BEGONE, USELESS DRIVEL!

(I’m really hyper, sorry)

1. Of the five weekdays, which is the easiest to get through?
I’ve always liked Tuesdays. It’s a running day, so it’s off to a good start, and it’s early enough in the week that you still feel like you have time to accomplish stuff if you’re super busy. The only bad thing about Tuesdays is that they precede Wednesdays. Wednesday is probably my least favorite weekday.

2. Which of the five little piggies is the most bizarrely characterized?
I don’t know if it’s necessarily a bizarre characterization, but the one that went “wee, wee, wee” all the way home is the most intriguing. Where’s he going home from? The market? Did he escape? WHY YOU SQUEALING, BRO, THEY’LL FIND YOU AND CATCH YOU

3. Of fire, earth, metal, water, and wood, from which do you draw your power?
WHERE IS AIR I’M AN AIR SIGN GODDAMMIT
Well, of the elements listed, I’m going with fire. Mainly because 1) it’s the element associated with my Chinese zodiac year of birth, and 2) FIRE = RAGE

4. Haribo Gummy Bears come in five flavors: pineapple (white), strawberry (green), raspberry (red), lemon (yellow) and orange (orange). Which is your favorite?
They all taste the same to me.

5. Which of the five basic tastes (sweetness, sourness, bitterness, saltiness, and savoriness) best describes your personality?
I’d say savory. Do I exist as a separate taste? Or am I an amalgamation of salty and sweet? Am I overwhelming? DO YOU WANT ME????

Fun activity (for me, not for you): find an old survey as you’re working on your blog archives and see how many of your answers have changed. Old answers that are no longer relevant are crossed out. Old answers that still apply are…well, just there, haha.

READY GO

1. What is your middle name?
  Marie

2. How big is your bed?
  Twin I think it’s a queen?

3. What are you listening to right now?
  The NEDM song. Some obnoxious magpie outside.

4. What are the last 4 digits in your cellphone number?
  -5120 -2292.

5. What was the last thing you did?
  Taped cellophane over my light. Haha. Walked home from SaveOn.

6. Last person who drove you somewhere?
  My mom Nate.

7. How is the weather right now?
  It’s cold ‘cause it’s dark, but it was nice and warm today Hot, but not too hot. That’s coming later this week.

8. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
  My mom

10. Favorite type of Food?
  Anything carbs, haha.

11. Do you want children? How many?
  NO!

12. What is a strange fact about you?
  Can’t smell

13. Ever get so drunk you don’t remember the entire night?
  Nope

14. Hair color?
  Black

15. Eye color?
  Hazel

16. Do you wear eye contacts?
  Nope

17. Favorite holiday?
  Christmas

18. Favorite Season?
  Summer I don’t think I have one anymore.

19. Have you ever cried over a girl/boy?
  Unfortunately

20. Last Movie you watched?
  Don’t remember

21. Something you can’t wait for?
  Grad school Death.

22. Do you chew ice?
  Ew

23. McDonalds or Burger King?
  McDonalds

24. Would you like some beer? milk? bologna?
  Milk sounds good right now Nah.

25. Do you know what the snack that smiles back is?
  GOLDFISH!

26. Are you feeling extra happy today?
  Pfft NEVER

27. Good or evil?
  Good

28. Favorite disney movie?
  Toy Story, bitches!

29. What book are you reading?
  Hawking’s Brief History of Time Nabokov’s Pale Fire.

30. Piercings?
  Earlobes and an industrial in my right ear Two in my right lobe, one in my left, the industrial healed over.

31. Favorite Movie?
  Apollo 13 is pretty awesome

32. Favorite MLB Team?
  The Braves, just ‘cause of my mom METS!

33. What were you doing before this?
  Just sitting here Crying.

34. Any pets?
  Annabelle, Romeo, both cats Pepper, a cat.

35. sun tan or tanning bed?
  Neither

36. Who’s your favorite anchorman?
  Um…

37. Luke or Owen Wilson?
  Not a big fan of either.

38. Favorite Flower?
  Oregon Grapes

39. What movie do you look forward to seeing?
  Watchmen! Fantastic Four.

40. Have you ever loved someone?
  Yes

41. Who would you like to see right now?
  Aaron! Leibniz.

42. Last time you cried?
  Couple nights ago A few minutes ago.

43. Last game you played?
  Gears of War 2 Mahjongg.

44. Do you like to travel by plane?
  Yup NO I HATE IT NOW.

45. Right-handed or Left-handed?
  Right

46. If you could go to any place right now where would you go?
  Antarctica!

47. Are you missing someone?
  Nah My mom.

48. Ever notice how songs you loved when you were little, are even more dirty now?
  Hahahaha, Barbie Girl

49. Do you have a tattoo?
  Unfortunately not

50. Do you still watch cartoons on Saturday morning?
  Don’t have a TV Have a TV, but nope.

51. Are you hiding something from someone?
  Yeah Eh.

52. Are you 18?
  Nope, 21 Hahahaha. Haha. Nope.

53. What is the wallpaper on your cellphone?
  I think it’s a bunch of clocks LEIBNIZ.

54. Did you get enough sleep last night?
  For me, yes

55. First thing you thought about this morning?
  Do I have to do this again? Really?

57. Grilled or fried?
  Depends on what we’re talking about

58. What’s your favorite SNL cast member?
  The only one I know is (was?) Will Farrell

59. When’s the last time you saw your best friend(s)?
  Couple days ago Don’t have a best friend.

60. Are you afraid of the dark?
  Nope

61. When was your last road trip?
  Missoula! Best time ever Our trip down the West Coast. 2015.

63. First thing you will buy if given 50 thousand dollars?
  A ticket to Antarctica Something for my mom. Whatever she wants.

64. Favorite song(s)?
  Sleepyhead!! Sleepyhead is still up there, but Call on Me has surpassed it.

65. What are you afraid of?
  Failure

66. Are you a giver or a taker?
  I like to think I’m a giver

67. What do people call you for short?
  Aaron calls me Claudsie Nothing.

68. What is your dads middle name?
  Louis

69. What’s your mothers middle name?
  Ann

71. Favorite commercial?
  No idea “AARON BURR!” If you know, you know.

72. Whos your cell phone provider?
  AT&T? Freedom.

74. Favorite color?
  Orange!

75. What are the things you’ll always bring with you?
  My wallet…something to write on/write with…that’s about it My USB backups, haha.

76. What did you want to be when you were a kid?
  A glaciologist

77. What do you usually do when the clock turns 7am
  Get angry at my alarm I’m usually out running or walking, at least in the summer.

78. The color of your bed sheets?
  Tye-dye White-ish?

79. Who do you want to meet?
  LEIBNIZ!

80. if you could sleep with anyone, who would it be?
  LEIBNIZ!

To be fair, though, I’m going through my old blog archives and I used to do these WAY more frequently, hahaha.

do you think it’s weird for someone to have never tried soda?
Nope. I’d actually belong to the “never tried soda” category except for the fact that I’m pretty sure I accidentally tried Sprite or some other clear soda when I was a kid (I thought it was water. It was not water. It was terrible, haha).

is there any foreign film you recommend?
Yes! The Triplets of Belleville. I had to be sleep-deprived for an EEG back in 10th grade and I watched this in like hour 23 of no sleep. It was a trip, hahaha. 99% of it has no dialogue, and 99% of that 1% of dialogue is song.

do you have the same religious beliefs as your parents?
One of my parents, yes. I think.

which floor of your house/building are you on now?
I’M IN MY OFFICE OH GOD

are there any maps hanging in your room?
Not at home, no, but I have this “map” of the Mandelbrot Set in my office.

are you often a third wheel? or is someone a third wheel to you?
A third wheel stabilizes things. I don’t stabilize anything. I’m like the fifth wheel in a group.

what’s the last dvd you bought?
That is a fantastic question. No idea.

tell me about your favorite pair of jeans.
I’m not much of a jeans person, but I have a pretty cool pair from…I can’t remember what store, haha…but they’re kind of retro and bell-bottomed.

would you ride a motorcycle if given the chance? (or have you?)
I don’t think I’d want to.

is your hair healthy?
My hair is a menace.

if a hotel offered free breakfast in bed, what would you order?
Probably what I used to get at The Pantry: eggs, bacon, biscuit.

how often do you take a train?
Like, an actual train? I’ve never been on an actual train. I’ve taken LRT in the form of the Sky Train and the C-Train, though.

what’s your favorite led zeppelin song?
“Immigrant Song” is good.

does your home have a balcony/deck/porch?
Yup!

what does your closet/wardrobe say about you?
That I’m not afraid to wear bright, bold colors.

do you enjoy theatre?
Sure.

how would you feel about traveling abroad alone?
I hate traveling.

how do you treat yourself?
Like I deserve: poorly.

do you have an interesting passport?
As in, does my passport have a lot of stamps? It did back when they’d stamp your passport at the border. They don’t seem to do that anymore. I don’t think I have any stamps in either of my passports.

