Friday Five - 3/26/10

Friday Five:

1.  How many hours’ sleep do you need in order to be at your best, and what’s the minimum you can get on a regular basis and still be functional?

To be at my best, I need eight hours.  To be functional?  I'm not sure, but it seems like six and a half is the right number.

2.  What’s your favorite sleeping position?

Curled up tight in the blanket, on my side, with my arms wrapped around me.  Actually, I change my position a few times during the night.  Sometimes flat on my back is just the right thing.

3.  What was the cause of your most recent difficulty sleeping?

The usual suspect is not wanting to go to bed because I'm distracted by whatever I'm doing.

4.  When you can’t seem to drift off to sleep right away, what are some things you do to bring about sleep?

I usually don't have a problem with that, but if I do, I try to clear my thoughts and get as comfortable as I can.

5.  When did you last doze off at an inappropriate time or in an inappropriate place?

I don't think this qualifies as 'inappropriate,' but I've dozed off while watching movies once in a while.  I also seem to do it while reading more and more.  Maybe I just need more sleep.

Friday Five - 10/30/09

Time for Friday Five:

1.  What’s your favorite sports movie?

Slap Shot.  Old time hockey!

2.  What’s your favorite romantic comedy film?

Does Wedding Crashers count?  That would probably be my favorite.

3.  What’s your favorite animated Disney movie?

I've always enjoyed the Little Mermaid.

4.  What’s your favorite non-Disney movie musical?  

Both the Blues Brothers and Across The Universe are great.

5.  What’s your favorite stranger-in-a-strange-land / fish-out-of-water movie?

The Lord of the Rings movies.  That's what most of the story is about.

Friday 5 - 7/24/09

Five!

1. What’s something in your possession that has long outlived its usefulness?

My cell phone! I think the microphone has worn out by now.

2. Who in your life has proven to be a very useful person to know?

My job developer. He's always full of great ideas and energy.

3. For group projects requiring collaborative planning and then collaborative execution, in what capacity are you most useful?

As someone who just gets out of the way and does what he's assigned.

4. What’s something someone gave you that you didn’t think much of but later became surprisingly useful?

I don't have a good answer for this one.

5. What is the most useful book in your house?

I'm guessing either my Excel textbook or my dictionary.

Friday 5 - 7/17/09

Here's the Five:

1. What random letter was generated by the online random-letter generator? (this doesn’t really count as one of your five questions)

W (This is going to be hard!)

2. With what famous person, whose name begins with the letter in question #1, would you most like to be stuck on a desert island?

I'm going with Whitney Matheson of Pop Candy.

3. What food item, whose name begins with the letter in question #1, can always be found in your pantry?

Wheat thins - mostly because few of us have been eating them.

4. What song, whose title begins with the letter in question #1, always makes you feel good?

"Who Are You?" by The Who

5. What is your least-favorite film whose title begins with the letter in question #1?

I don't have an answer for this one. I don't watch many movies, and I don't make a habit of remembering those I don't like.

6. What unusual animal, whose name begins with the letter in question #1, would be a fun pet?

A weta, just so you can say you own one. Also, you can freak people out with it.

Friday 5 - 6/5/09

Here's a Friday Five:

1. What bugs truly freak you out?

Anything that flies around and tries to sting you.

2. Which Bugs Bunny cartoon do you remember most fondly?

The only one I can think of is the one with Elmer Fudd singing "Kill The Wabbit."

3. What bugs you most about your life online?

What bugs me is that there is just not enough time to read everything or look at everything! There's just way too much information out there.

4. Which of your favorite websites seems often to be especially buggy?

Bloglines Beta, which I am seriously considering leaving behind in favor of Google Reader.

5. When were you last too sick to get out of bed?

Years and years ago.

Friday 5 - 5/1/09

Friday 5:

1. On May First, 1738, King Kamehameha I was born. What are your impressions of Hawaii?

I've been there. It's an absolutely gorgeous place to be. There are resorts and tourist areas and golf courses, of course, but there are also slices of everyday life. You see Pizza Huts and Burger Kings, local places, and cool little rural towns. I've been almost 11 years since I was there, and I still carry fond memories of being there.

2. On May First, 1873, Dr. David Livingstone died. When did you last presume something erroneous about someone or something?

