Pond Prompts - 3/8/10

My Favorite Season

My favorite season would have to be summer.  Spring is nice too, as is fall.  Winter?  Too cold, too dark, too damp.  I like summer because the sun is constantly there to comfort with its warmth and brilliance.  I definitely like warmth, mostly because I live in a place that never really gets too hot.  I like not having to worry about weather conditions or whether I need to carry an umbrella or jacket.  It's a great time to get out and take photographs.  And, last but not least, we get a beautiful blue sky instead of gloomy clouds.

Name any life changing books you've read.

I'm not sure there are any books that have literally changed my life.  I've enjoyed them, but they have no effect beyond that.  I did recently read The Grapes Of Wrath, though, and that one taught me a lot about the Dust Bowl, which I was fairly ignorant of until recently.  It led me to research the topic in greater detail, always a welcome response to a novel.  

What type of person are you: a night owl or early bird?

I am most definitely a night owl.  It's easier for me to go to bed than to wake up.  The interruption of sweet sleep is never very welcome to me.  Sometimes I get a weird burst of energy late at night.  Often it will make me want to listen to music.  Perhaps the end of the day urges me to pack as much into the remaining time I have as I can.  Of course, that often prolongs the time I spend awake, but that's how it is.

Pond Prompts - 10/22/09

What helps you wake up in the morning?

The snooze button on my alarm clock!  When the alarm goes off the first time, I'm not quite ready to get up.  I push it a couple times and then I'm ready.  Also, the thought of breakfast tends to motivate me to get up.

What tourist attraction near you have you never seen?

Sadly, I have never been to Crater Lake.  Closer to home, I have never been to the top of either Skinner's or Spencer's Butte.   

Pick a crazy spot to have your next birthday party. Someone else is footing the bill.

Versailles Palace in France.  That place is so beautiful.

Pond Prompts - 8/27/09

It's time to see what questions I care to answer for your entertainment and amusement:

What continent would you most like to visit?

Europe. There are many different cultures in a small area, things are different from America (but not completely) and, most importantly, there is wonderful architecture everywhere you look! Are there any historic castles in the U.S.? Didn't think so!

What items in your house will command top dollar at an antique store in a century?

I bet my iPod Nano will be very much desired if it's ever sold in 100 years. I'm sure I probably have a book or two that would sell - most likely the poetry anthology from 1936. Some of my old sports cards might also fetch top dollar, especially the signed ones.

Name a book that was difficult to read

"Call It Sleep" by Henry Roth. The dad is a grade-A abusive, insane jerk and some (actually, many) of the passages are very hard to follow. Too many run-on sentences, Henry!

What was a good high school memory?

This is a good one to answer since my high school reunion is tomorrow. I don't really have one memory in particular, but what stands out in my mind are all the games I attended. Basketball, baseball, track, even swimming. It was a pleasure watching my fellow students compete. My other memory is graduation day. We were moving forward in our lives, but at the same time it felt like we had shared some special times and that day was the last time we'd ever do so all at once.

Pond Prompts - 6/18/09

Water, electricity, gas – old-fashioned and boring. What's the next thing that should be piped into your home?

There is only one correct answer to this question.

Bacon.

If you had to report for jury duty today, which book would you take with you?

I did have to report for jury duty (but didn't have to serve), and I took along a book by Chris Rock. If I had to go again, I don't think I'd take the book I'm currently reading (Sometimes A Great Notion). I might take along Bob Spitz's The Beatles. That would give me enough to read for an entire trial. I may be tempted to skip ahead to the part where the band actually forms, though.

What summer food are you most looking forward to?

Strawberries, always. Enjoying them is bittersweet, though, because you know they won't be around forever. Scientists, please come up with a year-round strawberry.

Pond Prompts - 5/20/09

Five places I would like to visit are:

1. Norway. I have Norwegian heritage, so this is my number one place I'd like to visit. I don't just want to go there because I'm Norwegian, though - it's also a very beautiful place with spectacular landscapes and charming cities.

2. Ireland. If there's a place as beautiful or more beautiful than Norway, it's Ireland. I can't wait to go there and sample some of the cuisine and listen to the pub sessions. I will feel right at home with all the green everywhere you look.

3. New York City. Actually, I have mixed feelings on going there. What if it doesn't live up to my expectations? What if it overwhelms me? How can I possibly get to know the place without living there for many years? In my heart, I do want to go, but I wouldn't be too disappointed to keep New York in my dreams.

