The Love Me Some Questions Meme

Another lovely weekend at home. A good float. A binge watch of Big Little Lies. It makes for a nice weekend. Even better, the first smatterings of Spring is making an appearance.

So all is well.

Questions, as always, come from Bev at Sunday Stealing.

1. Has anyone ever made fun of your taste in music?

All the time. But I have very eclectic tastes, as anybody who has listened to my song of the day at the bottom of my blog can attest to. Loving The Pixies gets me in a bit of trouble. Love The Pixies. We are a special breed.

2. Is anyone’s birthday coming up?

I've just had mine. I have quite a few birthdays coming in September and October.

3. Do you remember who you liked in grade eight?

Year eight was 40 years ago. I do remember who I liked, but I'll leave it at that. I think he died from an overdose in his 20s.

4. When was the last time you burned any part of your body?

I got my hand with the iron a few weeks ago - it was very minor. No scars.

5. If I gave you ten dollars, what would you spend it on?

Probably coffee. That would get me two coffees. Please remember that AUD$10 gets me about US$7 on a good exchange rate day. A coffee around here is about $4-5....

6. What are you most excited about right now?

I'm going to India in November. That's a bit exciting.

7. Does / did either of your parents serve in the military?

No. I have an uncle who was a pilot in the army. He now lives in Tijuana.

8. Are you somewhat of a perfectionist?

I have perfectionist tendencies. I'm working on reducing this - far too stressful. Now I just like to do a good job.

9. Do you like sour candy?

Absolutely. Sour worms and sour jelly beans are the best.



10. Are all nighters something you have grown used to?

I don't do all nighters. Too old for that.

11. Do you usually wear sunglasses when you’re driving?

When it's sunny, absolutely. I wouldn't be able to see where I was going if I didn't.

12. Do you wear your shoes around the house?

Generally not. I'm normally barefoot year round. If it's really cold I'll shove on some socks or a pair of slippers.

13. What clothes are you most comfortable in?

Loose trousers and a top. I don't like wearing tight clothing.

14. Are you good at painting nails?

I'm not too bad at it. I don't do it very often.

15. Smoothies or slushies?

Neither, though I am partial to a slushie in summer when it's really hot. Smoothies often have banana in them, and I'm not a fan of banana.

Today's song.

The Swap Bot Questions

So it's the eve of my birthday. It's raining (thought the weather has been has been lovely for the rest of the weekend. I've had my hair cut and coloured. I've had a massage. My flat is being cleaned. My ironing is being done. And I'm thinking about what I wast to accomplish in the next year. The list is long.

I'm also considering to reconsider my stopover in Hong Kong on the way home from India on November. Not sure what to do with that one. It's a bit of a wait and see situation at the moment.

Anyway, on with the questions. One question, one piece of ironing.

Questions, as always, from Bev at Sunday Stealing.

1) What do you enjoy about summer?

Not very much. I'm more an autumn or winter person, but I do like those warm nights when you can sit out in a beer garden with friends and kick back with a gin and tonic or two.

2) Do you like snow? Why?

Yes, though I rarely see it so it is a real novelty.  It's not something you see outside of the snowfields in the cities. I think the last time I saw snow was about 20 years ago when I was in London.

3) What do you think about dogs?

Love them. I'm an animal lover anyway, but dogs are wonderful. I've never met one I didn't like.

4) Have you ever gotten lost?

Yes. In Norwich, England. I've been blessed with an excellent sense of direction and I can read a map, but I've had a few times when I've jsut been flummoxed. Norwich stands out as the one place I got very lost and I have no idea why.

5) What are your favorite type of socks?

Socks are socks. I just like the ones that stay on your feet when you put on your runner and not slip off at the ankles. I prefer to go barefoot anyway.

6) What is your favorite style of shoes?

Anything comfortable, but I am very fond of mid-heeled Mary-Janes. I also have my eye on a pair of brogues at a local shoe shop. I'm waiting for them to come on sale - I don't ever pay full price for shoes.

7) What would you name your boat if you had one?

The Muppet. I'd have to be a muppet to have a boat. They're almost as expensive as horses to run well.

8) What common misconception do you hate to hear repeated as fact?

