Toadfish Monastery

1. If you had to live in uni-coloured surroundings, would you choose pure pink* or b/w?

Black and white wouldn't bother me.  On the other hand, pink surroundings would imply that I was an internal parasite, and it's a very successful life strategy.

2. There is two types of food in front of you. One is delicious but looks and smells extremly disgusting, the other looks extremly delicious but is completely tasteless. Which one will you choose (eyes and nose have to stay open during eating)?

The delicious-disgusting food.  I have eaten things that look extremely disgusting, and things that smell extremely disgusting, and will actively seek out those foods again because they are DELICIOUS!  Combining them wouldn't be an issue.  It's disgusting ideas that throw me off (can't do bugs because of the innards and crunch-pop-squelch factor, am squeamish about whole innards in general although I suppress it for some foods and muscle-based organs are OK with me).

3. Are you afraid of fire or water? Which one would you choose, if you had to, for an unpleasant experience

Provided I would survive, I would choose water (very unpleasant experiences with fire leave major scars).  Provided I wouldn't survive.... I would choose water.  Drowning sounds less painful.   I have an affinity for and a high comfort level with both, but have been in more scary situations with water and am confident of my abilities to get out of most situations (I'm still here). I'm a strong swimmer and can travel at least 50 m underwater (linear, not depth) without surfacing for breath.

Bonus: Is that one of those headology question sessions?

Only Q1, IMO

...---...   ...---...   ...---...   ...---...   ...---...   ...---...   ...---...   

Fit the first: Are you reasonably fluent in legalese (in your native tongue)? 

Fit the second:  Ever had to negotiate a complex legal document?

Fit the third: What's the most disgusting thing you've eaten that you would eat again?  Measure disgust according to general public opinion, not what you thought of it.

Bonus:  Where am I getting the fits from?

Fit the first: Are you reasonably fluent in legalese (in your native tongue)?

Depends on what you'd call resonable. I can wade through legalese fairly well when I have to, but it is exhausting.

Fit the second:  Ever had to negotiate a complex legal document?

Depends on what you'd call complex, but so far all I've ever negotiated was a mortgage and re-mortgage. That was plenty.

Fit the third: What's the most disgusting thing you've eaten that you would eat again?  Measure disgust according to general public opinion, not what you thought of it.

Gosh, all I can think of right now is tofu. Tofu took me a while to learn how to appreciate, but I love it, now. Most other disgusting things I've had to eat I would not eat again. My poor Mom makes the most awful paella- the rice is hard and she uses this terrible articficial lobster substance- yuk! Gee, sorry Mom, but I -erm- forgot that I all ready ate earlier.

Bonus:  Where am I getting the fits from?

Your tailor?

################ @ ################

Oon) Have you ever had to figure out a polite excuse for not eating some well-meaning person's unfortunate offering? What did you say?

Doo) Is it okay to lie petitely and politely sometimes, as in to save someone else's feelings?

Twa) Is confrontation the best solution to a touchy subject?

Oon) Have you ever had to figure out a polite excuse for not eating some well-meaning person's unfortunate offering? What did you say?
"I'm full" (with various ornaments) typically works well for me, and people tend to believe it as I don't generally eat very much anyway.

Doo) Is it okay to lie petitely and politely sometimes, as in to save someone else's feelings?
I think so - certainly not always, but when the tradeoff is only between my own sense of moral righteousness and somebody else's feelings, I typically choose the other person's feelings.

Twa) Is confrontation the best solution to a touchy subject?
It depends on the person whom I'm confronting. With most of my close friends, I'm confident enough in the strength of the friendship to bring up touchy stuff, knowing it'll probably get resolved faster that way. When I'm dealing with people with whom I'm less close, I tend to shy away from confrontation (probably more than I should).

..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..

1. Do you call people, or do people call you? (Bonus: is that of your own doing, and do you like it?)

2. Do you jot things down or do you try to memorize them?

3. Favorite brands of trivial objects: a mark of class or pretension?

1. Do you call people, or do people call you? (Bonus: is that of your own doing, and do you like it?)
I find the telephone very often quite an annoying invention and use it as rarely as possible (and can do without a cellphone very well). Since I live the life of a pseudo-hermit real world contacts are low. Hey, you crowds ARE my social life .

