Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Shannon's Moments Meme, Part One
I kinda just did this a couple of weeks ago, but it's enough different that I'll do it again.

1. Do you like blue cheese?

Not alone, but with some other goodies (steak, etc.) it's dynamite!

2. Have you ever smoked cigarettes? If yes, how did you quit?

No, thank God I never started. I'm virtually certain I'd never have been able to stop.

3. Do you own a gun? How are your feelings about gun control/2nd Amendment rights?

I do not, because I know myself well enough to know exactly how dangerous that would be. I am not anti-gun, however. If you like hunting, or collecting armament, fine. I just do not see any reason for ANYone to own a functional auto or semi-auto. There's only one use for them, and it ain't dead-heading peonies!

4. What is your favorite flavor of water or liquor flavors?

I like my water plain old water-flavored, preferably not overly chlorinated. I like my liquor fairly flavorless generally too. Plain Stoli, maybe a lime twist, is sufficient. I really can't do extremely sweet drinks at all anymore...shudder.

5. Do you get nervous before a doctor visit? Why?

Nope. Serves no purpose except to make my blood pressure rise, which isn't helpful. I figure, by the time I've committed to seeing the doctor, I've already decided I need help solving whatever problem I've got at the moment.
This is all despite the fact that I actively hated going to the doctor as a child since it seemed to always involve an injection for something or other. And the doc was super-creepy. If I ever get that vibe off anyone now, I'm outta there.

6. How do you like your hot dogs?

Cold straight out of the package. If we're talking about food-truck dogs then no relish, heavy mustard, and some onions. I'll get ketchup too, unless I'm in Chi-town where it's pretty much illegal.

7. Although it’s been asked a lot, tell us about a favorite movie that you haven’t shared before.

I can't think of a movie that I haven't talked about. I don't really see that many movies, not compared to most people, so I go to the very few I love regularly to answer this. I've always liked "Fiddler on the Roof" mostly for the cinematography, and after actually seeing Siberia, it's even more amazing. Ditto for "Dr. Zhivago" a movie in which I could happily turn off the volume and watch in silence.

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?

Diet caffeinated pop. More caffeine = more better.

9. In a dating situation, have you ever misrepresented yourself to seem cooler or hipper? (Yes we know for most of you it was long ago…)

Of course. I never in my life felt hip or cool, but who admits that to someone they're interested in impressing??

10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? Why?

I have a necklace my mom's best childhood friend gave me that she got while she was a missionary in Persia (Iran) in the 50s. It is mother-of-pearl, painted with two different scenes--one on either side--and too large and an odd-length for most outfits. I love it to death though. I love it for its own sake, but also because it reminds me of Mom and N. and how weirdly the world changes--N. gave it to me in about 1979, just before the Iranian Hostage Crisis commenced; I loved wearing it as a stealth thing that people who were yelling about killing all Iranians wouldn't/didn't get.

11. Favorite hobby? Tell us about it so we understand it.

I read. A lot. Because my life is terminally boring--and that's fine--and I like to crawl inside other people's heads and see what motivates them. One of the books I'm reading right now, The Home for Wayward Clocks is reminding me that this is one of the best parts of reading. All the everyday people doing everyday things that seem so outlandish to me, but not to them.

12. Do you have A.D.D., or have you suspected it?

Nope. Except in the sense that I am rarely ever doing just one thing anymore. It's blogging-and-TV-watching, music-and-cataloging, conversation-and-cooking.

13. What’s a thing you dislike or would change about yourself?

I need to do better about thinking further ahead than the next half hour on the Really Big Stuff in Life. I tend to be a little hedonistic and don't properly plan things out. Which, if you knew what my calendar looked like, would surprise you, I'm sure.

14. Middle name? Like it or not?

I have one. I like it. It's short, succinct, and uncommon, though hardly rare. Y'all have definitely heard of it. There's a very famous doctor that has made it more accessible. I've always been glad, secretly, that it wasn't "the" middle name that all the (popular) girls in high school seemed to have.

15. Name three random thoughts you might have on this week:

I might never catch up on cataloging at work, but I have nearly run myself out of project-work. Beast has 7 days, which is worth celebrating. It's beautiful outside today, tempting me to go out and sit on the porch which will undoubtedly lead to me feeling absolutely shitty later. (see above re thinking ahead)

16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink. Tell us a bit about them.

I regularly drink dark diet soda, water, and pretty much nothing else. Occasional glasses of white soda when I'm feeling like I need to de-caffeinate closer to bedtime.

17. Current worry:

I'm weaning myself away from incessant worrying. I am, however, starting to think about what I'm wearing for this upcoming wedding, and what else I should be taking for the trip. Also on my mind is what Sparky needs to take, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS because HE IS 23 and I don't need to pack for him anymore!!! And this is why I have to stop worrying about stuff; it's almost always just about this stupid.

18. Current annoyance:

I can't think of anything that annoying right now. Overall, I would say that there is a large rash of idiotic behavior on the Big World Stage right now, and I'm so very sick of idiots.

19. Favorite place to be in the summer? Give us a wee bit more than “the beach”.

Well, in my case it's not the beach; it's the mountains. Any mountaintop, a ways away from "civilization" with wildflowers, sunshine, and rarefied air. I'm not fussy. I haven't had anything of this sort in a very long time and I'm craving it.

20. How do you usually ring in the new year? If forced (how we’d do that without Judd coming to your house, if you even know who he was) to do something new, what would it be?

I don't do anything very exciting. We stay home. Often we fondue. I'm usually in bed either well before midnight or not too long after. I have no interest whatever in hanging out or driving near drunks, so yeah.

21. What have you done this summer that’s special? Pictures please.

I haven't done anything this summer to speak of. Our vacations this year are April and September, so the summer has been 13 weeks of work. That's fine. But I don't got pix.

22. Have you ever walked into a room with just shoes on?

Well, if shower shoes count as shoes, then yes.