Oh there are a few things - Like when they say trickle down economics work, or socialised medicine is a bad thing rather than a right. Oh, and gun control. I just don't get what is so bad about gun control. Farmers need guns. Policemen need guns. Soldiers need guns. Gun club members can have guns in a limited supply. But why does anybody in the general public need semi-automatic weaponry?

9) What was the last shop you went into and what did you buy?

I went into Coles (supermarket) this morning after the gym. I bought vegetables.

10) What's your favourite thing to do to pass the time?

Lots of things. Exercise. Read. Go out with friends. Write. Watch telly.

11) What is a way to die that scares you the most?

To be honest, I'm not afraid of dying, but I hope when it happens, it happens really quickly. I'd hate a death which involves a long, lingering painful death. I'm thankful I live in a place where there are assisted dying laws to help those who are terminally ill to pass on their own terms

12) Travel or home body?

Though I'm a homebody most of the time, I love travelling. I want to do more - I just wish it wasn't so expensive.

13) Have you ever gone to a Bingo hall?

No. Why would I?

14) What is the longest plane trip you have taken?

I did Melbourne to New York via Singapore and Frankfurt. Admittedly it was over a few days, but that was long. Longest flights I've done would probably be Bangkok - London, Singapore - London, Kuala Lumpur - London. Oh and Los Angeles to Auckland - did that once too. Great thing about being in Australia - it's a long plane ride to get anywhere.

15) Do you text more or call more? Why?

I text more - I'm an introvert - normally can't be bothered to talk to people given the option. Unless I'm up for a chat.

Today's song:

The Friday Five Questions

Another weekend, another airport. I'm discovering a love of portable technologies meaning I can write anywhere. It's a good thing.

Looking to get this done so I can do some paperwork when I get back to Melbourne. It looks like it is going to be another hell of a week at work. I've had some doozies over the last few weeks.

Questions, as always, from Bev at Sunday Stealing.

1. Have you ever had a great conversation with a complete stranger?

I've had many. I travel a lot. I've had numerous wonderful conversations with the people sitting next to me. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's great. Last one that comes to mind was a three hour chat I had with a Canadian diplomat who was seated next to me on a flight to Sydney a few weeks ago. The flight was delayed. Nice woman.

2. Where did you go on the very first vacation of your life?

Kangaroo Island, South Australia. I was five-years-old. I lost my first tooth on Kangaroo Island. Never been back, though on a clear day you can see it from the hills out back of Myponga.

3. Open the door of your refrigerator. What is the first thing you see?

One of the following: Dijon mustard, eggs, macadamia milk, soda water, whatever I made for lunch on the weekend.

4. What is your favorite place in your home.

It's a toss up between the couch and my bed. My spirit animal is a sloth you know...

5. If you had wings to fly about the universe, where is the first place you’d land?

Probably Saturn. I'd love to check that planet out from up close. It looks amazing.

6. What is the first thing you do when you get in your car?

Other than close the door - then I put on my seat belt (as it is illegal to drive without it here) and check my keys are close so I can get to the gate opener on my keyring.

7. What is special about the town you live in?

What is special about Melbourne? It's cosmopolitan, friendly, it has a great arts scene, it's clean, the public transport is pretty good, it's pretty safe, the coffee is fantastic and it's great for foodies. Want me to go on?

8. What is the last thing you heard about your first love?

Umm, the last I heard he was living in Adelaide. That was 30 years ago. We'll let that one go.

9. If you had created the world in seven days yourself, what would you have created on the First Day?

The land and the sea. You need a canvas, don't you.

10. How do you beat the summer heat?

Hide in movie cinemas and shopping centres. Melbourne heat can be brutal and I'm not a summer person.

11. Did you enjoy your Senior Year in high school?

Not really. Year 12 was a bit hard and a bit horrible. I liked school for the lessons, but hated it for everything else.

12. Who is your favorite First Lady of all time?

Okay, I'm not American, but I did like Michelle Obama. Such grace, intelligence and courage under fire.

Of our first ladies, our Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, was incredible. I don't care what anybody else says, I loved her, even if I didn't agree with her all the time.