Aww man, I can't remember. I suppose the last time I can think of is a job interview I had a week ago. I thought it was going to be much longer than it was.

3. On May First, 1876, Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro debuted. How do you feel about Disney’s animated classic Pinocchio?

I haven't seen it in many, many years, but it's definitely a good movie. It gave us that wonderful song "When You Wish Upon A Star."

4. May First is Walpurgis Night in Sweden and other parts of northern Europe. When did you last sing in front of an audience?

Probably grade school. A singer I am not.

5. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are a punk rock cover band. What song’s cover version do you like better than its original version?

I like Fiona Apple's version of "Across The Universe" much better than the one by The Beatles/John Lennon. Fiona's voice suits the song much better.

Friday 5 - 4/17/09

Time for 5:

1. When did you last sleep in a tent?

The last time I can think of was 2007. It was a canvas tent hung over a wood platform, and I forgot to bring a pad to sleep on. My back wasn't happy those two nights!

2. What comes to mind when you think about relieving yourself in the great outdoors?

Bears.

3. Where’s the best place you ever went camping?

My childhood heart will always belong to Crane Prairie in Oregon.

4. What’s your favorite camp food?

You can't beat a hot dog cooked over an open fire.

5. What’s your sleeping bag like?

I don't actually own one - I just use whatever sleeping bag is available when I'm on an outing with my family. No matter what the bag is, it better be warm!

Friday 5 - 4/3/09

Friday 5:

1. What is your favorite fizzy, bubbly drink?

Either Pepsi or Diet 7-Up. But none of that stinkin' root beer! (Just kidding, I like that too!)

2. What is your favorite deep-fried food?

Either good french fries or fried chicken.

3. What is your favorite hot beverage?

I'm not a fan of hot beverages, but I do enjoy some hot cocoa on occasion.

4. What is your favorite really messy food?

Ribs! The reason god created fingers.

5. What is your favorite recipe for a blended or mixed beverage?

I don't drink, so I have no answer for this one.

Friday 5 - 3/13/09

Friday 5:

1. What’s your favorite frozen heat-and-eat food?

Once in a while we get these mini-brownies that stay in the freezer. I like to take them out of the freezer, put them on a plate, and heat in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds. That makes them very delicious!

2. How sensitive are you to cool temperatures?

I do get cold very easily, especially if I'm drinking a cold drink. I like cold drinks, so this happens a lot. What I really hate is how I get too cold, put on a sweatshirt or jacket, get too warm, take the sweatshirt or jacket off, and then get cold again.

3. How many ice-cube trays are there in your freezer?

We have an ice machine that spits the pieces of ice (they're more rectangles than cubes) into a big bin in the freezer.

4. What aspect of your life seems to be frozen in place?

The employment situation. I hope the economy gets better sooner than expected so I'll actually have a chance.

5. What’s your favorite blanket like?

It's red, maroon, green and black, sort of a plaid pattern. It's just warm enough - not too warm, but it will keep you toasty if you need to be toasty.

Friday 5 - 3/6/09

Another week, another five:

1. On March 6, 1869, Dmitri Mendeleev presented the first Periodic Table of the Elements to the Russian Chemical Society. What memories do you have of your high-school chemistry course?

I remember that my chemistry teacher was a very cool guy. He made chemistry seem fun and exciting. He was also one of the track coaches. He was a good teacher to have.

2. On March 6, 1899, the Bayer company registered aspirin as a trademark. When did you last take medication for pain?

A few weeks ago I took some pills for a headache of doom. They did not help the situation, so I didn't bother taking any more.

3. On March 6, 1853, Giuseppe Verdi’s opera La Traviata premiered in Venice. How do you feel about opera?

I've never really watched any opera. I think it's basically an earlier form of musical theater. I don't see anything wrong with that.

4. On March 6, 1947, American film director Rob Reiner (Meathead!) was born. Which of these Reiner-directed films have you seen, and what do you think of them?

* The Bucket List (2007)
* Rumor Has It… (2005)
* Alex & Emma (2003)
* The Story of Us (1999)
* Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
* The American President (1995)
* North (1994)
* A Few Good Men (1992)
* Misery (1990)
* When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
* The Princess Bride (1987)
* Stand by Me (1986)
* The Sure Thing (1985)
* This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Of the above, I've only seen This Is Spinal Tap. I think it's a hilarious movie. It has humor on many different levels. I like the more subtle types of humor that don't hit you over the head with hilarity. Sometimes humor is better when you have to think about it.