are you going to pursue a career according to what you enjoy?
Already doing it!

what happens to your old clothes?
Define “old.” I still have some clothes from high school that I wear.

what’s your favorite frozen treat?
I’ve always liked Klondike Bars, but cold stuff hurts my teeth now.

who supports you financially?
Me!

if you wanted to go to the movie cinema, how would you get there?
I’d walk. There’s a Cineplex (?) at Market Mall.

how many pillows are on your bed?
One on the couch (which is basically my bed, haha), two on the bed bed.

would you pay more for organic food?
Meh.

have you ever had a crush on a sibling’s friend or a friend’s sibling?
Don’t have a sibling.

do you prefer being awake after everyone goes to bed or before they get up?
I do both, hahaha. I have problems.

how would you make friends in a quiet class?
I DON’T NEED FRIENDS I AM ROBOT

are you generally a quick learner?
For most things, I’d say, yes.

what’s your favorite spot to read?
On the treadmill.

did you know that buddha is not considered a god to buddhists?
Yup. “If you see Buddha in the road, kill him.”

do you save tickets from movies, etc.?
I think I still have my ticket from “Watchmen” back in 2008. But that’s it.

teach me something in another language.
Like how to say something? The French word for “misfortune” is “malheur,” which is super close to the spelling of my last name and is pronounced the same way, malheureusement (unfortunately).

what type of music do you like and why?
Anything that has a good beat, gives a good vibe, brings on the frisson, or  makes me cry.

if you randomly want to eat something in the house, do you eat it or wait?
Depends on what it is.

who knows the most about you (besides yourself)?
My mom.

do you have a nervous habit? (e.g. biting nails, tapping feet, smoking)
I have many. Let’s not get into that.

how’s your favorite pro sports team doing lately?
This is not a question you should ask Mets fans.

would you be/are you a good role model to a younger sibling?
I don’t have any siblings, but I like to think I’d be a decent role model.

SURPRISE IT’S A SURVEY

What star sign is the last person you text messaged?
Taurus.

How did you feel when you woke up today?
Blah.

Who was your best friend 5 years ago? 
Didn’t have one.

Do you still talk to that person?
See above.

Do you know what the person you have feelings for is doing at this moment? 
He’s in the back room.

When was the last time you had an alcoholic drink? 
Man…2009? I had a shot of whiskey and almost died, haha.

Who was the last person to make you cry with laughter? 
Nate.

Who was the last person you talked about sex/relationships with?
Nate?

How do you feel about answering sexual questions when filling in surveys?
I find them boring. Ask me about Leibniz. OR WOULD THAT BE A SEXUAL QUESTION OHOHOHOHO

Who was the last person you Facebook messaged? Are they in a relationship?
I actually have no idea who I messaged on Facebook last. I only use Facebook for stalking.

Have you felt your heart racing today? 
No.

In your phone, who is the first contact listed under ‘R’?
Scott.

How did you meet him/her? 
Work.

Who introduced you to the person you have feelings for?
OK Cupid, haha.

When was the last time you did something which you knew was wrong?
I do wrong things like every second.

Do you still speak to your first love?
No.

Do you think you act older or younger than your actual age?
HAHAHA definitely younger.

Is there someone you would like to meet of the opposite sex?
LEIBNIZ OMFG WHO ELSE EVEN MATTERS

Where is the furthest place you’ve traveled?
Like…from where I was born? Helsinki, Finland.

Which do you prefer, to eat or sleep?
Run. I prefer to run.

Do you look more like your mom or your dad?
My dad, definitely.

How long does it take you to shower?
Too long. I try to be fast but I suck at it, mainly because I spend half the time adjusting the shower curtain so that no cold outside air can get in around the edges.

Who likes you right now mere then a friend?
Probably my husband? Hopefully?

Can you do splits?
Absolutely not.

Are you flexible?
See above. Well, except for my tongue. I can do weird things with my tongue (giggity).

What did you do on New Year’s Eve? Was your mom there?
I cried, because that’s New Year’s Eve tradition. My mom was not there.

Can you speak any other language than English?
I’m trying to learn French. I’d say I’m at a B1 level.

What is the last letter of your middle name?
E.

How many hours of sleep did you get last night?
Uh…three?

Do you wear your seatbelt in the car?
Duh.

Are you scared of flying?
Nah. I just don’t like it.

What do you sleep in?
An old Bloomsday shirt and undies.

Who was the last person you kissed?
Husband!

Do you like funny people or serious people?
Both. Or neither. Depends on how I’m feeling.

What are you listening to?
Nothing.

What jewelry do you wear all the time?
I don’t wear any jewelry all the time.

What do you have planned for tonight?
Making broccoli. Watching Riverdale for the 100th time. Hating every aspect of my being. Y’know, the usual.

Also: a survey!

1. Rosehip tea: Which book did you love when you were younger?
How young are we talking, here? Because I’ve loved The Caine Mutiny since the first time I read it, which was back when I was twelve, so…

2. Oolong tea: Which book series could you read again?
I am slowly re-reading all The Baby-Sitters Club books in between my “adult” books, because 1) they’re like $4 each on Kindle and 2) I have autonomy and can read what I want.

3. Rooibos: What is one of your favourite books?
The Caine Mutiny is still my #1. The Great Gatsby is up there, too.

4. Strawberry tea: Tell me about your first kiss, if you had one.
We were at a drag show. We were both in drag. “Sex Tonight” was blasting over the speakers. It was inevitable, really.

5. Apple tea: Tell me about your first break up, if you had one.
No.

6. Earl Grey: Which countries have you visited?
Canada (before I moved here), Sweden, Finland, England.

7. Chai: Where do you want to travel next?
I don’t like traveling anymore, but I’ll always be happy to go back to Moscow. I already miss it and I was just there like a week ago.

8. Darjeeling: What languages do you speak?
English and a bit of French.

9. Hop tea: Do you have a favourite tea? Which one?
See this blog.

10. Herbal tea: Which person would you chose to travel the world with?
I don’t want to travel the world.

11. Nettle tea: Are you jealous on a person? Why?
Yes. Because I’m garbage and everyone else is better than me.

12. Ice tea: Do you miss somebody? Why?
I sometimes miss having friends.

13. Yellow tea: What shampoo do you use?
Monday.

15. Ceylon tea: Do you have a song you like, but have bad memories with?
Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters.” Beautiful song. Wonderful song. But it remind me of Rob.

16. Hibiscus tea: What is a song you can always hear?
Like…play in my head as if I’m listening to it? Pretty much all of them, haha.

17. Flowering tea: What is a movie you can always watch?
Mystery Men. Apollo 13.

19. Turkish tea: What is your favourite cake?
German chocolate cake, though it’s been a long time since I’ve had any.

20. Green tea: What was the first movie you saw in a cinema?
I have no idea. But the first one I remember seeing in the theater is Toy Story 2, for some reason.

21. Blueberry-Muffin tea: Tell me a memory, which makes you smile.
Noodle Fridays with the gang.

22. Panda tea: Do you have pets? Which one?
Yes! We have a Pepper. She’s wild.

24. Hot chocolate: Do you have (a) stuffed animal(s) sitting in your room? Which one(s)?
Missy Witch Witch is sitting on my suitcase right now.

25. 24 flavors: What is your favourite word?
Syzygy.

26. Jasmin tea: Can you draw / paint? Wanna show me something?
You be the judge.

27. Kombucha: What do you order on a pizza?
Extra olives. I’m cool like that.

28. Cloud tea: Which movie do you want to watch next?
Eh.

29. Gunpowder tea: If you had the chance: would you go to space?
YES

Ahem.

Why did you start blogging in the first place?
Kind of as a joke, haha. I got peer-pressured by some of my high school friends into getting a MySpace (remember MySpace??) back in 2006. So I did, on May 1st of that year, and I decided on a whim to make a blog post. I jokingly said I’d try to post a blog a day for 50 days and, well…we see how that’s gone.

Have you blogged on other platforms before?
I’m on WordPress now; I started on MySpace.

How do you write your posts? For example, in a local editing tool, or in a panel/dashboard that’s part of your blog?
I used to just type my blog out straight in the “New Blog” entry field, but I lost far too many blog posts that way when I’d accidentally hit the back button or the internet would crap out as I posted and it was lost forever (MySpace didn’t allow blog drafts, as far as I remember). Now I write all my blogs in a big-ass Word document. In fact, that’s what I’m doing right now! Screenshot:

The months marked “[DONE]” are the months for which I’ve posted all the blog posts. The “TO WRITE” section contains some ideas I have for future blog posts. I have to start a new Word document every year or so because they get so big and I’m worried about them getting corrupted. I think I still have all the old ones back through 2018…which is kind of sad.

When do you feel most inspired to write?
When I’ve got something to rant about, haha. When I’m angry or passionate about something. Or if something happens at work that PISSES ME OFF.