2. Do you jot things down or do you try to memorize them?
Where did I put those notes again? Can't remember!

3. Favorite brands of trivial objects: a mark of class or pretension?
Why change, if I find the product working sufficiently and not overprized?
Brands are useful not to get lost in front of the shelves (for that reason I hate the regular change of the packing of many branded items).

----

1. What are the most common natural desasters in the area where you live?
2. Would you like to change those desasters for others (if no desaster is not an option)?
3. How's the weather?

1. What are the most common natural desasters in the area where you live?

Tornadoes are probabily at the top of people's minds, but flooding is far more common hereabouts.

Especially with the "over the top" weather we've been getting of late.  Can anyone say, "Inconvenient Truth"? 

2. Would you like to change those desasters for others (if no desaster is not an option)?

No.  Flooding, rarely takes lives-- that is, if people pay attention.   I.e. avoid driving off into water rushing across roadways...

Property damage can be quite high, but is usually quite fixable afterward.  Contrast this with the total destructive force of a tornado or hurricane (or volcano).

And many are finally getting a clue, and purchasing flood insurance.  Finally.

3. How's the weather?

Wet.  Rainy.   What?  You already guessed that?   Wait-- this IS Oklahoma.  In a month or so, it'll be so dry people will be complaining about how dry it is....

....and longing for the weather they are complaining about now.

 

1> Math.  Love it.  Hate it.  It's a necessary evil.  Which?  Something Else?  Thoughts, please. 

2> Science.  Really is the best model for Finding Out Things?  Or is it but one of several choices?  Why?  (or not)

3>  Religion and/or Faith.  (as Doug Adams quipped) A Really Bad Idea?  Or is it a Requirement for a Truly Fulfilled Life?  Why (or not)

Extra points for succinct answers.    (just kidding....)

1> Math.  Love it.  Hate it.  It's a necessary evil.  Which?  Something Else?  Thoughts, please.
Love love love. It's beautiful, elegant, fascinating, derived from years of human genius, and it really works. I'm in awe.

2> Science.  Really is the best model for Finding Out Things?  Or is it but one of several choices?  Why?  (or not)
For the big questions (i.e. How do things work?), absolutely. For the little ones (e.g. Whodunnit?), there's still something to be said for human intuition and instinct.

3>  Religion and/or Faith.  (as Doug Adams quipped) A Really Bad Idea?  Or is it a Requirement for a Truly Fulfilled Life?  Why (or not)
I'm young, so I can't be entirely sure yet, but my life has been pretty fulfilling so far without any religion. Faith, though, is more flexible, and I think fulfillment in life does require having something to trust, believe in, and lean on, from faith in the ability of the ground to support me to faith in my own potential as a human being.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

1. Is love an instinctual, physi-physio-psycho-logical emotion you experience in a way that seems beyond your control, or is it grounded in a physi-physio-psycho-logical choice you consciously make?

2. When you sit down to work, not relax, do you like your seating implement firm or soft? Do you like fifteen different points of adjustment, or do you like it rigid?

3. Laissez-faire capitalism, complete socialism, or something in-between (and if so, what)? Asked in terms of pure economics and without reference to previous attempts in history at such systems.

1. Is love an instinctual, physi-physio-psycho-logical emotion you experience in a way that seems beyond your control, or is it grounded in a physi-physio-psycho-logical choice you consciously make?
IMO romantic love is the result of a valuable adaptation that allows for the male to take care of the female during the most fragile time, namely pregnancy and the baby's 1-2 years of life. Once the imprint happens the male will have a higher incentive to take care of the female. Remember that our ancestors rarely reached more than 25 y/o and likely would average 15-17 y/o, just time enough to have 1 or 2 children.
Specifically regarding your question, if you are 'in control' you're NOT 'in love'.

2. When you sit down to work, not relax, do you like your seating implement firm or soft? Do you like fifteen different points of adjustment, or do you like it rigid?
I'd love to have 15 points of adjustment if it were affordable, after hours in front of the computer my butt tends to suffer. 

