It may not be Monday, but it sure as h*** feels like one.
1. (snip) As a US citizen, are you embarrassed by President Bush? (non-US citizens are welcome to chime in with their feelings about Bush as well)
My feelings on Bush? I wish he’d just go away. I cut this from Punk Princess a while ago, just because I thought it was so well put, but haven’t found a reason to use it until now:
Wild finch frenzies are incredibly amusing, and relaxing, to sit and watch while drinking tea and pretending that Martin Sheen really is the President. Try it. Trust me, you’ll feel better.
2. Do you have good friends in countries other than your own? Which is the furthest away? How did you meet them? What makes them such a great friend?
Well, Linda just moved to Sweden… And then there’s the Zep, the person furthest away being, let me see… Ryoko in Japan. Roger would be the longest flight away of the ones I’ve actually met in real life. What makes anyone a great friend? Being there for you and being able to laugh together, I think those are the two most important ones…
3. Two cars on the road right now bug me more than any others. (snip) Are there any models of automobile on the road that irritate you when you see them?
Short answer: No.
4. When you were in school, did you ride the bus? Do you have any school bus horror stories? What really went on in the back seats anyway?
I didn’t, so I don’t have any.
5. Last week, I asked what sort of things a man should never say to a woman. Now it is time to turn the tables. There are a few things a woman can say to a man that can totally emasculate him. Such as: “Hold my purse.” What sort of things should a woman never say to a man?
Ok, a man who can’t hold a woman’s purse without feeling emasculated can’t have much self-confidence in the first place. Puh-leese. (For your information, most women when seeing a man with a woman’s purse assume he’s holding it for his girlfriend/wife/daughter/grandmother even if there’s not a woman to be seen in the vicinity.) The things you shouldn’t say, I assume, would be obvious with a little common sense. Anything that would be hurtful or that would undermine someone’s confidence is better left unsaid whether the someone is a man or a woman. When it comes to physical attributes, the only difference is which attribute(s). Any sentence resembling “I wish your ____ was/were ____” is probably a bad idea.
6. Do you have a favorite cartoon Super Hero? Who and why?
(Well, that’s a bit of a change of theme from the last question, isn’t it?) Not really. Does Lucky Luke count as a Super Hero?
7. Just what does it take to make you happy?
Good company (and/or a good book), good food and drink and a long evening ahead with nothing to do that can’t be put off until tomorrow.
And since we’re at it – last week’s Mission:
1. (snip) What was the first perfume or cologne you wore? Tell me about the memories that come to mind when you think about it/smell it again.
I can’t remember. I didn’t really start using perfume regularly until I discovered Laura Biagotti’s range (they all suit me) a few years ago. Mind you, it’s almost ten years ago by now, but since I’m still using even the first one (Laura) on a regular basis, it doesn’t really bring back memories as such.
On the other hand, I have two definite perfume-related memories: Bodyshop’s vanilla scent (or any other scent that smells of vanilla) reminds me of a girl in my class at school, as she would always wear it and it really suited her personality somehow. Poison, the perfume, reminds me of when my mother and I went to London in 1989, as she tried it on and we both hated it and she spent the rest of the day trying to get the scent off again, but it hung to her clothes like, well, poison.
2.We’ve had a lot of cooler weather here in Oklahoma, it reminds me so much of Fall. Even though it isn’t Autumn, I find myself thinking of fires in the fireplace, taking walks and having a cold nose, and stopping for a flavored coffee on the way in to work. What are some of the best things about Fall?
All of the above, well, except for the flavoured coffee – keep that syrup away from my coffee or else… Long nights in front of the fire, or – since I have to go to the cabin to have a fire – on the couch with a blanket and a good book. And a new discovery this year: It being cold enough that it’s a pleasure to have someone warm to curl up to in bed. Mmm.
3. I saw an episode of Dr. Phil recently where this good ol’ boy was just breaking his wife down left and right by making fun of her weight and the size of her rear end. I am amazed that men like this exist and are able to remain married. Why do some women put up with men who constantly insult them and/or abuse them?
Search me. I wouldn’t. Low self-esteem to start with?
4. Speaking of that, obviously making fun of a woman’s weight is something that men should know not to ever do. Still, many of us are clueless. What are some things men should never say to women?
See my answer to this week’s question 5. I’m trying to think if there are other obvious ones, but I think most of the time what you should or shouldn’t say depends on the individual rather than gender.
5. (snip) How many pairs of shoes do you have? Is that too many or not enough? Do you keep shoes you know you will never wear again?
Uhm. Let’s count, shall we? As far as I can remember, I’ve got… 8 pairs of “ordinary wear” shoes – including both sandals and winter boots. And… 10 pairs of “party” shoes. Then there’s ski boots, bunad shoes, tap-dancing shoes, wellingtons (two pairs for some reason), ice skates, inline skates and now – as of yet unused – highland dancing shoes. Too many AND not enough, I’d say. I doubt I’ll ever need the tap-dancing shoes again, but I’m not going to get rid of those. I don’t keep shoes past their use-by date, I threw away a pair only yesterday, in fact, where the inner sole had come loose which made them very uncomfortable. Shoes that are fine but which I know I’ll never wear again are sent to flea markets or charity shops.
6. (snip) Did your family keep a lot of photo albums around? Do you like looking at family photo albums?
We’ve got photo albums galore and quite a few photos up on the wall as well. Looking through them is great fun. I don’t remember to get them out very often, but I’ve had a bout of it recently, trying to find pictures to scan for the gallery.
7. I’ve finally got a Friday night off to go out to a movie. You’re coming with, right? Great! I am leaving it all up to you though, you make the plans, who’s going, where to eat, the movie, whatever else later. I’ll be by a 7 to get you, so what’s the plan?
Uhm, this was last Friday, right? I was getting plastered on excellent whisky in Dufftown, I’m afraid. If you can make it – let’s check the calendar – 24th October however…: Well, I’m not going anywhere without Martin – you bring anyone you like. How about we start with curry and chips (you can have something else if you like, I’m generous like that) at The Dubliner? Then a movie… Still haven’t seen Pirates of the Carribean, so if that’s still on, we could go for that. Or Dogville. Dogville needs to be seen, I suspect. Depends on what’s still on on the 24th, really.