Friday's Feast - 7/11/08

This week's Friday Feast:

Appetizer - When was the last time you had your hair cut/trimmed?

I believe it was about a month ago. In a few weeks, I'll probably need it cut again.

Soup - Name one thing you miss about being a child.

I really miss the ignorance of time. Now that I'm an adult, the days, the weeks, the months, and the years go by so fast. I don't remember being so aware of time moving fast when I was a kid. Kids aren't so preoccupied by what day it is or how many months have gone by in the year. Kids just live.

Salad - Pick one: butter, margarine, olive oil.

You can't beat butter. Olive oil is good, too, but I wouldn't use it in place of butter for some things. Margarine is the devil's work.

Main Course - If you could learn another language, which one would you pick, and why?

I would want to re-learn Norwegian. Why? Because I'm Norwegian, and because knowing Norwegian makes you interesting (in the U.S. at least, certainly not in Norway).

Dessert - Finish this sentence: In 5 years I expect to be…

In 5 years I expect to be employed. Yeah, getting a job is tough. I should have one by then, right?

Friday's Feast - 6/27/08

Time to feast!

Appetizer - What is the weather like today where you live?

Hot and sunny! I don't know what temps we had, but it was at least in the eighties, I think.

Soup - On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how career-minded are you?

Well, first I have to choose a career to be minded about. I suppose that's a 0.

Salad - What type of window coverings do you have in your home? Blinds, curtains, shutters, etc.?

Mostly blinds, I think. That's not something I care about too much.

Main Course - Name something that instantly cheers you up.

My cats! Hey, if you had a cat, you'd be cheery too.

Dessert - How many times do you hit the snooze button on a typical morning?

Usually I don't. However, if I've just been woken from a good dream, or I feel as if I need a little more sleep, I'll hit the button once.

Friday's Feast - 6/20/08

Open up for the feast:

Appetizer - If you could live on another continent for 1 year, which one would you choose?

I'd definitely want to live somewhere in Europe. Of course, some good parts of Europe are islands, but we're going to count them anyway.

Soup - Which browser do you use to surf the Internet?

Firefox, baby! I haven't yet upgraded to 3.0, because I'm going to wait for more extensions to become 3.0 compatible.

Salad - On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how much do you know about the history of your country?

General history? Probably about 5-6. Of course, it is impossible to know the total history of anything, because history is being made every day.

Main Course - Finish this sentence: Love is…

Love is taking turns with the CD player/radio.

Dessert - Have you ever been in or near a tornado?

No, thank god. They're cool to watch on TV, but the thought of being in one is quite scary.

Friday's Feast - 6/6/08

The feast is back after a vacation:

Appetizer - When you drink soda/pop/coke, do you prefer to drink it from the bottle, a can, or after pouring it into a cup?

I like my soda in a glass with ice. Maybe a straw too. There is one exception to this - Coca-Cola tastes best cold out of a can.

Soup - What television show are you willing to stay up late to watch?

I will occasionally stay up to watch Craig Ferguson's monologue/blathering. If Saturday Night Live has a good host, I'll stay up for that, too.

Salad - Name one person, place, or thing you think of as brilliant.

Google Earth is very brilliant. You can tour the world from your desktop!

Main Course - Would you be willing to work 4 10-hour days instead of 5 8-hour days in order to save gas?

If I actually drove, I think I might be willing to do that. I'd have less time in the evenings, but I'd have a three-day weekend to make up for it. I might also get home earlier if I stay late enough to beat rush hour.

Dessert - If you were a superhero, what would you call yourself?

I would be Cat Man. My superpower? I can summon a legion of cats to claw evildoers into submission.

Friday's Feast - 5/16/08

Enjoy the feast!

Appetizer - What is the nearest big city to your home?

Eugene, Oregon. We live just outside the city limits, and about 12 minutes by car from the city center.

Soup - On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how well do you keep secrets?

I think I'm a 9 at keeping secrets. I keep them pretty well.

Salad - Describe your hair (color, texture, length).

It's strawberry blonde, slightly long (grows up and out), and is mostly straight.