3. Laissez-faire capitalism, complete socialism, or something in-between (and if so, what)? Asked in terms of pure economics and without reference to previous attempts in history at such systems.
The short answer is mix of both: have kibbutz like cooperatives side by side with laissez-faire capitalism, provided that subsistence farming is actually possible (no or very low property taxes for small farms) and a small piece of land is actually available for those unable to make a life in the 'capitalist world'.
Some people is simply unable to share and much rather live in a dog-bite-dog world. Let them, they'll be happier and so the rest of us.

1. At what age were you when you first fancied someone?

2. At what temperature is the thermostat/house now?

3. What is the longest trip you've made in one sitting?

1. At what age were you when you first fancied someone?

I remember it pretty clearly-- 5th grade, right about the time my hormones started changing my brain's chemistry.  My body caught up much, much later....

But then again, I always liked girls-- I never did go through that "I hate girls" phase.  I suppose being fairly close to my sister helped in this....although we had our knock-down and drag-outs.

"Mine!"
"Mine!"
*sounds of scuffling*

2. At what temperature is the thermostat/house now?

Thermostat: 77.  Actual temperature of house: 80 (it's a function of where the thermo is placed)


3. What is the longest trip you've made in one sitting?

Something like eight hours non-stop.  Was a trip in a van with a bunch of high school seniors to Appalachia Mountains, for a volunteer service project.  Was 2 additional cars, and our illustrious leader had a cast-iron bladder....  Need for gas forced us to halt, finally.

       

3]  Make lists?  Or trust your excellent memory?  Some other method of Getting Things Done?

2] Post-It Notes.  Abomination?  Godsend?   Or... 'What's a Post-It'?

1]  Ball-point pens?  Pencils?  Mechinical or wooden?  Fibre-point pens?  Quill pens?  Sharpies?  A 3" paint-brush?  What is your preferred method of manual writing?  How often do you use it?

3]  Make lists?  Or trust your excellent memory?  Some other method of Getting Things Done?

I make lists even if I'm fairly young my short term memory isn't what it once was after my collision with the infamous wall... Losing my short term memory again is a major warning signal that I'm getting too stressed out again.

2] Post-It Notes.  Abomination?  Godsend?   Or... 'What's a Post-It'?
I love them, no ugly marks of tape left when removed from pages in books or any other surface they will stick on!

1]  Ball-point pens?  Pencils?  Mechinical or wooden?  Fibre-point pens?  Quill pens?  Sharpies?  A 3" paint-brush?  What is your preferred method of manual writing?  How often do you use it?
Yes to all above! It depends on what I'm writing, on what kind of paper and why. I do admit that I prefer using a fountain-pen instead of a quill pen but I have quill pens, I have used it and I know how to make them properly. I have a lot of pens and I tend to have a favourite of every kind. However my 4 colours in one pen- ballpoint pen is the one that tends to get the most use I think, since it's the one I use to colour-code notes in my planner and personal notes.

+++++//++++++\\+++++//++++++\\+++++//++++++\\+++++//++++++\\+++++//++++++\\+++++//++++++\\

1) Do you collect things?

2) Is the sum vices always constant (ie if you stop smoking/drinking/eating candy you will pick up something else instead)?

3) Favourite smell, what, why and what do you feel when you sense it?

1) Do you collect things?

Not consciously. I used to collect stamps when I was little, but it wasn't a collection as much as a plastic box full of random stamps from letters we got if I remembered to cut them out and throw them in there. And while my mother claims I collect junk, the various accumulations of similar things that I do have all serve or have served some purpose that made them useful to keep.

2) Is the sum vices always constant (ie if you stop smoking/drinking/eating candy you will pick up something else instead)?

I think it aims towards constancy (i.e. I'm likely to pick up some bad habit after I get rid of another one - or just become aware of another bad habit that I have), but isn't strictly constant. I think one vice can be substituted for many, and successive vices from which I wean myself can be lesser and lesser in magnitude until it becomes subjective whether they're vices at all. That'll be later in life, though - first I need to go through college and pick up some serious vices! 

3) Favourite smell, what, why and what do you feel when you sense it?

There's a particular smell that some old things have that reminds me of my grandmother's apartment in Poland. I feel a sense of interconnection when I sense it - reminds me of a lot of times and a lot of people.