Do you publish immediately after writing, or do you let it simmer a bit as a draft?
HAHAHAHAHAHA

What are you generally interested in writing about?
Anything. I love that my blog doesn’t have a theme to it. I love being able to post a rant one day, a cool space fact or find the next, and then a dumb YouTube vid the following day. While I did like my “This Week’s Science Blog” series that I did for a while, it’s nice not to even have a weekly “thing” that I have to figure out all the time.

Though those science blogs did force me to look up more science-y stuff, so…maybe that wasn’t such a bad idea.

Who are you writing for?
Me. Others can come along if they want, but it’s written for me and my memories and as an archive of my life.

What’s your favourite post on your blog?
I have a list of my Top 10!

I still think my #1 on that list is my #1. What if the founding fathers had drafted the Declaration of Independence in a chatroom? Having John Hancock type in the biggest, most obnoxious font is like the funniest idea I’ve ever had, hahaha.

Any future plans for your blog? Maybe a redesign, a move to another platform, or adding a new feature?
Currently the big “plan” is to make it to 10,000 blogs. September 15, 2033. We’ll see what happens after that. I’m sure there will be several redesigns in the interim, too, though I never really plan those.

Who else do you want to tag?
I have no one to tag. No one blogs anymore and it’s SAD.

Same thing, really.

If you had 3 dozen eggs right now, what would you do with them?
Probably put them in the fridge. Then make scrambled eggs over the course of like three months.

Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?
I danced with Rob at night once, does that count?

Is cheese one of your favorite food items?
Cheese freaking rules.

Do you like ham and eggs?
I like eggs, but I don’t like ham.

Do you like the band Atreyu?
I don’t think I’ve ever consciously heard a song of theirs.

They’re amazing aren’t they?
Uh, sure?

Where is your favorite place to go on Tuesday?
Running. I go to a place…in my mind.

Ever listen to Asia?
Again, probably, but not consciously.

Do you like any bands from the 80’s?
Duh.

Ever eat smoked sausage and cabbage?
That sounds gross.

Is this survey pretty grammatically correct so far?
I haven’t been paying attention.

Ever watch SpongeBob or any other Nick shows?
SpongeBob (at least older SpongeBob) is great.

What is your favorite movie and how old is it?
My favorite movie is either Apollo 13 (1995) or Mystery Men (1999).

Do you like any movies from the 80’s?
Again, duh.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream to eat when it’s cold outside?
The same flavor of ice cream I like when it’s hot. Oreo. Or mint chocolate chip.

What is your favorite character from your current favorite media? It can be from a book, movie, or cartoon.
I am still 100% obsessed with SolarBalls, so I guess that’s what I’m picking from! My favorite character is Uranus. Not just because Uranus is my favorite planet in real life, haha, but because I think he’s a very interesting character. There’s a lot of directions he could go at the moment.

Who is the person you hate more than anything else in the world?
Me.

Ever watch the show Supernatural? If you have, then what’s your favorite episode?
Never seen it.

Ever heard of flavored honey? If so, what’s you’re favorite flavor.
That sounds…weird.

Do you like Kool-Aid?
I didn’t mind it as a kid. I haven’t had it as an adult.

What’s your favorite flavor of Kool-Aid?
I think they all tasted the same to me.

What is your favorite number times 3?
33.

Did that last question stump you?
Nope.

Is duck butter sticky or not?
Sorry, what?

If you could go back in time, what time would you go back to?
LEIBNIZ TIME

Do you remember what your favorite show was when you were little?
I liked TaleSpin quite a lot.

Do they still play that show on TV?
Doubt it. It’s on Disney+ though.

What is your favorite name?
I like the name Hugo.

Is there an unusual way to spell it?
Probably.

Do you own more than 6 stuffed animals?
No, surprisingly.

How many pairs of shoes do you own?
HAHAHAHAHAH KINVARA GRAVEYARD

IF you could change your name to anything in the world, what would it be?
No idea.

Ever been to a professional football/basketball/baseball game?
Yes!

What are your favorite sports teams?
Mets.

What game system do you own if you own one?
I don’t personally own any; Nate has a few.

If communists had wings could they fly?
In Communist Russia, wings use YOU to fly!!!!!

Can you wink?
Yeah.

What about flipping your tongue over?
Yup.

Tired of this quiz yet?
It’s certainly not the best survey I’ve done.

That’s okay because I’m done now.
Yay.

1. What is your name? WOULDN’T YOU LIKE TO KNOW

2. What color shirt are you wearing now? Yellow.

3. What are you listening to right now? Nothing.

4. What are the last 2 digits of your phone number? 92

5. What was the last thing you ate? Whatever the hell I had last night. What did I have last night?

6. If you were a crayon what color would you be? Radical Carrot. I swear to god there was a crayon with that name at some point; I don’t think I hallucinated that. (Edit: SEE I TOLD YOU)

7. How is the weather right now? S’okay. Still cool enough to run outside during the day, which is always good.

8. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? My mom.

9. The first thing you notice about the opposite/same sex? Hair? I actually don’t know. Probably just the fact that they’re the opposite sex.

10. Favorite Food? Broccoli is always good.

11. Favorite Drink? Water.

12. Favorite Alcoholic Drink? I don’t drink.

13. Favorite place to shop? Michaels, probably, though I never go there up here.

14. Hair color: Black.

15. Eye Color: Hazel.

16. Do you wear contacts? I wore them for like a week in 6th grade and they hurt like hell so I stopped, haha.

17. What did you do today? Ran. Worked. Cried a lot.

18. favorite month? February.

19. Favorite Fast Food? Cougar Country.

20. Last Movie you Watched? Man, I don’t remember. Beauty and the Beast, I think?

21. Favorite Day of the Year? I don’t think I have one.

22. Are you too shy to ask someone out? I asked one person out once. It was a disaster. So….yes.

23. Summer or Winter? Summer, but like…pre-“we screwed up the climate beyond repair” summer.

24. Hugs or Kisses? Hugs.

25. Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla ice cream, but chocolate everything else.

26. Do you want your friends to respond back? Bah.

27. Who is most likely to respond? No one.

28. Who is least likely to respond? Everyone.

29. What books are you reading? The Fountainhead.

30. favorite TV Show? Metalocalypse, still.

31. What’s on your mouse pad? Nothing. It’s black.

32. Favorite board game? Scrabble.

33. What did you do last night? Dinked around. Cried.

34. Favorite Author? Fitzgerald, probably.

36. Butter, Plain or Salted popcorn? Salted.

37. Dogs or cats? Cats!

38. Favorite Flower? Sunflower.

39. What do you say when you wake up in the A.M.? “Why aren’t I dead yet?”

40. Do you still talk to your best friends from middle school? Nope.

41. What’s on your desk? My computer, keyboard, mouse, and all sorts of random crap.

42. Rock Concert or symphony? Symphony.

43. Play or Opera? Play.

44. Have you ever fired a gun? Yup.

45. Do you like to travel by plane? I used to, but now I hate it for a variety of reasons. I LOVE airports, though, which is pretty weird.

46. Right-handed or Left-handed? Right-handed.

47. Smooth or Chunky Peanut Butter? Chunky as hell.

48. How many pillows do you sleep with? One.

49. City you were born? The ‘Scow.

50. Ever hitchhiked? Nope.

(It’s just a survey, sorry.)

Have you ever read Garfield Minus Garfield?
I have indeed. And it’s not even the weirdest Garfield derivative out there. Others include Garkov, Lasagna Cat, and The Square Root of Minus Garfield.

What was the last thing someone said to you on IM?
Man, I can’t even remember the last time I used Messenger. 2010, maybe?

Have you ever had a friend who secretly creeped you out?
Kinda?

What were you doing before you went on the internet?
Bro, I’m always on the internet.

What can you hear right now?
The fridge. Pasta water boiling.

Do you prefer to listen to music with or without headphones?
With.

Would you be too embarrassed to tell a friend if they had bad breath?
I would be the last person to ever tell anyone they had bad breath, lemme tell ya.

Do you have a favourite comedian?
Brian Regan!

Do you remember when you first learnt to tie your shoes?
Nope.

Do you use female versions of words (comedienne, actress) or do you just use the other version universally?
I just use the masculine version usually.

Have you ever wanted to meet an online friend in real life?
I’ve never had a strictly online friend.

Were you, or are you, in any clubs at school?
I was in Knowledge Bowl in junior high, though I don’t know if that counts as a club. We’d compete in – you guessed it – general knowledge competitions against kids from other schools. I was on a team with my friends Ross and Aneel and we took absolutely none of it seriously.

Have you ever re-looked at things from childhood and finally understood some of the jokes?
There’s this line in the Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Summer Vacation movie that I think about a lot because I never understood it as a kid. Buster Bunny, after a Deliverance-esque ride down a river, runs into a gator family and the dad wants him to marry all three of his daughters. Buster says “I can’t marry all three of them, that’s bigamy!” and the dad gator goes “No, that’s big o’ me!” and I never got it because I didn’t know what bigamy was and thus didn’t get the joke.
Anyway.

Don’t you hate it when the internet gets turned off when you’re busy?
YES.

