Sunday Stealing

This week it's called The Ninja Meme, part 1.

1. What do you add to your coffee?

Raw sugar. Occasionally, if I'm in the mood, I'll add milk or half-n-half. Very rarely I'll use a flavored creamer, but 95 percent of the time, I just add sugar. I subscribe to the old Turkish proverb: "Coffee should be strong as hell, black as death, and sweet as love."

2. What are you reading now?

Cordelia's Honor, by Lois McMaster Bujold, in an attempt to get into the Miles Vorkosigan series. I read this before some years ago and found it nice and entertaining but not particularly compelling. This time, however, I'm finding myself a lot more involved in the story. I'll report more when I finish it.

I'm between nonfiction books at the moment.

3. Do you own a gun?

No, nor do I have any intention to. I have no problem with gun ownership and I have little taste for eroding the 2nd amendment, but on a personal level, guns give me the serious willies.

4. Are you registered to vote?

Yes. I'm a registered Democrat. This year, in fact, marked the tenth anniversary of the last time I cast a ballot for a Republican (former Congressman Amory Houghton). The only election I've skipped was 2002, when we had moved to Syracuse just a month prior to voting. I had no idea who the local candidates were or what the local issues amounted to in that time frame, so I abstained.

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?

Sometimes, but not terribly so. My current doctor is super nice.

6. What do you think of hot dogs?

Love 'em. In fact, I rank hot dogs high among my favorite foods. (They have to be grilled, or at least pan-seared so they have some texture. Steamed or boiled dogs do nothing for me. I do make exception to this rule for sidewalk hot dog stands, though.)

7. Favorite Christmas Song?

"Little Drummer Boy". My favorite version? Bing Crosby and David Bowie.

Honorable mentions to "Angels We Have Heard On High", "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", and "Silent Night". For more modern Christmas songs, I'm partial to "Happy Christmas (War is Over)", "Same Old Lang Syne", and "River".

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?

OJ and water. I tend to have coffee a bit later on in the morning; I don't get right up to coffee.

9. Can you do push ups?

A few, but not enough. (Note to self: start going to the gym again.)

10. What was the name of your first boyfriend/girlfriend?

Errr...well, it depends. First date? Tammy. First girl with whom I had a "thing"? Chris.

11. What’s your favorite piece of jewelery?

My wedding ring. Close second: the star sapphire The Girlfriend (later The Wife) got me the Christmas before our wedding.

12. Favorite hobby?

Reading, writing, blogging, walking, listening to music, ogling power tools, using power tools, waxing poetic about bib overalls.

13. Do you work with people who idolize you?

I have no idea if any of them "idolize" me. If they do, I hope they stop; I'm more than aware of my massive imperfections! I like the fact that I'm generally liked, though.

14. Do you have ADD?

Not to my knowledge.

15. What’s one trait that you hate about yourself?

My tendency to fly off the handle, sometimes.

16. What’s your Middle name?

None: I just have an initial, 'C'. I should get the story someday as to why that's the case.

17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.

"Hey, why don't I have a middle name, anyway?"

"Wow, is my butt comfy!" (I just bought a new cushion for my desk chair and I'm trying it out now. Huzzah!)

"Goodness, there's a lot of chicken in our fridge." (We have leftover KFC and a leftover rotisserie bird in there right now.)

18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday.

Yesterday? Geez...coffee, a bagel, and a half a sub sandwich for lunch.

19. Name 3 beverages you regularly drink.

Water, orange juice, coffee.

20. Current worry right now?

Wow, I wish the Christmas season had an extra week or two in it. There's a lot I wish I had time to do!

21. What side do you dress to?

I don't know what this means. Thinking about it, I suppose I put my left leg in pants first...I guess...hmmmm. With overalls, I always fasten the right shoulder strap to the bib first. (By the way, that 90s trend of wearing one strap unfastened was pretty goofy.)

22. Favorite place to be?

Wherever The Wife is. (Awwwww!)

23. How did you bring in the New Year?

Like this.

24. Where would you like to go?

The Smithsonian.

25. Name three people who will see today.

I think there's something mis-worded here! Three people who will see today? Or three people whom I will see today? The latter seems funnier, so: three people who will see today are actor Howard Hesseman, British singer Seal, and the guy who plays Eric Delko on CSI: Miami.

Hooray!