16 posts tagged “qotd”
What personality trait has gotten you in the most trouble?
Honesty. Most people really don't want to know what you think, even if they tell you that they do.
What are 10 things you've done that other people probably haven't?
Submitted by Janette.
1. Ran out of gas on the Hollywood Freeway at about 1:00 AM on my way home from a night club (in the time before cell phones). Somehow, miraculously, I pulled my car over not far from an auto dealership where several Mexican laborers were busy washing the cars for the next day's sales and managed to explain to them (in Spanish) that I had run out of gas. They gave me a can of gas through the fence, I went back to my car and filled up the tank, brought them back the empty can, and was on my way.
2. Missed the last train out of the South Boston train station with nary a dime to spare. A kind Boston Police Officer took pity on me and opened the station and let me spend the night inside on a cold, hard bench until the next day when I could get the first train out of there.
3. Flew above a lighting storm somewhere over the middle of Mexico. It was pitch dark outside except for the flashes of light that filled the sky for as far as the eye could see. This was truly the most amazing natural event I have ever witnessed, and terrifying too... it was the middle of the night and our plane was high enough that we didn't get too much turbulence, but I felt so tiny and vulnerable in that moment. It was awe inspiring and magnificent.
4. Stood at the very edge of the Cliffs of Moher and watched the clouds part and the sun come out just in time to witness one of the most spectacularly beautiful coastlines that is normally shrouded in fog and clouds. Not many people get a chance to see this spot in all its glory, I was very lucky. (Also, they no longer let you walk right up to the edge of the cliffs, which I can understand after having done it.)
5. Survived a near drowning in the rip currents off the Yucatan Peninsula. This one actually happened in November of 2006 and is one of those moments where you see "your life flash before your eyes." I guess it wasn't my time, but it very nearly was...
Oh, and I have lots of other tales too, some of which you might be able to get out of me sometime... but that will have to do for now.
What's the best book you read this year?
Have you ever ridden in a hot air balloon or a helicopter? Where did you go?
No and NO! Are you out of your mind?? (I am afraid of heights, I don't even like walking up a steep staircase or across a bridge... seriously.)
What's the most memorable crush you have had?
Submitted by spectacular.Well, I don't know how memorable it was if I can't remember the guy's name now... but when I was in high school there was this blonde surfer boy that I just adored, from afar of course. I am pretty sure he never even noticed me since I was a year behind him in school and not exactly in his target demographic (blonde beach babe). I think his name was Kelly, think Kelly Slater and you've got the image. I wonder what ever happened to him?
What movie did you expect would be terrible, but was actually really good?
Well, I didn't think it would be terrible but I didn't think it would be all that interesting either, and boy was I wrong on that count. I just watched "The Hoax" with Richard Gere, which is the true story of Clifford Irving, maybe one of the best con men ever and a truly fascinating individual. He convinced McGraw-Hill that he was authorized to write Howard Hughes' autobiography and got a $1 Million advance and almost got away with it. In fact, it took the recluse HH himself calling in to a press conference with journalists that had previously interviewed him to disavow any involvement with the author or the book! (An amazing feat in and of itself since no one had seen or heard from Howard Hughes in 16 years and he was never seen or heard from again.)
Great performance by Richard Gere too. I highly, highly recommend this movie, which is out on DVD now.
What do you think of Stephen Colbert's satirical bid for the U.S. Presidency?
I love Stephen Colbert. Absolutely adore him. I wish I could vote for him for real... anything would be better than our current system.
Over a million iPhones have been sold. Have you: bought one, considered it, or decided it's not for you?
I was one of those folks who scoffed at the idea of buying a first generation, brand new Apple product. I wasn't even slightly tempted by all the initial hoopla surrounding the release of this phone.
And then I saw one.
At first I tried to pretend that it hadn't caught my eye, I looked away when my friends at work showed me how they had set it up to pull in several different email accounts. Navigation system with traffic displays? Ha! Who needs it. Camera? Got one. Calculator? Image Browser? Video and music player... OHMYGOD... all of a sudden I knew it was over for me and the next day I went online and ordered it up.
The first day I got it I had a few hours of frustration trying to set up my work email but once that was over I was totally hooked. Now, I actually have my phone with me at all times AND it's usually turned on. Plus, I am actually getting the hang of the "touch screen" and starting to become quite the message texter. Some times it's so much better than bothering with a phone call, I totally understand why my English cousins were all over this feature years ago (way ahead of me).
Here are my tips after having the phone for about a month:
- Be sure you familiarize yourself with the tricky "Silent" button on the side that turns off the ringer. I turned it off by mistake and spent quite some time trying to figure out what I had done to the phone...
- Don't unplug the charger from the wall with the phone still on the charger: that crashes the phone. You can fix it by plugging the phone back into the computer and opening up the iTunes account you use to sync the phone.
So, in short, I love this phone and I use it all the time. I am completely, totally hooked, and this from the woman who never liked cell phones. I even have one of those Agent Smith ear pieces that I use when driving that makes me look like I am ready to go kill machines in the Matrix. I am completely, totally geeked out.
Do you have a regular workout routine? What's your favorite form of exercise?
Clicking buttons on the remote... no, seriously, my favorite work out is a good yoga class. I used to do this pretty regularly, but my schedule has been all messed up for some time now... maybe soon I will get back to it.
Who's the coolest culinary celebrity?
Anthony Bourdain, I've been loving his Travel Channel show.
"Vegetarians, and their Hezbollah-like splinter faction, the vegans,
are a persistent irritant to any chef worth a damn. To me, life without
veal stock, pork fat, sausage, organ meat, demi-glace, or even stinky
cheese is a life not worth living. Vegetarians are the enemy of
everything good and decent in the human spirit, and an affront to all I
stand for, the pure enjoyment of food. The body, these waterheads
imagine, is a temple that should not be polluted by animal protein.
It's healthier, they insist, though every vegetarian waiter I've worked
with is brought down by any rumor of a cold. Oh, I'll accommodate them,
I'll rummage around for something to feed them, for a 'vegetarian
plate', if called on to do so. Fourteen dollars for a few slices of
grilled eggplant and zucchini suits my food cost fine." From Kitchen Confidential, p. 70.