Have you ever given in to peer pressure?
Haven’t we all? Hell, this blog is a product of high school peer pressure.

Do you have a third favourite colour? What is it?
I love all colors (except red orange), but my third favorite color is probably red.

What’s your favourite flavour of crisps? (chips)
I’m not a big chip person, actually. I just like regular tortilla chips, especially if they’re salty.

Do you like to try other countrys cusine or do you stick with what you know?
Give me plain, boring, familiar Claudia food, please.

Have you ever liked someone for a really weird reason?
It’s…complicated.

Have you ever been offended by a question in a survey?
Nope.

Have you ever been in Brownies, Cub scouts, or anything?
I was a Girl Scout. For nefarious reasons, hahaha. That’s all I’m going to say!

Are you more of an introvert or extrovert?
100% introvert.

Have you ever looked into a mirror and seen someone standing behind you?
In like a creepy way? No.

Can you brush your teeth without getting toothpaste all over your mouth?
Yeah.

Would you like a new pet? Or do you have one already?
I would like about 40 more cats, but only if I could have them on a cat ranch so that I could be sure they all had their needs met (and I had the time to spend with each one of them every day).

Have you ever spent ages on the internet looking for people from your past?
Facebook is excellent for stalking.

Is there anyone you dislike, yet you don’t quite know why?
If I dislike someone, I’ve got reasons.

What are you doing tomorrow?
Running. Teaching. French.

Do you get nervous while doing presentations?
Yes.

When was the last time you surprised yourself?
I surprise myself daily with how stupid I am.

Have you ever seen or heard something that wasn’t there?
Yes.

Have you ever actually wanted to be ill?
Nah.

Do you like talking about yourself?
On my blog, yes. In real life, no.

What’s a feeling you haven’t felt in a while?
Happiness.

Do you blame other people for things?
Everything is my fault, so no.

How much did you, or do you, hate school?
Elementary school was okay. Seventh, ninth, and twelfth grades were good. Eighth grade and eleventh grade sucked. Tenth grade REALLY sucked. Undergrad was THE BEST TIME EVER. Grad school sucked.

What time is it where you are?
2:16 AM.

What’s your favourite sandwich filling?
Tuna, cheese, mayo, olives.

Do you like hearing stories about when your old relatives were young?
Sure.

Do you dance or sing along to advertisements?
Some of them.

A – Act your age?
Sometimes. I certainly don’t dress my age.

B – Born on what day of the week?
Tuesday. Full moon. 33rd day of the year with 333 days remaining (it was a leap year).

C – Chore you hate?
I hate hanging up my clothes. Like, that hardly counts as a chore, but I absolutely hate it. Approximately 70% of my clothes are in a monster pile on the back of a chair instead of in the closet right now.

D – Dad’s name?
Robert! But he usually goes by Bob. I call him “Bobert,” haha.

E – Essential makeup item?
Eyeshadow. The gaudier, the better.

F – Favorite actor?
Adam Arkin. Or Hank Azaria.

G – Gold or silver?
Gold.

H – Hometown?
The ‘Scow.

I – Instruments you play?
Uhhhhhh clarinet, flute, oboe, sax, tuba, drum stuff.

J – Job title?
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, BITCHES

K – Kids?
Ew. No thanks.

L – Living arrangements?
Condo with husband + cat

M – Mom’s name?
Karen!

N – Need…
To be better.

O – Overnight hospital stays?
Just once, I think, when I had appendicitis in sixth grade. I’ve been to the ER like five hundred times, but that was the only overnight stay, haha.
NO WAIT I LIED. Vancouver, 2011, too.

P – Phobia?
I don’t think I have any legit phobias.

Q – Quote you like?
Peh.

R – Religious affiliation?
Athiest.

S – Siblings?
Nope.

T – Time you wake up?
This varies widely, haha. I’ve been getting up around 7 AM or so lately, but last semester I had to get up a lot earlier because I taught at 8 AM. In the summer, I was getting up at like 2 AM so I could run. So yeah.

U – Unique talent?
Failing at every single thing I do.

V – Vegetable you refuse to eat?
If we’re counting tomatoes as vegetables, tomatoes.

W – Worst habit?
We’re not going there.

X – X-rays you’ve had?
I’ve had a ton of dental x-rays and one x-ray on my lower leg when they thought I had a hairline fracture in my tibia from a game we played in gym.

Y – Yummy food you make?
My broccoli and penne.

Z – Zodiac Sign?
Aquarius, bitches!

It’s the end of the year survey thing that I do every year because I’m boring and I have nothing else to blog about today and AGAIN WHO EVEN CARES.

What did you do in 2024 that you’d never done before?
Ran a 60k!

Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept most of them. I think. A blog about that is forthcoming.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! My friend had a son.

Did anyone close to you die?
No.

What countries did you visit?
‘Murica.

What would you like to have in 2025 that you lacked in 2024?
Uh…less imposter syndrome?

What date from 2024 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The day I got tenure. I worked so damn hard for that.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Tenure. Tenure, tenure, tenure. Again, I worked so hard for that.

What was your biggest failure?
Being me.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
I botched up my foot a little bit here at the end of the year. I’m pretty sure it was just tendonitis, but I’m being extra super careful about it and have gone through a crap ton of KT tape trying to keep it stable.

What was the best thing you bought?
That jacket from the Running Room. It’s got like 400 pockets and is super comfortable to run in.

Where did most of your money go?
Shoes?

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Watercoloring. I got into it, yo. I’m enjoying it more than drawing, and I’ve always loved drawing.

What song will always remind you of 2024?
Uhh…probably Coldplay’s feelslikehimfallinginlove.

What do you wish you’d done less of?
Procrastinating.

How will you be spending Christmas?
Treadmill. Walk with Nate. Open presents.

Did you fall in love in 2024?
Nope.

How many one-night stands?
None.

What was your favourite TV program?
SOLARBALLS. SolarBalls, SolarBalls, SolarBalls. I’m counting it as a TV program even though it’s a YouTube series because it has better writing, animation, and voice acting than like 95% of animated TV shows I’ve seen. I’m not even kidding.
(I’m so freaking obsessed, you have no idea.)

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope.

What was the best book you read?
Well, I re-read The Caine Mutiny, so…The Caine Mutiny.

What was your greatest musical discovery?
That version of Holst’s Jupiter where you can really hear those French horns for like five seconds. It makes the song SO MUCH BETTER, HERE IS THE RELEVANT BLOG POST.

What was your favourite film of this year?
Deadpool and Wolverine was great. I don’t remember what else I saw that was new, haha.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Did nothing. Turned 36.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably satisfying?
A certain thing that I SHALL NOT SPEAK OF HERE BECAUSE IT MAKES ME ANGRY.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2024?
Reiterating from 2023: I’ve been consciously trying to match better, which is a weird thing to say. I try to pick two or three main colors to feature and then match one to my earring color and one to my eyeshadow color. If I’m lucky, I can match my shoes as well.

What kept you sane?
PFFFFT

Which celebrity/public figure(s) did you fancy the most?
L E I B N I Z

Who did you miss?
My mom, as always.

Who was the best new person you met?
I never meet anyone new.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2024:
It’s not imposter syndrome if you really are an imposter.

So, have you had any bread today? If so, was it good bread? If you haven’t had bread, are you gonna eat some?
I have not had any bread today. I don’t plan on having any bread today.

Who sits in front of you in Math class?
The whole class! THE WHOLE CLASS SITS IN FRONT OF ME, BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA
(I teach math)

How many cars can fit in your garage?
Zero. No garage exists.

Do you know anyone who plays the harmonica?
My grandpa did.

Are you currently facing a wall or a window?
Nope.

What was the last flavor of Doritos you ate?
Probably Cool Ranch. I can’t remember the last time I had Doritos.

Have you ever been hypnotized?
Nope.

How long do you tend to hold grudges?
F O R E V E R

Do you say ‘panties’ or ‘underwear’?
Undies.

Do you know who Groucho Marx was?
Yup.

Do you always sit at the same table at lunch or do you switch it up?
I don’t have lunch. Or tables.

Have you ever hit an animal with your car?
Apart from bugs, no.

Do you remember what you wore yesterday?
Yo, I wouldn’t remember what I’m wearing RIGHT NOW if I couldn’t look down and see it.

Do you have friends that are so young you don’t refer to them as friends?
Nope.

What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
Baseball!

What is your favorite kind of fabric?
Um…I actually don’t know.

Would you consider your voice high, low, or in the middle?
Probably middle-low.

Have you ever been on a gondola lift?
Yes! In the Wallowas.

Do you know anyone who’s been on TV? If so, which show?
Not that I’m aware of.

Do you make a lot of typos or are you pretty good with the keyboard?
I type really fast, so I do make a decent amount of typos.

When you see a pine cone, do you kick it, step on it, or leave it alone?
Leave it alone. 

Are you ever tempted to step on the crunchy leaves?
Not really.

Did you ever have any unreasonable teachers?
Not unreasonable, but some have been tough.

Do you have any lockets with pictures inside?
Nope.