13. Post a link to your first blog post.

Really - that was nearly ten years ago!  http://pandoraqueenofdenial.blogspot.com/2010/01/fresh-start.html

14. When was the last time you needed First Aid?

I needed a bandaid for a blister on my foot a few weeks ago. That's about as bad as it has been of late. Oh, and some panadol for a headache. I'm thankful I'm pretty healthy.

15. Can you explain what a first down is in football?

What? No. I can barely explain the rules of Australian Rules Football let alone that strange beast that is American Football, which makes even less sense than Aussie Rules. (Go Crows).

Today's Song:

Fewer than 5000 Questions

I was sent balking when I saw the title of this meme then noticed there were only 15 questions and I was happy.

Lots to do today. It's Furious Fiction weekend. I have my 500 words drafted, but as they were written at midnight, there will be a bit of work to do on those.

It's also Harry Potter day. I've been waiting for this for a year. My parents bought be a ticket to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child for my birthday last year - I've been waiting all this time for the show. Two sessions of 2.5 hours over the day. First show starts at 2 pm, the second at 7.30. I've been waiting for this for a year. (It's my birthday again in a fortnight).  I'm chuffed about this.

On the not so good side of things - I've had a minor tummy bug for a few days. It's not major but it's sapping my energy. Had a doona day on Wednesday - at least I'm functioning. (Doona = duvet = quilt).

But it's Harry Potter Day, so I'm all excited.

These 15 questions come from Bev at Sunday Stealing. Thanks, Bev.

1. Have you read anything by C.S. Lewis?

Ah, other than a few academic articles at uni, no. I missed out on the Narnia Chronicles. I tried once to read them as an adult, but like Tolkien, it didn't grab me.

2. What is your favorite movie with Jack Nicholson?

That would be a toss up between As Good as it Gets, One Flow Over the Cuckoo's Nest and About Schmitt.

3. What rhymes with 'orange'?

Technically nothing. Like silver, purple, month, ninth, pint, wolf, opus, dangerous and discombobulate - you can only get partial rhymes out of these words. Blancmange is about as close as you get.

4. Have you ever swallowed an object by accident?

No. I've swallowed the odd fly - that is about it.

5. Is your eyesight 20/20?

No. I've worn glasses for 30 years. I'm technically short sighted, but I need to take my glasses off to read now. I'm too vain to get multi-focals. I can read without my glasses - that works for me.

6. Have you ever had insomnia?

Yes. I get bouts of it once or twice a year. It's been a lot better since I gave up caffeine. Thankfully it never lasts more than a day or two when it happens.

7. Does it bother you when people touch you?

Yes and no. I'm always surprised when people touch me, especially at work when you get a casual hand on your arm or shoulder. It's a professional thing - and I'm very aware about not touching people unless asked to (I'm the office reiki healer and reflexologist - I always get express permission to touch people). Then again, I'm the person people come and hug. I have a strange relationship to touch.

8. Is it better to get too much or too little sleep?

Is there such a thing as too much sleep - I live on about 6 hours each night - I love it when I get more.

9. What gets your adrenaline pumping?

Running late for planes. Does it every time. I make sure it doesn't happen too often.

10. Do you ever talk about yourself in the third person?

Occasionally, when I'm being ironic.

11. What's your favorite radio station? What kind of music do they play?

It used to be 107.1 SAFM when I was growing up. Now it's Gold FM - it plays a lot of 80's music and I can sing along to nearly everything it plays.

12. Do you believe there is anyplace still undiscovered in all the world?

Yes - and we can start with what is at the bottom of the ocean.

13. Ever caught a fish?

Yes. Many years ago, but I've caught a fish or two. I like fishing. Family trait. So does my mother. But I need somebody to bait me up and kill the beast after. I'm a wuss like that.

14. Were you ever in the first row of a concert?

No, but I've been near the front of a few mosh pits over the years. That was back in my misspent youth. And I got up close at the Pixies concert a few years ago, but everybody else was the same as me - middle aged, glasses, greying hair, bald spots, checking the phone for the babysitter types who then went mental when they came on.

15. Do you have any autographs?
 
No. Why would I do that? Unless you count my signed books - I have inscriptions from Louis De Bernieres, Richard Flanagan, Terry Jones (of Monty Python fame) and Charlotte Wood, just to name a few. I've worked a number of writer's festivals, so I've got a lot of author's signatures floating around in books.

Today's song: