Is there an emotion that you think has gotten stronger as you’ve aged? If so, why do you think that has happened?Is anxiety an emotion? It seems like I’m much more anxious nowadays than I ever was as a young adult. I’m pretty sure this is a result of watching the people I care about suffer losses and the helplessness I feel watching them grieve. It’s easy for me to put myself in their place, or in the place of the person they’ve lost, and being in either position really sucks. Being a mom just makes it all worse because I have to worry about two more people and help them process their emotions. Talk about weighty.
What is your most commonly recurring dream? Why do you keep having that dream?This is weird, and something I’ve considered blogging about before. I often dream that I am a student at
WWC again. I’m going to classes and living in the dorm; sometimes I’m married and/or have kids, other times I’m still single but at my current age. Reason? When I left WWC in 1991 I was supposed to finish a religion class over the summer to complete my graduation requirements. I didn’t want to do it. I was tired of being a student. I put it off and put it off and made up excuses and finally just gave up. Five years later I was laid off my job and knew I’d have an easier time finding a new one if I actually had my degree, so I decided it was time to finish it up. By then requirements had changed and instead of taking one four-hour class, I had to take more than 20 hours to complete my degree. I took one quarter locally and for the second one, had to go back to WWC. It was strange to be there again at 27 years old, to be living in the dorm and walking around campus and eating in the cafeteria. I was one of those old
weirdos. The only thing I have figured out is that this whole experience—this “punishment” for my ridiculously bad decision in 1991—had such a huge impact on me that to re-live it in my dreams is a manifestation of its accompanying anxiety. Or maybe I’m just a nutjob.
If the U.S. had to give up one state, which one would you pick? Why?This is an odd question. The only state we could disown that might actually make a difference in our country is Washington, D.C. And technically, it’s not even a state, so I don’t know if that’s cheating.
What is the most unexplainable thing you’ve ever witnessed?I once saw a woman changing her baby’s diaper on top of a food vendor cart at Disneyland.
What is the biggest advantage men have over women? How about the biggest advantage women have over men?Duh, men can pee
standing up! What I wouldn’t give not to have to touch stuff in a public restroom. But women are allowed to express emotions throughout our lives—we can kiss our sons when they’re adults, we can cry, we can scream like idiots and while people might think we’re wacko, they can’t really say we’re acting inappropriately for our gender.
What one thing have you done that pleased your parents the most?For my mom, probably giving her grandchildren made her happiest, but I know she is also pleased that I am introspective. For my dad, as much as he loved his grandchildren, I think he was most proud that I got my college degree. He didn’t give a crap about me being introspective; in fact, I think the things he disliked most in me were things he wasn’t about to admit came directly from him. Heh heh.
If you could be the Devil for one day, what would you do?Gather all the mean people and burn them.
Slowly.
If you could have taken one class in school that you didn’t (or couldn’t), what would it be?Knowing what I know now, I’d have started out an English major, which means there are a lot of classes I would’ve taken that I wish I could have. By the time I decided I wanted to change my major from business to English, I was a junior and would have added another two years to my college career. But knowing that I could still work in the field that I am now, which I love, I wish I’d done something in school that I really enjoyed, something that fed my soul. Instead I went the safe route and took courses that would ensure a job (nothing wrong with that, of course).
What guidelines do you think should exist for gun control?I think the number of gun owners that truly know how to safely operate a gun is much lower than people realize. I don’t have any great ideas for gun control, but I know that a lot of people who have guns shouldn’t. If someone wanted to put me in charge of deciding who those people are, I’d love the job.
What would it take for you to reconcile with your greatest enemy?Honestly, I can’t think of any enemies. It’s not that I love everyone or that I’m so likable myself; I usually don’t let people I dislike consume my energy enough to think I’ll feel better if I reconcile with them. Most people that I truly dislike have never been personal friends of mine; they’re politicians and celebrities, so I can’t really consider them enemies, right? Can’t really reconcile with them if I don’t know them.
Copy the questions into a comment and answer them for yourself! Kathy, I'm tagging you--answer this in your blog--and
Chris, you’re tagged too.
I don’t reserve that joy just for the G.O.P.; it’s for anyone who claims to have all the answers and is then found doing exactly what they preach so viciously against. The most outspoken of these criminals—often Republicans—tend to have the most to be ashamed of.
Welcome to Day 4 of my migraine. It truly sucks to be me right now, at least I think it does. I'm hungry but the thought of eating makes me want to hurl. TiVo has, like, 15 shows waiting for me but my eyes hurt too much to watch them. I desperately want to pass the time by sleeping in a dark, quiet room but within five minutes I'm bored silly and feel like screaming. And screaming makes my head hurt even worse, even when I thought that was not possible. Turns out, it is possible.
Here's a list, with accompanying photo goodness, of 