Have you ever been used as a ‘rebound’? How did it go?
Yes. The first one was ick, the second one was ICK, the third one was really good.
(Yes, there have been three times.)

What is your favorite joint to crack?
Knuckles.

When it comes to rappers, do you have any favorites?
Not really.

Which sport are you better at: basketball or tennis?
Hahaha, neither.

Would you rather babysit someone weekly or tutor them weekly?
Preferably neither, but tutoring is better than babysitting.

I don’t.

Have you ever done cocaine?
I will never…never hear the word “cocaine” and not immediately think “I DO COCAINE” in that stupid Dr. Rockso voice. Thanks, Metalocalypse, you’ve ruined cocaine for me.

Where did you buy the shirt you’re wearing right now?
It’s my 2023 Vancouver Marathon shirt, so…the…Vancouver Marathon?

What song would best describe your love life?
I thought of Nate immediately when I heard this song the first time.

What are you going to do after this?
Work on my blog archives, probably.

Are you wearing jeans?
Nope!

Have you ever kissed the last person you texted?
Yes!

Has anyone ever called you a whore?
Maybe jokingly.

Who were you last in a car with?
Nate!

Are you in a good mood right now?
I want to run into traffic.

Has anyone ever told you that you have pretty eyes?
HAHAHA NOPE

Have you lost interest in someone recently?
Nah.

Is there anyone who you think you deserve an apology from?
Yes, but that’s so far in the past that I don’t really care anymore.

Have you ever played the guitar?
I tried, but I suck. I’m good with wind instruments, not string instruments.

Has anything “cute” happened in the past week?
Pepper’s cute, does she count?

Could you handle living with the last person you talked to on the phone?
Yup!

Do you ever take your anger out on others?
I try not to. My anger is usually directed at myself anyway, so.

What grade is the last person you texted in?
Hahaha, he’s not in school anymore.

Do you still talk to the person you had feelings for 6 months ago?
OH SHIT I MARRIED HIM?!?!? WHAT

Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?
I am grown up. I teach math and stats.

Has anyone seen you in your underwear lately?
Unfortunately.

Where’s your phone right now?
Getting charged on the table next to me.

Have you ever liked someone older than you?
Like…way older or just older? Nate’s older than me. But so is Leibniz…

Are you the oldest child? The youngest? In the middle? Only child?
Only.

Would you rather be called ‘honey’ or ‘baby’?
Honey.

Is there anyone who doesn’t like you because of something you did?
Probably.

When did you last say “I love you”? Did you mean it?
I said it when I got home and meant it.

Are you talking to anyone right now?
No.

Is there someone who pops into your mind at random times?
Yup.

What or who is on your mind right now?
Leibniz.

Right handed or left handed?
I’m right handed.

Have you ever had chicken pox?
Yup, when I was pretty young.

Did you buy anything today?
Groceries.

Last person to lay in your bed, besides you?
My husband.

When’s the last time you took a shower?
It’s been a few days.

Would you ever camp out on a beach under the stars?
Maybe. Is it warm?

Are you listening to music right now? If so, what?
Nope.

Do you prefer warm or cold weather?
“Warm” as in, like, pleasant, or “warm” as in 80 degrees? And “cold” as in mildly brr, or “cold” as in “early February in Calgary” cold?

What were you doing at 7am this morning?
Getting ready to walk.

Were you happy when you woke up this morning?
Happiness is an illusion.

Has anyone gotten on your nerves today?
Just me.

What are you excited for, if anything?
The end of the semester.

Do you have any piercings? If so, what?
Earlobes.

Do you think anyone is thinking of you right now?
Haha, probably not.

When was the last time you cried really hard?
Yesterday.

When did you last hug someone? Who was it?
Nate, yesterday.

Are you afraid of roller coasters, or have you never been on one?
I like roller coasters, though I’d probably get super sick on them now.

How’s life going for you?
I reiterate from above: I want to run into traffic.

Have you ever done something outrageously dumb?
My life is outrageously dumb.

Are you keeping a secret right now?
Yes.

Can you go an hour without talking?
Yes.

Is your hair longer than your shoulders?
Nope.

Are your nails painted? If so, what colour?
Nope.

Do you know anyone else with your name?
Not personally, no.

Do you think you’ll ever get married? Do you want to?
I AM married!

I feel like ASS so have this exercise survey.

Because.

1. Have you ever wanted to compete in a race or marathon?
Yup. And I have. Though the only “in person” race I’ve done was the Sun Run (10k) in Vancouver back in 2011. I’ve done many virtual races/marathons in the past four years or so, though.

2. If you had to choose one, which activity would you most like to try: rock climbing, surfing, hang gliding or skydiving?
I’ve already done rock climbing and skydiving. I don’t think I’d be a great surfer, so hang gliding.

3. What’s the most extreme exercise you enjoy?
XTREME MENTAL GYMNASTICS
Or weekly marathons. Does weekly marathons count?

4. What specific exercise do you hate most?
I…don’t know, actually. I only do two types of exercise and I’ve been exclusively doing those two types of exercise for years and years now. I used to like cycling, but I don’t know if I’d like that anymore.

5. What makes you most uncomfortable about a gym atmosphere?
The pressure to limit my time on the machines. THIS IS MY TREADMILL, GO AWAY

6. If you could afford to outfit the perfect gym/workout center in your own home, how often do you think you’d actually make use of it?
Every single day. For hours. It would be wonderful.

LOL I LIED IT’S A SURVEY

YOU’VE BEEN DECEIVED!!!!!!!!!1

Have you ever been enrolled in private school?
Technically St. Mary’s was a private Catholic school, so yes.

What is the last thing you ate?
Tuna. Straight out of the can. I’m an adult.

Do you buy your lingerie at Victoria’s Secret?
Senza is better.

Would you consider yourself in shape?
Eh.

Who is your favorite person to spend time with?
My mom and my husband.
And Leibniz if he were alive, I’m sure of it.

Have you ever had tendonitis?
Hahaha, I suspect I have.

What brand of face wash do you use?
I just use soap.

Do you know how to grill a steak?
Nope.

What were you wearing the last time you were kissed?
What I’m wearing right now!

Are you considered a “clingy girlfriend”?
I don’t think so.

Have you ever been to a purse party?
The hell is a purse party? Is it like a Tupperware party but with purses?

Would you ever use an online dating service?
Been there, done that, met my husband on it.

When is the last time you weighed yourself?
Today.

Do you mosh when you go to concerts/shows?
No.

Do you like Gushers?
Eh, I was never a fan. The texture was weird.

Are you good at multitasking?
Sure.

Use the word elapse in a sentence:
How much time must elapse before I POST THESE DAMN BLOGS??

When’s the last time you went to a nightclub?
Do the drag shows count? If so, 2010. If not, never.

Where did you buy your favorite pair of jeans?
I don’t have a favorite pair of jeans. My favorite pair of pants are from Goodwill.

Do you have a large dog?
Nope.

If not, are you afraid of them?
Not a dog fan.

What is more annoying: A sore throat or a headache?
Sore throat, just because I’m used to headaches.

What was your GPA last semester?
Technically a 4.0 (got an A+ in French, hahaha)

Can you unwrap a Starburst in your mouth?
Doubt it.

Do you like walking places?
Hell yeah!

Are you a fan of bands most people don’t know of?
I knew obscure bands before it was cool to know obscure bands!

What time is it right now?
12:36 AM.

When’s the last time you wore goggles?
It’s been a long time.

Have you ever been to Europe?
Yes.

Do you yell at other drivers while you drive?
Yes. But I yell at them more when I’m out walking or running.

Are you good at playing Darts?
I’ve never played.

Can you legally consume alcohol? If not, do you anyways?
I can legally consume, but I don’t want to.

Do you like zebra print and would you wear it?
No and no.

Are “school friends” and friends different to you?
I have no friends.

When is the last time you laid out and tanned?
Intentionally? Never.

Write a sentence in another language:
Où sont mes clés?

Are you considered a bitch?
Hopefully not.

Would you rather use colored pencils or crayons?
Colored pencils.

Can you drive well?
It’s been a long time since I’ve driven.

Do you know what emancipation of minors is?
Sure.

Are you one to ditch set plans?
If they involve people, yes. Leave me alone.

Have you ever sent an X-Rated picture to someone?
Nope.

What bothers you the most about your town?
Some parts are hard to get to without a car.

Can you actually play an instrument or do you say it to be cool?
I can play many instruments!

Flip flops or Birkenstock sandals?
Neither.

What big city do you live near?
I live IN Calgary, yo.

Do you like breaded chicken sandwiches?
Sure.

Is there a Sonic in your area?
Yes.

Have you ever gone out of state for a concert?
No.

Where is your best friend right now?
Don’t have one.

Is anyone currently angry with you?
Probably.

Have you ever gone to a thrift store?
Duh.

Do you own a lighter?
Nope.

Have you ever been under a blacklight?
There were black lights at the Roll-a-Rink in Lewiston. I miss that place!