Main Course - What kind of driver are you? Courteous? Aggressive? Slow?

I'm a very safe driver - I don't drive at all!

Dessert - When was the last time you had a really bad week?

Probably a couple months ago. I don't usually have bad weeks.

Friday's Feast - 5/9/08

Who's hungry for a feast?

Appetizer - When someone smiles at you, do you smile back?

Of course I do! In most cases, you do it without thinking about it.

Soup - Describe the flooring in your home. Do you have carpet, hardwood, vinyl, a mix?

We have carpet in most rooms, tile in the kitchen and dining area, and tile in the laundry room and bathrooms.

Salad - Write a sentence with only 5 words, but all of the words have to start with the first letter of your first name.

Rachel Ray's red rottweiler runs.

Main Course - Do you know anyone whose life has been touched by adoption?

Yes - mine! Both of my siblings are adopted.

Dessert - Name 2 blue things.

Blueberries and ink.

Friday's Feast - 5/2/08

May is here, and so is Friday's Feast:

Appetizer - What was your favorite cartoon when you were a child?

The one that came immediately to mind was He-Man. I watched many other cartoons as a child, though. The 80s and 90s were great decades for cartoons.

Soup - Pretend you are about to get a new pet. Which animal would you pick, and what would you name it?

I'd most likely get a cat (and I'd wait until at least one of our current cats was in kitty heaven so there would be no fights). What would I name it? Natalie if a girl, Jimmy if a boy.

Salad - On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy getting all dressed up for a special occasion?

6 or 7. I don't do it that often, but it's pretty cool to do so when the opportunity presents itself.

Main Course - What kind of music do you listen to while you drive?

I don't drive, but if I did I would listen to whatever new CD I have or whatever I'm in the mood for that day.

Dessert - When was the last time you bought a clock? And in which room did you put it?

The only clock I have in here is my clock radio/alarm. That was back in 2001, I think. I did, however, get a new watch this past Christmas.

Friday's Feast - 4/25/08

Feasting begins now:

Appetizer - Name something you would categorize as weird.

David Byrne.

Soup - What color was the last piece of food you ate?

White and red - pizza!

Salad - On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy being alone?

Probably 7-8. I like being by myself.

Main Course - Fill in the blank: I will _________ vote for ___________ in _______.

I will not vote for John McCain in 2008.

Dessert - Describe your sleeping habits.

They're pretty consistent: Off to bed between midnight and 1 AM, up around 9-10. Sometimes I may go to bed later and get up later. Occasionally I'll get up earlier, depending on what I have to do that day.

Friday's Feast - 4/4/08

Feasting begins now:

Appetizer - Invent a new flower; give it a name and describe it.

I'll pass.

Soup - Name someone whom you think has a wonderful voice.

Singing voice or speaking voice? Lately I'm really enjoying the voice of Cathy Jordan of Dervish. And, of course, Alison Krauss.

Salad - On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how clean do you keep your car?

I don't have a car, so I guess that could be either a 1 or a 10.

Main Course - How do you feel about poetry?

I think poetry can be beautiful, but very hard to understand. I think it can mean more to the person who writes it than it does to the person who reads it.

Dessert - What was the last person/place/thing you took a picture of?

Literally, the last thing I photographed was a puddle. The last photo I took and kept? The one on this post.

Friday's Feast - 3/28/08

Let the feasting begin!

Appetizer - What does the color dark green make you think of?

The University of Oregon football team. Or Ireland. Any shade of green makes me think of Ireland.

Soup - How many cousins do you have?

I have eight cousins. So few that I can actually count them.

Salad - On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how honest are you?

Probably a 6 or 7. But I could be lying, couldn't I?

Main Course - Name something that is truly free.

Air.

Dessert - Using the letters in the word SPRING, write a sentence.

Uh, no. I'm here to answer questions, not work.

Friday's Feast - 3/21/08

And now the feast:

Appetizer - Given the choice, would you prefer to live in the country or in the city?

I'd definitely prefer to live in the city. I'd be closer to everything and not have to commute so far.

Soup - Who is the cutest kid you know?

My niece, of course!

Salad - Fill in the blank: I couldn’t believe it when I heard ___________.

I couldn't believe it when I heard that Barack Obama is coming to town (he's scheduled to speak a mere 30 minutes from now).

Main Course - If you could star in a commercial for one of your favorite products, which one would you want to advertise?

I know this is lame, but I love Ziploc bags so much that I would have no problem advertising them.

Dessert - What type(s) of vitamins and/or supplements do you take on a regular basis?

It's hard for me to swallow large, dry pills, so I've been experimenting with some chewables. They don't taste very good, but they're better than choking to death.

Friday's Feast - 3/14/08

Let the feasting begin!

Appetizer - On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 as highest), how much do you like your own handwriting?

I'll give it a 3. It's pretty bad, but not completely illegible.

Soup - Do you prefer baths or showers?

I prefer showers. I haven't taken a bath in years.

Salad - What was the last bad movie you watched?

I would say There Will Be Blood, but I've changed my opinion of it. I've only seen it once, and I've still changed my mind about it. I want to see it again.

Main Course - Name something you are addicted to and describe how it affects your life.

I'm addicted to chocolate. It affects my life by taking money from my wallet and taking time from my day to eat it.

Dessert - Which instrument is your favorite to listen to?

Oh, please. That answer changes all the time. Fiddle is always a favorite, and so is bass guitar.

Friday's Feast - 3/7/08

Hungry?

Appetizer - If you could be any current celebrity for one whole week, who would you want to be?

I'd want to be the other guy from Wham!, so that no one would bother me.

Soup - On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how much do you enjoy talking on the phone?

It really depends on who I'm talking to, but generally I'd say 2-3. Phones are tough when you don't process speech very well.

Salad - Name a charitable organization to which you have donated (or would like to).

I bought a Livestrong hat, the proceeds of which went to cancer research. So, in my own way, I've donated to cancer research organizations.

Main Course - What is a food you like so much you could eat it every single day for a month?

Pizza, without a doubt.

Dessert - Have you or anyone in your family had the flu this year?

I think we've had some close calls, but no full-out flu.

Friday's Feast - 2/29/08

The feast is ready!

Appetizer - Who was the last person you hugged?

Probably my mom.

Soup - Share a beauty or grooming trick or tip with us.

Smile. That's the best beauty tip of all.

Salad - What does the color yellow make you think of?

The Yellow Brick Road. And urine.

Main Course - If you were to make your living as a photographer, what subject would your pictures revolve around?

I'd say sunsets, but that doesn't necessarily depend on my talent. I think perhaps I'd be an architecture photographer. I'm pretty good at that.

Dessert - What was the longest book you ever read?

Could be 'The Beatles' by Bob Spitz. That one was eight hundred-plus pages.

Friday's Feast - 2/22/08

Here's this week's Feast:

Appetizer - Have you ever played a practical joke on anyone? If so, what did you do and who was your victim?

Oh, yes I have. When I was younger, a buddy of mine played a trick on me for my birthday, so I got him back. I got the biggest, longest box I could find, and taped the birthday card on the bottom. Then I filled it up with packing peanuts. The card said "I'm wearing your present," and I was wearing a brand new ball cap, which was his gift. To make it even funnier, he decided to open the gift up at the dinner table!

Soup - What do your salt and pepper shakers look like?

Brown.

Salad - Where is the next place you plan to visit (on vacation or business)?

The next place I plan to go is to class on Wednesday.

Main Course - What kind of lotion or cream do you use to keep your hands from getting too dry?

I don't do that.

Dessert - Make up a dessert, tell us its ingredients, and give it a name.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Milkshake. Take some vanilla ice cream, put it in a blender. Take some chocolate chip cookies (the number depends on their size), preferably soft ones, and put them in with the ice cream. Add a little milk, and blend until smooth.

Friday's Feast - 2/15/08

Feast is up!

Appetizer - Name one thing that is unique about you.

My name, I suppose. Other than that and my face, I don't think there's anything about me that is truly unique.

