Sunday, August 3, 2008

Someone's idea of a good time is doing a silly meme (apparently mine)

As I am not far enough along in The Anatomy School yet to say anything more about it (I was out playing with friends yesterday), I think I'll escape with this little meme from Make Tea Not War.

1. My uncle once: Did what my five-year-old self considered marvelous magic tricks. He seemed to be able to make household objects disappear and reappear in the most extraordinary ways. I thought he was truly powerful until I discovered how my aunt and two cousins assisted him by distracting me and passing the objects around the room.

2. Never in my life: have I sky-dived (dove?) or eaten brains and I have no intention of starting now.

3. When I was five
: ...I was just alive (A. A. Milne). I was also skinny and naturally blonde. Oh well.

4. High school was: 3 years of hell and 1 of heaven.

5. I will never forget
: A week I had in the south of France with a certain Quebecois.

6. Once I met: Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn. I stammered.

7. There’s this girl I know: who insists she will never meet anyone right for her and I know she's wrong.

8. Once, at a bar: in White River Junction, Vermont I learned to drink vodka martinis The rest is history.

9. By noon, I’m usually: Hungry, although that is by no means confined to noon.

10. Last night: I ate sushi al fresco with The Ragazzo and my friend Kate. It had turned cool after torrential rains and it was a lovely night to be out in NYC.

11. If only I had:
More tea, a lighter lap top, a faster brain, more time to read.

12. Next time I go to church:
Will be a long time from now.

13. What worries me most:
is the people I know who feel they can only be happy when others change.

14. When I turn my head left I see: A tall shelf with books on neuroscience, the printer, a Bose radio/CD player, some CDs, the phone, and my last Valentine's Day card from The Ragazzo, which is shaped like a Teddy Bear.

15. When I turn my head right I see: The teapot, then the window and out of it, a red brick building. The sun is shining.

16. You know I’m lying when: You see, I wish I knew this so that I could stop it. Then I might be a better liar. Unfortunately, I'm pretty transparent.

17. What I miss most about the Eighties is: My theatre company and the friends I made while working there.

18. If I were a character in Shakespeare I’d be: Leontes (I'm as flawed as he is) or Richard II (just to say "Let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of the death of kings." God, that is that the most beautiful speech in the world). I'm getting too old to play Hamlet.

19. By this time next year: I hope to be one year older and have a full set of data for my experiments.

20. A better name for me would be: I'm good with the one I have, thanks.

21. I have a hard time understanding: People who think that everyone else thinks just like them.

22. If I ever go back to school, I’ll: I am back in school. Next question.

23. You know I like you if: I talk a lot while shifting from foot to foot.

24. If I ever won an award, the first person I would thank would be: The person giving it to me.

25. Take my advice, never: discuss autism and vaccines or marriage laws with me unless you want an earful.

26. My ideal breakfast is: Lots of fresh fruit, good tea, some small bready thing. Quiet.

27. A song I love but do not have is: Jeff Buckley singing Purcell's "When I'm laid in earth." I had gotten it on YouTube and had posted it here, but someone took it away.

28. If you visit my hometown, I suggest you: Use the subway and talk to people - get good recommendations from the natives about places to see, places to eat, and good theater. New Yorkers can be friendly, they talk to visitors, and it does not have to cost $400 per day. Honestly we have more to offer than the Hard Rock Cafe and Times Square.

29. Why won’t people: imagine things from others' perspectives?

30. If you spend a night at my house: You'll have to share our one bathroom.

31. I’d stop my wedding for: Someone has already stopped it. Some people apparently think that their love is better than mine, and that the laws in a non-sectarian democracy should reflect their private religious views and not afford me the same social, economic, and legal privileges (and there are 100s of them) they have if they choose to say 'I do.'

32. The world could do without: That's not my job.

33. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: Have as little insight, openness, and love for others as the people mentioned in #31.

34. My favourite blonde(s) is/are: probably not blond any more.

35. Paper clips are more useful than: A sharp stick in the eye. Actually, in a pinch, they can serve as a sharp stick in the eye.

36. If I do anything well it’s: Grumble, that and this tasty thing I make with pasta and zucchini.

37. And by the way: It's a beautiful day. I've had enough of this meme, but you feel free to join in the fun. I'm going for a walk, then I'm reading, and then I'm cooking. Happy Sunday.

5 comments:

Amanda said...

I too would like "more tea, a lighter lap top, a faster brain, more time to read."

Unknown said...

I have eaten brains and gone skydiving. Both were once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

I'm getting married on Sunday. My partner and I are hoping this one won't be overturned by the voters in November. Things are looking better.....

I'm adding your blog to my blogroll. I quite enjoyed reading it. Thanks for visiting mine.

Ted said...

CBJ - Heartiest congratualtions! May you have lots of happiness.

I'm glad you're enjoying your visits!

Anne Camille said...

I bet that Jeff Buckley recording is awesome! I'd like to hear it one day.

I made frequent visits to NYC last year (about 20 in 6 months) and everything you write in #28 is true. I found native New Yorkers generally friendlier than natives in any other city I've visited.

Not to trivialize #31 (and to me it seems like this comment could seem so after the above comments because while they're nice things to say, they are hardly on the same level of importance) -- I hope that one day you & your beloved have the same right to marry as anyone else. I will never understand people who think that they are strengthening their love by denying someone else the right to theirs.

Ted said...

Thanks, Cam, for your strong supportive words. It's a nice reminder that there are also plenty of people out there who think as you do. And yes, I'm a huge Jeff Buckley fan. I saw him live one awe- inspiring night in Chicago. The tape of the Purcell was hauntingly beautiful.