5. On March 6, 1972, American basketball-player Shaquille O’Neal was born. How do you feel about basketball?

I think basketball is a decent sport. It's more entertaining than football and baseball, but not as exciting as hockey. I do have fond memories of watching my school teams play basketball. There are few things more thrilling than that last-second shot to win the game.

As for Shaquille O'Neal, he's one of the more colorful characters that basketball has ever had. He's like a big tank, but with a sense of humor. I had one of his rap albums when I was a kid. He wasn't too bad at rapping, really, but he should stick to his (night) job.

Friday 5 - 1/30/09

Five:

1. In American football, a fumble occurs when the player carrying the ball drops it, often resulting in a great advantage for the other team. What have you recently fumbled in your own life?

I tried cooking chicken tonight, but didn't quite get the thigh done right. It's quite different from a breast, I have learned.

2. In American football, you have thrown an interception when someone from the other team catches the ball you meant for your teammate. Who’s often an interceptor of something you intend for someone else?

Sometimes when using the laser pointer to play with my cat, our dog will think I want to play with her instead.

3. One of the severest penalties in American football is for unsportsmanlike conduct, when a player doesn’t play according to the spirit of fair play. In what situations are you most likely to be a perpetrator of unsportsmanlike conduct?

In situations involving social cues that I misinterpret or just completely miss.

4. In American football, the concept of running low-risk plays that consistently gain a few yards at a time is called “moving the chains,” while the concept of going after huge gains with higher-risk plays is called the “vertical game.” In your personal life, are you more of a moving-the-chains player or a vertical-game player?

I definitely prefer to move the chains!

5. Sometimes in American football, the quarterback will, at the last moment, change his or her mind about the intended play, either to prevent what is likely to be a failure or to take advantage of a vulnerability in the other team. The method used in this play-change is often “calling an audible.” In what way have you recently called an audible in your life?

Lately, when I'm crossing the street, I will go back to the curb if I don't trust what the vehicles are doing. Drivers, don't pull into the crosswalk! I have little space to move as it is.

Friday 5 - 1/23/09

Five:

1. What types of blogs do you usually read?

I find that the concept of a blog has completely outgrown its origins. When I first started blogging, blogs were more like personal journals. Today, a blog is any page where content is updated on a consistent basis and usually not intended for further publication.

In light of the above, I read all kinds of blogs - entertainment blogs, music blogs, news blogs, and personal blogs. I also read some that don't really fit into any category.

2. What kinds of products do you usually buy when you shop online?

Most of the time I buy CDs or books. I don't buy online too much, but once in a while if it's something I can't get elsewhere.

3. What kinds of online videos do you usually spend time watching?

I don't watch online video too much, but music performances are always enjoyable.

4. Besides Friday 5, what weekly memes do you particularly enjoy?

I'm a frequent player of the Music Memoirs games. I'm a recent Sunday Scribbler. I also write a couple memes, but I've lost the habit of filling them out myself.

5. Where do you like to go for streaming online music?

Youtube or Myspace. Myspace really hit it out of the park with their new service. It's easy to use, and it has just about everything you'd want to hear.

Friday 5 - 1/16/08

Here's the Five:

1. Among your friends, who could be blown over by a strong wind?

My friend in Oklahoma. He's tall, but skinny.

2. What’s something in your house you occasionally wind?

I have no clue.

3. Is there some significant gossip you’ve recently gotten wind of?

I heard a rumor that a friend of mine may be moving closer to me sometime this year or next.

4. Where is the windiest place you’ve ever been?

Probably the Oregon coast. It gets very windy there.

5. What do you do, on a typical day, to unwind?

I surf the web, read, and listen to music.

Friday 5 - 1/2/09

Friday 5:

1. What’s a dish you always go back for seconds of, even if you know you’ve had enough?

Definitely lefse. I can never have enough of that.

2. For how many seconds can you hold your breath?

11 seconds.