What color are you nails painted right now?
They’re not painted. It’s been a while since I’ve painted my nails.

When is the last time you sneezed?
Earlier today.

What is your favorite board game from your childhood?
I always liked Pictionary.

Did you ever own a bean bag chair?
Probably?

Are you passive aggressive?
Sometimes.

What is the reason you last received money?
Work.

Are you in love?
Yes!

Does it bother you when glasses fog up?
Very much so.

Have a thing.

Would you rather go to a movie or to dinner alone?
Movie. I don’t like to eat in public.

Would you rather always say everything on your mind or never speak again?
Never speak again.

Would you rather make a phone call or send a text?
Text, definitely.

Would you rather read an awesome book or watch a good movie?
Read an awesome book!

Would you rather be the most popular person at work or school or the smartest?
Smartest, easily.

Would you rather put a stop to war or end world hunger?
End world hunger.

Would you rather spend the night in a luxury hotel room or camping surrounded by beautiful scenery?
Hotel.

Would you rather explore space or the ocean?
Space!

Would you rather go deep sea diving or bungee jumping?
I don’t like either of these options, but I guess I’d go with deep sea diving.

Would you rather be a kid your whole life or an adult your whole life?
Adult.

Would you rather go on a cruise with friends or with your spouse?
Spouse.

Would you rather lose your keys or your cell phone?
Cellphone.

Would you rather eat a meal of cow tongue or octopus?
Octopus. I’ve had it before!

Would you rather have x-ray vision or magnified hearing?
Magnified hearing.

Would you rather work in a group or work alone?
Alone.

(Low quality blog post)

IT’S A SURVEY OH WOW HEY GUESS WHAT NO ONE CARES

Have you ever been to Legoland®?
Nope. I do miss the thousands of Lego pieces I had as a kid, though. My childhood predates the Lego kits; give me the tubs o’ bricks any day, anyway.

Have you ever done something heroic?
I don’t think so.

Have you ever built a snowman?
Probably? I remember we used to roll these giant snowballs on the playground in elementary school (like, big enough it took five of us to push them); I’m sure we made snowmen, too.

Do you have any lucky items, objects or traditions?
I used to have an outfit that I’d wear whenever I had a test in college.

Do you have any superstitions?
Not really. I have routines that I like to uphold, but I wouldn’t call them superstitions.

What’s your favourite Movie quote?
“Disco is NOT dead! Disco is LIFE!” (Mystery Men)

Do you wear sunglasses indoors to look cool or stylish?
I wear my sunglasses inside so I can so I can…

Are you a hat person?
I wear a hat when I walk. I wear a different hat when I run. Apparently I look really good in hats. I wouldn’t call myself a hat person, though.

Do you prefer digital or rotary/analogue clocks?
Analog. I’ve switched my Garmin display to an analog clock because I’m cool as shit.

Have you ever been to a gym?
I miss the gym, yo. I miss being able to go to Anytime Fitness at like 4 AM to go for a walk/run when it’s -35 outside.

Have you ever been approached by someone who knew you but you couldn’t remember them for the life of you?
This happens all the time with my old students, haha.

What do you do to keep fit?
I walk. I run. I loathe my appearance with the fire of a thousand suns and use my self-hatred to fuel my walks and runs.

How often do you wash your ears?
The insides or the outsides?

Could you go out with someone who had a child from a previous relationship?
No. I don’t like kids. I don’t want kids.

How much would it cost to buy your love?
Already in love, sorry.

What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?
Existed.

A SURVEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Woo.

01. What is something unique you have experienced, like a once-in-a-lifetime thing that not many other people have been able to experience? Was it a good or a bad experience?
Hmm…performing in an actual NFL halftime show (as part of the Vandal Marching Band) is a pretty unique experience (unless, I guess, you’re a pro NFL cheerleader). It was pretty fun!

02. Does it make you uncomfortable when your house smells unfamiliar, like someone else has been in it (if you’ve had company over or something)?
Bro.

03. Name a singer you like that has a very distinct, unique voice.
You know exactly who I’m going to say for this, right? CHRIS MARTIN

04. What’s the farthest distance you’ve ever walked or run? What’s the farthest you think you’d be capable of walking or running?
Like, in one stretch?
Walking: 50 miles
Running: 37.2 miles (60K)
I feel like I could legit walk all day, so whatever that amount of time would get me to, distance-wise. I like to think I’d be able to run a 100K, but I’m not sure. That’s a hell of a lot further than a 60K.

05. Do you find wind turbines ugly or do you think they “take away” from the landscapes surrounding them?
I think they’re cool.

06. Do you laugh when you are scared or sad?
Not usually, no.

07. Do you think it’s shameful to be uninformed about current events?
I think there’s so much easily-accessible information out there that it’s easy to get overwhelmed by it all. I think it’s perfectly fine to block some/all of it out if you need to.

08. Have you recently been eating something more than usual? If so, what?
Uhhhhhhhhhhh cheese?

09. Have you ever wanted to be that “mysterious” girl/boy/person that everyone else in school knew nothing about but were always ~intrigued~ by?
Eh. I was kind of “mysterious” in junior high (read: I was broody and quiet and read classic lit in the bathroom during lunch) but I didn’t really care how others saw me.

10. When you do read something good, do you feel the need to share it with others? How about when you watch or discover new movies or music?
That’s what my blog is for! And my poor mom and Nate get my in-person raving too, haha.

11. Are there any unusual things that you hope to do at least some time during your lifetime?
I don’t think I have anything specific in mind, but I’m all down for unusual stuff!

12. What foods do you like that have an aftertaste that you despise?
I can’t think of any.

13. Have you heard of Lofter? Have you ever used it?
Haven’t heard of it.

14. What is your method of discovering new music?
YouTube. Frantically Shazaam-ing good-sounding songs in grocery stores/malls/from passing cars.

16. What music were you listening to for the majority of yesterday?
Just my driving playlist called “Vehicular Earslaughter.”

17. Has your house or anyone you know’s house ever been infested by a bug of any sort?
We had flies in the house with the guys. My dad’s basement had ants and moths.

18. When there is something that irritates you that you want to rant about on the internet, do you do it or do you hold your tongue? Why?
Once again, that’s what my blog is for.

19. According to your Last.fm account (assuming you have one), what was your most-played artist this past week?
Never had a Last.fm account.

20. Do you or anyone you know have seasonal affective disorder (or do you think you have it)? What is your favorite season of the year, anyway?
I’m sad all the time. Fight me.
I used to like summer, but now summer is hell. So…whatever those few weeks are in fall where it’s cold but not too cold.

I am sad and worthless, so have a survey. Who freaking cares.

1 – Are you one of those people who can watch TV shows and movies over and over again without getting bored?
Absolutely. I actually prefer that to watching new things. Do you know how many times I’ve watched Riverdale? Or even all the SolarBalls videos at this point? I have everything memorized. 

2 – If you drink coffee, do you like it plain or would you rather have something like a latte or something flavoured?
I don’t drink coffee.

3 – How did you used to dress ten years ago? Do you dress in a similar way now?
How did I dress when I was 26? The same way I dress now. Ostentatious colors (but in a matchy-matchy way), big earrings, weird and loud.

4 – When you’re grocery shopping, do you buy known brands or are you happy to go with the generic store version? 
Depends on what it is. Spaghetti? Safeway brand. Parmesan cheese for said spaghetti? Kraft.

5 – Do you have a close relationship with any of your cousins?
Nope.

6 – Who was the last person to sleep over at your house? Does this person stay over often or was it more of a one-off?
Nate’s brother, I think? He stays very infrequently.

7 – Does bad weather put you off going out if you’ve got plans to do so? Have you ever cancelled plans due to the weather?
What qualifies as “bad weather”? If it’s too cold for me to run without dying, yeah, I’ll stay in and treadmill. If it’s obnoxiously rainy I’ll probably stay in, too. I tend to ignore smoke, which is probably a bad thing.

8 – When you’re on vacation, do you prefer doing the typical tourist things, or would you rather explore somewhere off the beaten track?
Half and half.

9 – Did your family travel a lot when you were younger?
Not a whole lot. We went to St. Louis and California to visit family, but we didn’t do too much beyond that (especially when I was a kid; when I was a teen we did a bit more).

10 – When was the last time you went shopping for clothes? Did you get anything decent or find any bargains?
Do running shoes count? If so, like a week ago. Got the last pair of Kinvara 13s on Amazon.

11 – Is it true that accessories can make or break an outfit?
Yup.

12 – What is your worst memory from high school? What about the best?
Worst: 10th grade. Like, all of it. Screw 10th grade.
Best: Going to State in drama in 12th grade was pretty cool.

13 – Is there any trait in a potential partner that would be a total deal breaker for you?
Not liking cats. Being a dick to others.

14 – Do you insist people use coasters if they’re putting drinks down in your house?
Nah.

15 – Have you ever been arrested? Were you guilty of whatever it is you were arrested for?
Nope.

16 – Name five items on the shelf nearest to you:
Uh…books, a Gatorade, my earring box, a box of masks, index cards.

