazing feat of engineering.

I'd also like to see Mann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

54. How many times a day do you text?

Zero!

55. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or relationship?

I'm pretty content with my "career", and I'm married so I obviously don't want new romance, but a new friendship couldn't hurt :) I like friends :)

56. Do you go to church?

Nope.

57. Pencil or pen?

I used to refuse to write in anything but mechanical pencil, but now I seem to favor ballpoint pens. Go figure.

58. Describe your favorite day?

Okay, this question could take awhile ;P and I've been doing this questionnaire for two hours now. So I'm not going to even bother.

Maybe some other time I'll come back and try to write this. At which point I'll have to decide what my favorite day is. If the question is asking what day in my life so far is my favorite, then it'll probably be our wedding. If it's asking what kind of day in general is my favorite, then it'll probably be something about exploring and taking pictures.

59. How many jobs have you had?

1) Working for my parents' business (parts assembly, mailing, records, occasional phone, web design)
2) Housewares at Wal-Mart
3) Sheet music salesperson
4) Stereo Compiler (data entry; tracing 3D maps off aerial photos)
5) Night desk clerk
6) Customer service representative
7) Freelance page and web design
8) Web Designer
9) Web Producer

60. What would be your "dream job"?

Something that never bored me and that allowed me to use and better my skills, where I made enough money and got enough time off to travel luxuriously a lot.

61. What do you want to achieve in life?

I want to learn as much as I can, and I want to have a positive impact on the world--whether it be through taking in foster kids, or sponsoring a child in a foreign country, or funding a scholarship, or building a library. And I want people to remember me. It's selfish, but it's the truth. Death itself doesn't really scare me, but the thought of living an unremembered life does.