I plan to continue my previous post (Dreams of Escape) with more adventures of escape.....
.....but I just discovered these questions on Myra's blog and decided to lift them. I enjoy answering questions - - as long as they aren't too rudely personal.
1. Have you ever tried to learn (or re-learn) a foreign language as an adult? Which one? What worked for you?
First, I studied German when I was eleven years old in 7th grade. My excellent teacher was from Germany.
I learned a smattering of Hungarian from my paternal grandmother when I was very young.
I learned every Hungarian curse word in existence from my father.
In high school I studied Latin (and should have been shot for choosing it).
As an adult I continued with German and took a stab at Italian and Spanish (books, records, and college courses).
In conclusion, I have enough trouble dealing with English.
2. Do you donate blood? Do you know your blood type?
Hell, I don't have enough blood to spare. And even if I did, it would take the persuasion and dexterity of Dracula to extract it from my veins.
My blood type? Probably an 85 per cent mixture of alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and anonymous by-products.
We were tested for blood types when I was in high school and all I remember is that mine was a rare type.
I'm not surprised.
3. Have you ever been in a play or musical?
Yea - the lead in Hello, Dolly.
But seriously, even though I'm a musician, I've never had the burning desire (or talent) to appear acting/singing on stage.
BUT
In the 8th grade I played one of the Jets in the school musical West Side Story. One of the lesser Jets.
A side note: When I was nineteen or twenty, I did learn several songs from Oklahoma and sang them quite well. Believe it or not.
4. Do you use a certain text or ring tone for certain people? Who gets their own? Or do you just use the default on your phone?
Who do you think I am - Kim Kardashian?
I hardly know how to pick up my landline phone to say "hello?"
Actually, I use the default on my cell phone.
5. When did you get your first digital camera? Do you still shoot on actual film, or all digital now?
I didn't know "actual film" still existed. I got my first digital camera when I lived in Texas. Can't remember exactly when, but it was at least twelve years ago. It was a Kodak Easy Share (on sale at Walmart) and it's the camera I still use.
6. What do you think someone would say the most daring thing you've done is?
It depends on who that "someone" is.
I've done so many daring things that it scares me to even think about it.
Once, when I lived in San Angelo, TX, I had emergency surgery on one of my eyes (the surgeon had to come in from another city). He also happened to put drops in my other eye to dilate it.
After the surgery, he told me not to do anything for two weeks.
INCREDIBLY, an hour after surgery I drove myself home from the hospital!!!!
I couldn't see a thing in either eye. It took at least half an hour just to find my car in the hospital parking lot.
I drove home completely on instinct - only being able to see a faint blur in my dilated eye. By the grace of God, I made it!!!
I still break into a cold sweat thinking about that one.
On the lighter side:
I once had sex with a priest on the altar of a Catholic church (in California).
Is that daring?
Or just plain crazy?
7. Do you talk with your hands?
No. I have enough trouble talking with my mouth.
My father talked with his hands. And, unfortunately, with his fists.
8. Do you have a lucky number? What is it, and what is the story behind it?
I don't have a lucky number - and if I did, why should I tell you?
I was born on the 13th.
Strangely enough, I think all (or most) of my cousins on my father's side of the family were born on the 13th (different months).
9. What kind of milk did you drink growing up? And now?
Strange question. What kind of milk is there? Plain ol' cow milk. And sometimes Nestle Quick (I think it's now called Nesquick or something).
Nowadays I occasionally drink goat's milk.
In California, during my East Indian Meditation Mantra days, I sometimes indulged in raw milk. Yuuck!!!
10. What is your favorite kind of pie?
Boysenberry, hands down!
Well, hell, when I was a kid we lived a mile from Knott's Berry Farm. Boysenberries were their specialty.
I also love pumpkin pie, peach, sometimes blueberry or French apple.
11. Are you a note taker?
I have taken notes my entire life. Notes about everything, on every subject. I take notes to remember - - and not to forget (*smile*). I take new notes to supplement old notes. I have piles and piles of notebooks filled with notes.
12. Do you have an eclectic mug collection, or is your stuff matchy, matchy?
"Eclectic" doesn't begin to describe it. My mug collection should be in the Smithsonian. I have mugs for all seasons and all holidays. And all moods.
Unfortunately I don't use half as many of them as I used to.
13. Do you have a junk drawer in your house/garage/at work/wherever?
Let's put it this way - - every drawer I've ever owned is a junk drawer. House. Garage. Work. Wherever.
14. What is the longest time you've worked at one job - and what was/is it?
Finally - a question that's nearly impossible to answer. As a musician and/or freelance writer it is/was often difficult to ascertain what it all adds up to.
Also, I had many different jobs when I was young, including: proofreader, typist, dishwasher, cook, chauffeur, movie extra, security officer....
and....dear gawd.....mortuary assistant
(the latter lasted about four days).
My mind is muddled just thinking about it.
15. How old were you when you took your first commercial flight? To where did you fly?
I was nine years old and flew back east with my mother to spend August with relatives.
It was a TWA night flight from Los Angeles to Newark.
Somewhere along the way the plane got engine trouble and - after a helluva lot of turbulence - we had to make an emergency landing in Denver.
Fortunately I wasn't old enough to realize the grave danger.
If that ever happened now, I'd be hanging on the ceiling screaming like a banshee and trampling women and children to get to the Emergency Exit.