17 – After meals, do you wash dishes up right away, or do you leave them in the sink and do a whole days worth at once?
I leave them for later, haha.

18 – What websites do you find yourself spending the most time on?
Mostly YouTube and Twitter.

19 – Do you still download music and TV shows?
Yup.

20 – Does your phone have a good battery life? How long does it last before you need to charge it again?
I’m slowly murdering it by taking it out in extreme temperatures. It can go a day or so before needing to be charged.

21 – When was the last time you hit snooze?
This morning.

22 – Did you ever play The Sims? Which expansion pack was your favourite, if you had any?
The Sims is the best. I can’t remember the names of any of the expansion packs from The Sims 2, but I remember liking quite a few of those.

23 – Are there any popular film series or TV shows that you just don’t get the appeal of?
I watched Breaking Bad with Nate and was expecting more based on all the rave reviews. It wasn’t bad or anything, it just didn’t live up to the hype for me.

24 – As a child, did you receive pocket money or an allowance? How much did you get? Was it dependent on you doing chores of some kind?
I got $20 for the mall every Saturday. Probably other monies, too. I was pretty spoiled, haha.

25 – Do you think your parents did a good job of raising you? Would you do anything differently with your own kids?
My parents are amazing. And I’m not having kids, so that doesn’t matter!

26 – If something is bothering you, do you have to fix it right away?
Depends on what it is. Is it an obnoxious sensory thing? Then yes. Is it crippling feelings of inadequacy and a sadness that you can’t shake no matter what you try? Can’t really fix that right away, unfortunately.

27 – Are there any household jobs you enjoy doing? If so, what’s the reason that you enjoy those things?
I don’t mind doing the dishes; it’s something where you can see obvious progress. Same thing with deep cleaning the kitchen/bathroom.

28 – Do you still live in the area you grew up in? Would you like to live somewhere else one day? Where would you go?
Ha. I don’t even live in the country I grew up in. I’d like to live in the Leibniz museum in Hanover.

29 – Do you smoke, drink or do drugs? How old were you the first time you tried those things?  Do you want to quit?
No, no, and no.

30 – What’s one thing that really grosses you out?
Completely contrary to my answer to question 27 above, I HATE touching used dishes. That absolutely disgusts me. Even if they’re mine. Gross gross gross.

1. Sexual orientation.
Straight. 

2. What I’m really bad at.
Being a useful human being.

3. The one person whose arms I’d like to be in.
No one. Don’t touch me.

4. My best first date.
Like…hypothetically? Or the best first date I actually had? My very first first date was incredibly unique and enjoyable. If you know you know.

5. A description of my self-esteem.
My what now?

6. Who my best friends are.
I don’t have any friends.

7. My favorite book.
The Caine Mutiny. I don’t know if it will ever be dethroned.

8. Biggest turn-offs.
Rudeness to others (especially service workers) and dislike of cats.

9. A description of my best friend.
See #6 above.

10. My favorite animal.
Cats.

11. Someone I miss.
Sean.

12. The reason behind my last breakup.
What the hell even was…oh yeah, haha. All the way back in 2009. Aaron and I broke up because I was leaving for Vancouver. 100% mutual and amicable, so it’s weird to call it a “breakup.”

13. What I did yesterday.
Uhhhhhhhh walked with my mom and Nate. Got really cold. Got really sad (unrelated to the previous two items).

14. What my greatest achievement is.
PFFFFFFT

15. A description of the person I dislike most.
I don’t feel like looking in the mirror and describing myself, sorry.

16. My 5 favorite songs currently:
So the five I am currently cycling through as I try to fall deep into one of my little fantasy escapes in an attempt not to jump into moving traffic include:
Star2Fall – Cabin Crew
Time After Time (Ashley Wallbridge Remix) – Dash Berlin
These Hungry Eyes – Disco Gurls
A Thousand Miles – Josh Vietti
Du hast – Rammstein

17. How my last kiss went down.
Probably just some random one with Nate.

20. Favorite flavor of ice cream.
Oreo. Or mint chocolate chip.

21. The one place I want to be right now.
Dead.

22. The meanest thing anyone has ever said to me.
Let’s not go there today, huh?

23. Where I have lived before.
Let’s also not go there today. I don’t feel like listing every single freaking house I’ve ever lived in.

26. An internal conflict I have with myself.
What do I do after my 10,000th blog post? I know what I’m planning on doing, but will I actually do it?
(Vague answer is vague.)

27. What I’m doing tomorrow.
Teach.

28. What I want to be when I get older.
Dead.

29. Most embarrassing moment.
My life.

33. What I love most about myself.
OH MY GOD, NOTHING, HAVEN’T WE BEEN OVER THIS

35. What bands I’ve seen live.
OK Go.

36. How many kids I want in the future.
Zero.

37. My idea of a perfect date.
The cliché “long walk.”

38. What I’m really good at.
Being bad at everything.

39. Most traumatic experience.
I haven’t had too many traumatic experiences, actually.

40. Where I would like to live.
In the Leibniz museum.

43. My relationship with my sibling(s).
Don’t have any.

46. My biggest worry currently.
Why do I even bother?

47. Something I’ve wished for repeatedly.
To be better at things. At anything. Please just give me a reason to live at this point.

50. What my last text message says.
No idea. Don’t care to check.

51. What I hate most about myself.
BRO EVERYTHING

K SURVEY

What’s your favorite color gummy bear?
They all taste the same to me, but I like the green ones.

What is the sexiest part of the opposite sex’s body?
Stomach.

Have you ever made up/sang a song for someone you cared about?
I have made up/re-written a LOT of songs, but never one specifically for someone I know.

Ever had a song sang about/for you?
Nope.

Is there a baby in the room with you right now?
No, thank god.

Do you know how to dance?
I can flail around like an idiot, if that counts.

Where do you sing the most, in the car or the shower?
I sing in the car when I’m with my mom. I used to sing in the shower, but now Nate’s always home and I’m shy about it.

What is your favorite thing that is green?
Broccoli!

What did your last text message say?
“Hahahaha.”

What is your middle name?
Marie.

What is the way to your heart?
Be weird. Be cool with me being weird. Have an obsession. Be kind to animals.

What do you smell like?
I literally have no idea.

What’s in your pocket?
I have no pockets!

Anything in your mouth?
I have no mouth!

Ever hurt yourself playing Wii?
No, surprisingly. Though the only thing I ever really did on the Wii was those little survey thingies.

Do you have freckles?
In the summer, yes.

How many languages can you say “Hello” in?
Five?

What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?
Man, I have no idea. Something pre-Covid.

Ever jumped/fallen/been pushed in a pool with your clothes on?
Nope.

Are you wearing any clothes that you wore yesterday?
Same bra.

Name a song that you know all the words to:
Just one? Blinding Lights.

Are you in love with someone right now?
Yes!

What’s the last thing you watched on TV?
Like, actual cable TV? I think I watched part of an episode of Jeopardy when Nate was off having his last surgery.

What’s the last video game you played?
Quake.

Can you do the alphabet in sign language?
Yup!

Do you have an uncle named Joe?
Nope.

What word do you use when people pass gas?
Fart.
Do you wear glasses?
Yes.

What can you hear right now?
I’m making penne and broccoli; I can hear the water boiling.

Did you feel better or worse or the same yesterday?
About the same.

Ever been overseas?
Yes.

What are your plans for today?
The day’s almost over, bro.

How long have you had Facebook?
Since 2006.

What was your favorite childhood show?
TaleSpin!

Are you close to your siblings?
No sibbies.

What was your first job?
Working at Wendy’s.

Do you bite your nails?
I chew the HELL out of my nails. To the point where they’re so short they hurt.

Do you like your feet?
HAHAHAHAHAHAH

Do you sleep well at night?
I lay down. I go dead asleep. I wake up at some point. So yeah.

Has anyone ever given you the silent treatment?
I’m sure.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever had in your mouth?
For how long of a period are we talking, here, because that DRAMATICALLY changes my answer.

Are you friends with anyone named Earl?
Nope.

Are you vain?
Aren’t we all to some degree?

Has anyone ever threatened you with a knife?
Not seriously.

What would you do if the last person you kissed showed up at your house with a bunch or roses and a hand written poem for you?
Wonder when he left to go get said roses.

Do you ever watch The Simpsons?
Yup!

Have you ever sent an embarrassing moment of yours into a mag to be printed?
Haha, nope.

What IS your most embarrassing moment?
There are so many to pick from, friends.

Do you think you’re more cute or sexy?
Oh god. Neither.

Do you own any mini skirts?
Nope.

What’s the middle name of the last person you spoke to?
John.

Would you like to live in a hotel, or your own house?
House.

Are you good at knowing when people are lying?
Depends on how well I know them.

Do you draw little hearts and stuff with eyeliner next to your eyes?
Nope.

What’s the most expensive thing you’ve ever lost?
My giganto keychain that had like 13 Tamagotchis on it. Well, I’m sure I’ve lost something more expensive than that, but I can’t think of anything else right now, haha.

Has your mom ever lied to you?
Probably.

Do you have a deep voice?
I would say it’s about average.

When’s the last time someone made breakfast for you?
Can’t remember.

Do you do something new with your hair practically every day?
My hair does something new with itself every day.

Name a song you’re addicted to:
Call On Me – Eric Prydz.

Has anyone ever licked your foot?
Ewwwwwwwwwwwww

Is there a Sonic where you live?
The hedgehog?

Do you smile with your teeth?
Unfortunately.

What did you eat for lunch today?
A pita.

What do you like on your pizza?
Olives. A crap ton of them.

Do you know anyone who lives in Newfoundland?
No.

How ‘bout Alberta?
ME!

Anyone in Canada at all?
Many people.

If you could trade houses with a friend, who would it be?
Nobody.

Are you a good person to come to for advice?
Nope.

(I don’t know, so let’s do it now.)

1. How has covid affected you?
I now have a better understand of just how stupid and selfish people are. There’s more, of course, but that’s the main takeaway right now.

2. What is a comfort show of yours ?
Frasier. My mom and I watch it every time I come back to the States.

3. Are you open about your past or do you not let anyone in?
Have…have you read this blog? I’ve got some pretty personal past stuff on here if you’re willing to hunt a bit for it. Go on, try it!

4. Favourite fast food joint?
McDonald’s. I’m basic, I know.

5. Do you think we were put on this earth for a reason?
Not for a “reason” in the respect that we often think of it. I think the universe is deterministic, but not driven by a specific reason. We just happen to be pieces of the universe that are presently on this planet and conscious of it. It’s cool, but there’s no reason behind it. In a very short time, we’ll all be something else in the universe…which is even cooler, in my opinion.

7. Do u ever feel like surveys are usually the same questions?
Indeed. That’s why I wonder sometimes if I’m just redoing a survey I’ve already done.

8. What were you doing 10 years ago?
March 2014? I was in my final semester of my math degree. I think I’d heard from U of C by then, too.

9. Do you call out Karen’s when they’re harassing a cashier?
I don’t think I’ve ever had the opportunity, actually.

10. Animal crossing , yay or nay?
Never played it.

11. Why do you like to do surveys?
Fun. Also, I like to throw in random nonsense and see if anyone can distinguish it from the non-nonsense.

12. Did you ever have a MySpace ?
THAT’S WHERE THIS SWEET BABY OF A BLOG WAS BORN, IGNORANT READER!

13. Do you think breaks are toxic in a relationship?
If the people in the relationship are both legitimately cool with it, no.

14. Do you have a YouTube channel? If no , would you create one? If yes what’s your content?
I do. My “main” one is the one I use for putting up my class videos, but I have a personal one with all my dumb home video nonsense on it.

15. Are you a math person?
Nope. Which is why I teach it. Long story.

16. What’s the worse thing someone has said to you?
Nothing worse than what I’ve said to myself.

17. Have you ever befriended someone because you felt bad?
I thought that said BEHEADED. Heh. Good thing it doesn’t, huh? RIGHT???

18. Would you ever date someone online?
BEEN THERE DONE THAT GOT MARRIED HAVE KITTY

19. Have you been ghosted before? Would you ghost someone?
No to both.

20. When do you think things will be normal again?
Never.

21. Do you watch anime?
No.

22. Biggest goal you wanna reach before 2020 is over ?
BRO THIS SURVEY IS OLD

23. How old did/do you turn this year ?
36. BRO THIS SURVEY TAKER IS OLD

24. Do you like tiktok?
TikTok has too many cat videos for me to dislike it.

25. Do you ever miss vine?
We have TikTok now!

26. How are you doing, seriously?
Don’t even ask.

27. Is there someone you want to talk to but you know you can’t?
Nope.

28. Do you make jokes to cope with your problems?
I do things that are much more self-destructive.

29. Have you ever had someone call you their best friend but you didn’t even consider them a close friend?
Nope.

30. Have you ever dealt with a pathological liar?
Not that I’m aware of.

31. Long or short surveys?
Both!

32. If you’re in school, are you doing it on zoom or in class?
I teach now! Though I guess technically I’m working on that French certificate, which involves Zoom-based classes, so…

33. Would you ever have a pet rat?
Not while having a pet cat.

34. Favourite memory with your best friend?
I don’t have any friends.

35. Favourite type of content to watch on YouTube?
Disaster documentaries, people ranting about stuff, science stuff, makeup reviews, song covers/remixes.

36. Are you allergic to anything serious?
Nothing too serious.

37. Dream job?
My current one.

38. Do you think dreams mean anything?
I do indeed.

39. Fav clothing brand?
I don’t think I have a specific one. Whatever fits me.

40. Do you miss anyone?
My mom.

what is your favorite condiment to go with french fries?
Salt.

what is a field of study that is of your interest?
Like all of them, haha.

do you like to eat stir fry?
Sure. My own or Mongolian BBQ, if that counts.

what do you have a habit of doing when engaging in a conversation with someone?
Making awkward, unbreaking eye contact for like five minutes before realizing that’s creepy. Not knowing what to do with my arms. Talking.

does it bother you when someone cuts you off while walking?
Bro, you have NO IDEA. Especially if they see me coming, can tell that I’m walking faster than they’re going to, and still decide to get in front of me like a fart bag.

what color is your mp3?
I’m assuming you mean “mp3 player,” bro. It’s pink.

have you ever laid in a hammock?
Yes?

what time of day do you feel mostly at peace?
Peace is an illusion.

how has the weather been treating you lately?
Eh. It’s been okay.

is there a song or lyrics currently superglued in your head?
Not at the moment, no.

have you ever lost a pet in a tragic way? how did you cope?
We’re not talking about this one.

what type of curtains do you like?
Uh…the kind that…cover the windows…?

what can you go a day without doing?
GIVING A CRAP

what can’t you go a day without doing?
Being a disappointment.

what is your ideal weekend like?
A long run. Staying up late. Walking with Nate. Doing art.

who do you spend most of your time with?
Nate.

are you into graphic novels?
Nope.

do you have a favorite classical composer?
Holst!

what type of quality is a must have in a friend?
Being a weirdo.

are you any good at reading someones body language?
Maybe?

where is the farthest you have traveled?
Helsinki.

do people tend to get the wrong idea about you? or is it the other way around?
I have no idea. You should ask them.

have you ever ate a zucchini?
My mom made me zoodles once. They were great.

what type of art would you hang up in your room?
Anything colorful.

what goes good with a nice cold glass of milk?
Cold milk on its own is just fine.

what fruit is too sweet to you?
I don’t know if I’ve ever described something as “too sweet.”

can you whistle an entire song?
Yup.

how do you spend those last couple of minutes before falling into sleep?
Fantasizing.

MY BLOG MY RULES

01. What is your favorite type of muffin?
Poppy seed!

02. What is the last type of salad that you ate?
The salad that I make. It’s got lettuce (obvs), carrots, radishes, cauliflower, and broccoli. Super tasty.

03. What is the background on your computer?
An integral sign. Because of course it is. Leibniz is life.

04. What do you usually put on your waffles?
Waffles sound SO GOOD RIGHT NOW
Butter and just a little bit of syrup.

05. How are you feeling right this moment?
Angsty.

06. Do you ever stop and look up at the sky?
I’m always looking for cool clouds to spot, so yes.

07. Are you currently craving anything?
Waffles, thanks to you, survey.

08. What are three simple things that you appreciate?
Frisson-inducing music. A good run. Stupid jokes.

09. What book are you currently reading?
Gulliver’s Travels.

10. What did you buy the last time you went shopping?
Groceries.

11. What do your currently have on your shelf/shelves?
We have so many shelves in our condo, haha. I have trinkets and books on mine.

12. What is a random thing you remember from your childhood?
I remember the after school program thing my mom sent me to in the summer when I was in elementary school. We’d walk down to Gormley Park to go swimming sometimes and GE and I would pretend we were coos who were searching for water during a drought. Then we’d get back to school and have chips on paper napkins.

13. What is the last expensive item you bought?
I actually don’t remember.

14. Would you rather be a successful writer or artist?
Writer.

15. Have you ever completed a game of Monopoly?
Yeah. My mom and I used to play fairly frequently.

16. Do you ever highlight or underline words and sentences while reading a book?
Fiction, no. Textbooks, yes. A lot.

17. Would you rather have a cottage on the beach or in a forest?
Beach.

18. Which brand of chips is your favorite?
Uh…whoever makes Fritos. Lays?

19. What is a small thing that annoys you?
We’ve been over this: people who don’t know how to walk courteously. OH MY GOD GET OUT OF MY WAY YOU SLOW FART

20. Ice cream, gelato, sorbet, popsicles, snow cones, frozen yogurt, or frozen custard? Have you tried any other frozen desserts?
Ice cream is always great. We had a frozen yogurt place in Moscow for a while, but I can’t remember what it was called. Wayne and I went there to “study,” haha.