<=>-<=>-<=>-<=>-<=>-<=>-<=>-<=>

I. Is there a difference between cleanliness and unclutteredness?

II. If you could paint your primary living space any color, what color would it be and why? Generate a hex code and write your response in that color. (Bonus: Would you paint the ceiling?)

III. Cell phone features/"features": an inevitable evolution toward pocket computers that happen to be able to make phone calls, or a bunch of useless ploys to get you to pay more money to the carrier?

I. Is there a difference between cleanliness and unclutteredness?

Yes. It would be nice if my house were clean. It would be a miracle if it were uncluttered.

II. If you could paint your primary living space any color, what color would it be and why? Generate a hex code and write your response in that color. (Bonus: Would you paint the ceiling?)A blue of this shade? Does it work? Gotta check.The ceiling would be this shade. Understand that the color would be on a main wall, all the 'woodwork' and in a part of the stenciled-instead -of-wallpapered other walls, and in any case would mostly be covered by bookshelves. (My name is Dee Dee and I am an addict...)

By the way, this hex code is my name...  <--- Read that...

III. Cell phone features/"features": an inevitable evolution toward pocket computers that happen to be able to make phone calls, or a bunch of useless ploys to get you to pay more money to the carrier?

Both. However I refuse to play. My phone isn't a camera, a video recorder or anything else. It's a phone. Grudgingly, I allow it to have "call waiting"...

******************************************


1) Do you have any summer holiday trips planned?

2) If you could go anywhere in the world, but you had to stay in that one place (city or region), where would you go?

3) Where have you gone on holiday/vacation that you did NOT like?

1) Do you have any summer holiday trips planned?

cornwall for a week. Sun Sand and Surf and all that. I will be camping by the sea and painting things. Then I am also going to the Isle of White for the Bestival festival which should be a right giggle.

2) If you could go anywhere in the world, but you had to stay in that one place (city or region), where would you go?

Cornwall - the place makes me happy

3) Where have you gone on holiday/vacation that you did NOT like?

never been that keen on Wales since childhood holidays in Snowdonia.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1) Oreos - dog biscuits repackaged or tasty treat for humans?

2) what is the worst book you have read? bonus - did you finish it?

3) which flumps are best - the sweets of the woolly egg things?

1) Oreos - dog biscuits repackaged or tasty treat for humans?

As an un-stoned adult, I find oreos to be not much more than tooth-darkeners, but recently someone handed me a chocolate-filled double-stuff oreo backstage at a play I was in. I don't know whether it was because it was 9 pm and I hadn't had dinner or not, but it tasted really good!

2) what is the worst book you have read? bonus - did you finish it?

Lard help me, a friend of mine once recommende "Lasher" by whatsherface Rice. Pure carp! I forced myself through it just to say I had finished it and vowed to never touch her work again. Dreadful pap.

3) which flumps are best - the sweets of the woolly egg things?

I prefer Gumby.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


1) What comes to mind when you hear the word "jolly"?

2) Which musical instrument do you wish you could play really well?

3) What's the best party you've ever been to?

1) What comes to mind when you hear the word "jolly"?
A Londoner with a hat and umbrella. 

2) Which musical instrument do you wish you could play really well?
The piano. I strugled wih my lessons while I was at school and while I can toy with the instrument I can't say I can really play it (much less well).

3) What's the best party you've ever been to?
There were a few when I was around Alpaca's age and later. I wasn't too successful with the ladies but at least I knew how to dance.

1. Have you ever tried any latin dance (salsa and merengue come to mind but if you can do Tango I'll bow my hat to you)?

2. Is it possible to have jolly teenage years?

3. Do you want to reach 100?

1. Have you ever tried any latin dance (salsa and merengue come to mind but if you can do Tango I'll bow my hat to you)?
As a joke--I have no rhythm with which to do it seriously. I would though, if I had it.

2. Is it possible to have jolly teenage years?
Yes. I certainly did. But I stayed away from the typical drama BS, did whatever I wanted, and ignored people who had problems with that.

3. Do you want to reach 100?
Sure, provided I don't get Alzheimer's (in which case I might kill myself). I could very well do it--my family is fairly long lived.
_________________________
1. What was your favorite class in college? (If you haven't yet reached that, what do you look forward to?)

2. What type/which theme of calendar do you keep?

3. Do you have Google Desktop?