Monday's Memes

Manic Monday (link at left)
Let's Get Physical

What's the biggest physical risk you've ever taken?

I don't tend to take risks, being very pain-averse. Probably the most dangerous thing I've ever done by choice was having a baby. Or traveling to the Soviet Union and China. Both of those things scared me witless.

When was the last time you were out of breath?

I can't remember for sure, but I'm sure it was either at the gym riding the stationary bike, or hiking from the basement to my bedroom carrying laundry (we have high ceilings, and lots of stairs).

When was the fittest you've ever been?

In my mid-20s when I went to the gym 3-4 times a week with Beast, lifting weights and race-walking.
Or, maybe when I was about 10.

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Monday's a Bitch (link at left)
You say tomato, I say tomahto

1. What (aside from the obvious year round tanning or novelty of seeing snow) would really appeal to you about living in a climate opposite to the one you're used to?

Uhm, year-round tanning doesn't really do it for me anyway. I'd just like to live in a climate where the sun nearly everyday. A climate like, say, COLORADO! I don't mind the snow, but I definitely mind the clouds. I wouldn't want to live in a climate where the seasons never changed, though.

2. What would you be most curious about experiencing if you were able to spend one day as the opposite gender?

Well, the first, most obvious answer is peeing standing up.
Having gotten the flippant answer out of the way, I'd say that I'd kind of like to have the experience of banking respect from society at large just on the basis of my gender.

3. Would you be able to spend a fixed length of time (such as a month or a year) completely immersed in a culture which did not include the comforts that you're used to?

Not more than a week or two, probably. Visiting, yes. Immersed, absolutely not.

4. Do you think you would find it easier to deal with being unusually short, or with being unusually tall?

I am taller than average, so I'm probably biased. I think both have their good and not-so-good points. I'm going to mostly speak to the "nearly average" not the ends of the spectrum because I think either of those would be awful.
Tall people can never find inexpensive clothes that fit right; if you're short and can sew a bit, you can tailor stuff to your size (unless you are really tiny). Short people can't see what's going on in a crowd of people, and sometimes have trouble driving. On the other hand, tall people don't fit in cars sometimes.

5. If you had the opportunity to spend a month living in the shoes of someone that you either don't like or don't respect, just to see if you could gain a better understanding of why they are the way that they are, would you take it? Conversely, if you had the opportunity to put someone of this nature in your shoes for a month for the same reason, would you take it? Feel free to elaborate on why your chose your answers and what person comes to mind when faced with this scenario?

My first, immediate, gut reaction was Britney Spears. I just DO NOT GET her these last couple of weeks. Oy. Just...oy. Would I actually trade places with her? NO! Absolutely NOT.
So, I think I'd like to spend a day living inside the skin of someone relatively anonymous, like your basic southern redneck guy. Just to see what makes him tick. He's welcome to move into my skin for the duration, but I'd really rather have just about anyone in government try to make it a month living in the shoes of a single mom on welfare.

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Monday Madness (link at left)

1. I wish people would just relax. Then I look in the mirror, because I can't even relax!

2. My biggest pet peeve where other drivers are concerned, is rudeness and Center of the Universe Syndrome.

3. I will probably spend about $600+ on presents this season. I'm buying more because we're seeing more people in person this year. And I have shower goodies to buy as well.

4. I really hope to be sane by the end of this calendar year. Then again, why would I expect something that I don't really achieve now on a regular basis?

5. I make about 0 (ZERO) resolutions each year, and keep all of them.
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Curious as a Cat (link at left)

Define the relationship, if any, between beauty and goodness.

I don't think there is one. Now, beauty and pleasance, as it beauty making life more pleasant...yeah. But there are lots of different kinds of beauty, and pleasance and goodness aren't at all the same thing.

What is your favorite way to travel?

I travel best while asleep, regardless of anything else.
I used to love flying, but the airport hassle, and airlines taking their Customer Service cues from Aeroflot, have taken all the joy out of that. I like trains--though not Amtrak so much--but the best way to travel is by car, so I have some control over when and where to stop.

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Miss Elainie (link at left)

The Reason for the Season

1. Do you celebrate Christmas because it is a secular (federal) holiday or as the birth of Christ?

The birth of Christ. I try to spend more of my celebratory mood on Advent and Christmas Eve than on Christmas Day itself.

2. To me Christ is the Son of God (Divine) or a Great Philospher (a mortal being)?

Well, hmmm, how to answer this....? Because Jesus was fully human and fully God, so... Yeah. Trick question.

3. Do you believe that Christmas is steeped in Pagan tradition?

Ayup. And that's why it's remained so strong, and what makes me laugh SO HARD at Christians who get all verklempt over the secularization of the holiday.

4. Do you have a Christmas custom or ritual that is not what society thinks as tradition?

We have a fondue--not cheese, meat--at some point during the week between Christmas and New Year's, and then we also get out jigsaw puzzles and fill up floor and table space all over the place that week.
If we're home. Which we might not be this year...

5. Why do you think that many Christians celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December?

Because the Catholic Church took over Winter Solstice and combined it with Christ's birthday in a "if you can't beat 'em, join em" thought process.
Jesus was probably actually born in the spring.