4. The Azores. What? You ask. The Azores is a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean belonging to Portugal. I knew nothing of this place until I saw Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations episode there. It looks like a tropical paradise, every bit as gorgeous as Ireland. Not only that, but the people seem very friendly and welcoming. The food looks amazing too, at least the things I would enjoy.

5. Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Those mountains look spectacular. Ansel Adams knew them, and he let us see them through his photography. This would be the easiest trip for me to do, what with Wyoming being just a few states over from Oregon.

I'd also like to someday visit India, although I have mixed feelings about that one, too. It's a grand place, but it is nothing like America. It will be very foreign to me, and possibly overwhelming, not to mention really hot. However, I would like to go because it's one of the most enchanting places in the world, and because my sister is from there and I want to see her place of birth.

Pond Prompts - 3/12/09

Let's see what I can do with the horribly-named Plinky:

Paul Simon was going to Graceland, Toto blessed the rains down in Africa – what place would you write a song about?

I'm sure I'd write a song about my great state of Oregon. I don't know too many Oregon songs. Loretta Lynn did have a hit with "Portland, Oregon" a few years ago, but that's the only one I can think of.

'Frankly, Rosebud, you can't handle the truth!' Have a favorite line from a movie?

I do love "I'm talkin' about - takin' it out and choppin' it up" from The Royal Tenenbaums, just because it's nonsense. Ghostbusters has a lot of great lines - "When someone asks you if you're a god, you say yes!" "I collect spores, molds and fungus." Heath Ledger's Joker has some great lines in The Dark Knight too - "You have all these rules and you think they'll save you!" or "I'm just a dog chasing cars - I wouldn't know what to do if I caught one." I won't even get into This Is Spinal Tap because the entire movie is quotable.

Animal face-off! Who would win in a fight between a bear and a shark?

Stephen Colbert tells us that bears are the greatest threat America has ever faced. I think a bear would probably win in a fight with a shark. For one thing, a bear can just get back up onto land if need be. A bear wouldn't be swimming out in the open ocean in the first place. A shark has sharp teeth, indeed, but a bear has sharp teeth and claws. Finally, if the bear is having problems in his fight, he can just call in his secret weapon, Yogi Bear. He's smarter than the average bear, and he knows how to get your pic-a-nic basket. I'd like to see a shark try that.

Pond Prompts - 2/5/09

What did you do before we had the Internet?

I definitely watched a lot more TV than I do today. I can't remember exactly what I watched, but I certainly watched MTV. In those days, MTV was still cool and still showed good shows and videos.

I also read a lot. As above, I don't remember my exact reading habits. I also collected/organized/looked at sports cards, hockey in particular. I know this seems quaint in today's world, but at one time children enjoyed collecting pieces of thin cardboard with pictures of athletes on them. Crazy, huh?

Of course, I listened to music. It was mostly radio back in those days - always, always, 104.7 KDUK, the Top 40 station. Anything else was just not cool.

I first started using the internet at the public library. The compute room was upstairs, and I think there were only 12 computers to use. You could use them for an hour at a time, but I recall being there for two hours sometimes. It just depended on how much demand there was. I was fascinated with all the cool sites one could explore. At the time, these were mostly hockey sites for me. By the time I got to college, high-speed internet had arrived. All the students in the dorms used that speedy service constantly, and our lives were forever changed.

Pond Prompts - 12/10/08

My favorite ______ right now is...

My favorite morning activity right now is staying under my blankets to keep out the cold while my animals sleep next to me. When the weather gets cold like this, I do not like getting out of bed!

I want to become friends with...

I want to become friends with the person with all the answers. We need some answers right now, and I need some answers for myself. Answers can bring great power.

Chocolate makes me...

Chocolate makes me feel really, really good. It's like a drug, really. Not quite as addictive, but just as pleasing, or so I hear.

Pond Prompts - 9/18/08

If money didn't matter, what job or career would you go for?

I think it would be cool to be a music historian. I like music, of course, and I also enjoy learning about how music has changed and evolved. I enjoy learning about the roots of the sounds we hear today.

Something that I enjoy doing for a friend . . .

I like to send letters. Not emails, but actual letters. Of course, I don't tell my friend I'm sending it, so it's a complete surprise. I don't do it too often, just once in a while. Of course, we keep in touch in other ways, but it's always nice to get a piece of mail that you can save forever.