Soup - Fill in the blank: My favorite _________ is __________ but I like _________ too.

My favorite musical genre is Celtic but I like rock and roll too.

Salad - What type of wood do you have for your home’s furnishings?

The kind that comes from trees.

Main Course - Who do you talk to most often on the phone?

Probably my mentor.

Dessert - What level of responsibility do you have in your job?

None, because I'm currently jobless.

Friday's Feast - 2/1/08

Feast!

Appetizer - What is your favorite kind of cereal?

I don't really eat cereal anymore, but you can't go wrong with Frosted Flakes. Yum!

Soup - When was the last time you purchased something for your home, what was it, and in which room did it go?

Isn't everything I purchase for my home? Everything I buy ends up there eventually.

Salad - What is the funniest commercial you’ve ever seen?

I can remember these commercials for some internet service where normal folks would act like wild animals. That was pretty funny. I also enjoyed the Lipton Rice (I think that was the brand) commercials with Mr. T and Little Richard.

Main Course - Make up a name for a company by using a spice and an animal (example: Cinnamon Monkey).

Paprika Jaguar

Dessert - Fill in the blank: I haven’t ______ since ______.

I haven't had a function digital camera since last November (that must change this year!)

Friday's Feast - 1/25/08

Feast!

Appetizer - How many times per day do you usually laugh?

I don't know. I've never counted! Probably between ten and thirty times, depending on how many funny things I see or hear in a day.

Soup - What do your sunglasses look like?

They look like my regular glasses. Why? Because my regular glasses become sunglasses when I go outside! So cool.

Salad - You win a free trip to anywhere on your continent, but you have to travel by train. Where do you go?

Not much of anywhere right now - the tracks in part of our state are underneath a landslide. But, if I could go anywhere on train, I'd travel the west - Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, etc.

Main Course - Name one thing you consider a great quality about living in your town/city.

Without a doubt, living in Eugene is all about the trees. Our city is full of green everywhere you look, and I love it!

Dessert - If the sky could be another color, what color do you think would look best?

Well, the sky is never just one color, is it? It's black at night, and white when clouds arrive.

But, to answer the question - wouldn't it be crazy to have a purple sky?

Friday's Feast - 1/18/08

Here's the feast:

Appetizer - What is your favorite beverage?

Allowing a wide interpretation of the word 'beverage,' I'll choose a chocolate milkshake.

As for things that are only considered drinks, I think my favorite is Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash. Or any A&W product.

Soup - Name 3 things that are on your computer desk at home or work.

My cell phone, a mug full of pens and other useful items, and my iPod. I have a very large computer desk, by the way.

Salad - On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how honest do you think you are?

I think I'm a 6 or 7, something like that. But how do you know if I'm telling the truth about that?

Main Course - If you could change the name of one city in the world, what would you rename it and why?

I think I'd rename our sister city, Springfield. I'd change it to Kesey, Oregon. Or some other Springfield-related name. I think there are just far too many Springfields in the world. Let's pick something more original.

Dessert - What stresses you out? What calms you down?

Late buses stress me out.

Sleep calms me down.

Friday's Feast - 1/11/08

Who wants a feast?

Appetizer - What is your middle name? Would you change any of your names if you could? If so, what would you like to be called?

My middle name is Robert. I don't think I'd change any of my names because my name is part of my identity. However, making my last name easier to pronounce and spell would be nice.

Soup - If you were a fashion designer, which fabrics, colors, and styles would you probably use the most?

Next question, please.

Salad - What is your least favorite chore, and why?

Amazingly enough, hand-washing the dishes beats out cleaning the bathrooms. The bathrooms don't take too long, but the dishes do.

Main Course - What is something that really frightens you, and can you trace it back to an event in your life?

For some reason, I get really uncomfortable when people look at me through windows, in real life or on TV. Just the thought of it gives me the creeps. I can't trace it back to when I was younger.

Dessert - Where are you sitting right now? Name 3 things you can see at this moment.

I'm sitting at the computer desk, otherwise I wouldn't be writing this. What can I see? A binder, my almost-empty cup of beverage, and my cell phone.