3. What was the second-best thing about your New Year’s celebration?

Well, I didn't have one. I guess you can count yesterday's Redwings-Blackhawks game at Wrigley Field as celebratory. Second best thing about that was seeing it held at Wrigley Field. Best thing? The Wings won!

4. What was your most recent second-hand purchase?

An hour ago, I received a used copy of Neil Finn's One All album.

5. A second-degree burn on human skin can be identified by the blistering it causes. When did you last suffer a second-degree burn?

I really don't remember. I've had more cuts than burns.

Friday 5 - 12/19/08

Five:

1. What’s your favorite thing about the shoes you’re wearing (or the shoes you were most recently wearing)?

I like how comfortable they are. They're the most comfortable shoes I own.

2. What’s your favorite thing about the people you work with (or the people you go to school with)?

I don't work or go to school, but the last time I was in school, I appreciated the other students' knowledge (and how nice they all were).

3. What’s your favorite thing about the climate where you live?

Other than days like today, we generally get mild weather. No huge, destructive storms - just a lot of rain.

4. What’s your favorite thing about Friday?

The Friday 5, of course! (and the Top Five on Friday.)

5. What’s your favorite thing about the year coming to an end?

The positive outcome of the presidential election.

Friday 5 - 12/5/08

And now, the Friday 5:

1. When did you last have a mid-day nap?

Yesterday. If I lay down to read, sometimes I'll want to fall asleep.

2. When did you last have milk and cookies?

I don't drink milk, but my last cookie was yesterday. It was peanut butter and chocolate chip.

3. When did you last have a bubble bath?

Years and years.

4. When did you last jump on the furniture?

I have no reason to do that, so I'm not sure.

5. When did you last play in the mud?

I have no clue. That's another thing I don't typically do.

Friday 5 - 11/28/08

Black Friday five:

1. What’s a profession you believe to be overpaid?

Movie stars. Why do they get millions of dollars for one movie while your local theater major has to wait tables to survive?

2. Who’s a musician you believe to be overrated?

Axl Rose. His voice isn't very good, and he took way too long to make his latest album. Think about this - a baby born when Axl started the project would now be a junior or senior in high school!

3. What in your life could stand to be overhauled?

Probably the way I store things. Someday I'll run out of room for books and CDs.

4. What’s something interesting you recently overheard?

There were a couple of kids at the bus stop today who were using language that would make even Denis Leary blush.

5. Who is the most overextended person you know?

It seems like most people these days are overextended. Everyone needs some breathing room and time to relax.

Friday 5 - 11/21/08

Before the day ends, here's the five:

1. How’s your health?

It's not too bad. My arm is bothering me, but my allergies aren't bad and I'm not sick.

2. How was your day?

Pretty crazy. I was gone for most of the afternoon. Now that the weekend is here, I'm realizing just how behind on my reading I am.

3. How’s the weather?

Cold! But, thankfully, not raining.

4. How do you expect to get anywhere in life with an attitude like that?

You gettin' fresh with me?

5. How many people made you smile today?

A few.

Friday 5 - 11/14/08

Here's the five:

1. When did you last use the edge of a coin (or a knife blade) as a screwdriver?

I don't usually need a screwdriver, so I can't remember the last time this happened.

2. When did you last use a wire coat-hanger to break into a car?

Never. I don't have a car, and I certainly don't steal them.

3. When did you last use food or drink as medication?

Chocolate is my "happy pill."

4. When did you last use your cellular telephone as a flashlight?

Last year. I was out camping, and my flashlight died. That was a lifesaver!

5. When did you last use a paper clip for any purpose other than to clip paper?

I probably used it to clean something out sometime in the past year.

Friday 5 - 11/7/08

Five:

1. What usually marks the middle of your day?

Dinner, maybe? Afternoons usually aren't too eventful and certainly not consistent.

2. From whom (or to whom) was your most recent middle-of-the-night phone call?

I can't remember the last time I made or received a call in the middle of the night.

3. On what social, political, economic, or moral issue are you in the middle of the road?

Probably environmentalism. I do think we should protect the environment, but I'm not going to live in a tree or protest. Nor do I think we should just do as we like with our earth.

4. How likely are you to give someone your middle finger?

It depends on whether they're going to see it or not!

5. When were you last caught in the middle of a disagreement that really had nothing to do with you?

That seems to happen a lot. Human nature, I suppose.