Pond Prompts - 9/4/08

I apologize for the lack of interesting posts here lately. Blogging, for me, is a roller coaster. There are ups, and there are downs. I really admire bloggers who can not only post once a day, but several times a day. I admire bloggers who post unique thoughts and observations. I admire bloggers who do it better than I do.

Here are some prompts:

What is the essential core of friendship for you?

For me, the essential core of friendship isn't something you can put into words. It's a feeling. It's a connection. It's a sense of comfort.

If I have to use a word, I'll mention loyalty. I've had some disagreements with friends in the past. Not too many, but a few. The true friendships have survived those rough spots. I think friendship is caring for the other person even when you disagree with them; even when they annoy you; even when you need to take a break from them. When the bad feelings pass, you're left with the desire to reconnect and keep the friendship living and strong.

If you could invent anything new, what would it be?

I would invent yummy goodies (candy, ice cream, soda, meats, etc.) that are not bad for you, but actually nutritious! Wouldn't eating healthy be easier if it tasted like chocolate?

Pond Prompts - 8/13/08

10 things I've done or said that I'm proud of

Ok, it's time to brag a little!

1. Made it onto the local newspaper's youth section in my senior year of high school. Huge accomplishment, considering only about 20 kids made the team each year.
2. Graduated from college.
3. Had a photo printed in the Eugene Weekly.
4. Volunteered.
5. Saw The Chieftains live.
6. Helped friends in times of need.
7. Successfully advocated for my needs and stood up to a system.
8. Was exhibited in a local photo contest twice.
9. Took great photos at my cousin's wedding.
10. Started a blog!

Do we really need more than fifty kinds of shampoo?

No, we don't. However, companies know they can make money if they convince us that we do, in fact, need that many kinds of shampoo. They know that we'll buy something if it promises to work better, or differently, than the other guy's product. They know that making different products for different groups of people will allow them to make tons of money from the same basic product.

I must say, though, that I prefer this setup to a situation where someone tells you what product you'll use, no matter how bad or ineffective it is. Yay democracy! Yay capitalism!

Pond Prompts - 5/21/08

It's time for me to get back into the swing of blogging. Here's a prompt for you to read:

My 10 greatest joys

1) Friends
2) Family
3) Music
4) The printed word
5) Photography
6) My pets
7) Sleep
8) Chocolate
9) The internet
10) Memories

Pond Prompts - 3/26/08

My favorite song right now is...

One song I've really been enjoying lately is "Girlfriend Is Better" by Talking Heads. I like how funky it is, how rhythmic it is. I especially enjoy the bass line by Tina Weymouth. She did it on a synthesizer, not a bass guitar, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a killer bass part. It's the foundation of the whole song. I like the wobbly effect Tina puts on the last part of each repetition of the bass line. The "stop making sense" part is cool too. Overall, this song really rocks.

Are you afraid of death?

You know, the more I think about it, the more I think I shouldn't be afraid of it. To be afraid of something is to assume you will feel some sort of effect from whatever it is you're afraid of. I have no clue what happens after death, but I suspect nothing happens at all. If I won't be around to know I'm dead, what's the problem? Things don't work that way for people, because we value life. We value life so much that we fear death.

Ask me again in about 60 years and I might have a different, more definitive answer.

Pond Prompts - 2/23/08

Did you have a favorite TV show as a child or youth? Or radio show?

Of course, I was into cartoons as a kid. The 80s were a great time for Saturday morning cartoons. I remember liking He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. I remember liking Thundercats and Smurfs. When I was older, I also enjoyed the good Disney cartoons - Gummi Bears, Ducktales, Darkwing Duck. I bet you can sing each of those theme songs, can't you?

I can also remember enjoying You Can't Do That On Television (I heard that!), Dukes of Hazzard, and of course, Ramblin' Rod (it's an Oregon thing).

In summary - I watched a lot of TV as a child!

Describe a trip downtown as a youngster.

My fondest memories of downtown as a child are the birthday shopping trips that my grandmother would give us. Back then, downtown Eugene was mostly closed to traffic. There were many more shops and stores to shop at, too. I remember the big fountain on Willamette and Broadway, which I was always thrilled to see. What I remember most, though, was the place we always went during those trips - Woolworth's. We had lunch at the lunch counter and I would always have a grilled cheese.

Now, Woolworth's is gone, all the streets have traffic, and there aren't as many good places to shop. But if you like bars, there are many bars to seek out!

Pond Prompts - 1/24/08

It's really cold here in Eugene! It got down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit when I woke up at 9 this morning. I had to wear both my sweatshirt and my fleece jacket. I've never done that before, but it was so cold that I needed to.

Here's a prompt for your enjoyment:

If you could have three wishes, what would they be?

1. Perfect health for the rest of my days.

2. Financial security for the rest of my days.

3. A perfect, photographic memory (with the ability to block out the bad memories, of course).

#1 would fit in with #2 because perfect health means no health care costs. #2 is pretty self-explanatory. #3 would ensure that, no matter what I read, hear, see and learn, it will always be accessible no matter where I am or what I'm doing. I had to add on the 'but' because, of course, remembering everything means remembering the horrible things too. So I'd choose to have the ability to block memories when I wish.

Pond Prompts - 1/17/08

A degree is...

A piece of paper, really. Its usefulness is to prove to others that you've been educated. The things you've learned (facts, skills, and life lessons) and the experiences you've had are all more important than the piece of paper you get for your effort. Even if you don't get a job out of it, I think the college experience is still worthwhile. Why does education have to be about economic worth? Isn't improving yourself, improving your mind just as important?

What remains constant in your life?

My family.

You know, I can't think of a better answer than that. Friends come and go (but some stay). Values shift and change. Circumstances rise and fall. But what is truly constant? The love and support of my family.

Well, I guess there's one more thing. My love of reading. I need to eat, I need to sleep, I need to breathe. I also need to read.

Pond Prompts - 1/11/07

What is the greatest lesson you've learned so far in your life?

I don't know if this is really a "lesson" or not, but one thing I've definitely learned about life is that nothing - nothing - is ever 100% certain until it actually happens.

My favorite ______ right now is...

My favorite song right now is "Dear Prudence" by The Beatles

My favorite album right now is Get Happy!! by Elvis Costello

My favorite artists right now are Elvis Costello and The Beatles

My favorite drink right now is Diet 7-Up (Try it! It's seriously good!)

My favorite website right now is A.V. Club. They post such entertaining articles and interviews.

Pond Prompts - 12/27/07

Who inspires you?

In all ways - my friend Beth. I've never known someone so creative in my whole life. She's constantly working on a project or coming up with a new one. She's full of ideas and makes creativity an important part of her life. That's what I need to do. She encourages my photography, critiques my photos and writing, and keeps me motivated to keep blogging. She's the one who urged me to start a blog in the first place.

Musically - the Afro Celt Sound System. Of course, I don't play any instruments, but they set the standard for what I expect out of my music: How it makes me feel. How it refreshes my mind, body and soul. The quality and attention put into the music by the people who make it. They are, by far, my favorite band.

Photographically - Anyone who does quality work. Anyone who sees things differently. Anyone who creates a photo that makes me stop and really look. The above inspires me to step up and create my own wonderful images. Looking at good photography makes me want to do good photography.

Pond Prompts - 11/27/07

It's been a while since I've done one of these, so I'll do one now to give you something to read!

My motivation for living right now is...

Quite simply - the future. All the things I have yet to do. All the places I have yet to see. All the things I have yet to accomplish. All the people I have yet to meet. I'm not a religious man, and I'm not sure what happens after death. Because of that uncertainty, I think we should appreciate life while we still have it.

How do you feel about the holidays?

I'm mostly positive about the holidays. For one thing, it gives me something to look forward to. I'm uncomfortable if I don't have that. I also like the tradition of it all. Traditions bring memories. I suppose it all depends on whether your memories are positive or negative. Mine are positive.

As the years go by, I'm less focused on the gift part of the holidays. Sure, they're nice to get. But if I don't get them, I can always buy them myself! What I do enjoy is giving gifts to others. I enjoy giving even more than others enjoy getting. I try to put a lot of thought into my gifts. Even if I can't get something original or special, at least I give things with love. Nothing makes me happier than people appreciating a gift I've given them.

Pond Prompts - 11/8/07

How do you feel about celebrating your birthday?

I love my birthday! It's a holiday all about me! The one tradition I try to keep is having my family take me out to dinner. I think you should do whatever is special and unusual for you. When I was in college, I'd come home for my birthday dinner because I didn't get too many home-cooked meals when I was there.

What's your secret recipe?

Take one great bassist, like Bruce Thomas of the Attractions.

Add Stevie Ray Vaughan, the master, on guitar.

Mix in some Ann Wilson or Jeff Buckley on vocals.

Stir in a great rhythm guitarist, like Brad Whitford of Aerosmith.

Finally, add a dash of power with late drummer John Bonham.

Now you've got yourself one great rock band!