You guys know that I love a good Q&A post and that few people I know share more of such entries - let alone ones that I feel compelled to want answer myself as well - as my lovely friend Lindsay from the blog Miss Lindsay Lane. Last year she posted a rapid fire series of ninety-nine usual questions and her own answers, and I knew the moment I spotted them, that I wanted to play along as well.
Now that, *sniffle, sniffle*, all the fun and business of Halloween is behind us again, and before that of the winter holiday season really starts to hit its stride, I thought I'd take the opportunity this morning to respond to these questions myself.
Fear not! I've veered heavily on the side of brevity and ensure you that you can quickly read through this whole post from top to bottom in a matter of minutes. No booking a day off to get through it, I promise! :)
1. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?
Ideally closed, but with a kitty who likes to curl up with us as we sleep (and whose food, water, liter box, etc) are in another room, the door almost always stays open at night.
2. Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel?
No, usually not, as we both have ones that we're loyal fans of at home. I do like taking the complimentary tiny sewing kits though - those things really come in handy sometimes!
3. Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?
It depends on how warm the bedroom is. From about May to late September, they're usually out, but in the winter, I love to have them snugly tucked in.
4. Have you ever stolen a street sign before?
No, and I never would. I'd happily purchase a cool vintage one though, given the chance.
5. Do you like to use post-it notes?
Sometimes. I'm a big fan of lists and they can be handy for that or as reminders to take something with me before I leave the house.
6. Do you cut out coupons but then never use them?
I love clipping coupons and do try to use them, but sometimes they expire before I can.
7. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees?
That is a really terrifying question, especially since - Winnie the Pooh style – it is conceivable that you could run into both at the same time. Neither, but in some ways I'd almost prefer the bear.
8. Do you have freckles?
No, and I super wish that I did!!! I have a few beauty spots here and there and love them to bits, but despite some of my family members (like my paternal grandma) having them, freckles passed me over (boo!).
9. Do you always smile for pictures?
Generally yes, but as touched on in this 2012 post, due to my unattractive (crocked, crowded, etc) teeth, I almost never smile in photos with my mouth open.
10. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Hard call, but I'd say that blatant cruelty and/or rudeness wins out there every time (this image is a still from 1944's classic film, Gaslight).
11. Do you ever count your steps when you walk?
Not since I was a child and was doing so just for the fun of it.
12: Have you ever peed in the woods?
I love camping and was in Girl Guides for many years, so yes, I certainly have.
13: What about pooped in the woods?
Same answer as above.
14. Do you ever dance even if there's no music playing?
Absolutely! I find that joy can be a big factor in spontaneously wanting to do so.
15. Do you chew your pens and pencils?
No, never. My mom drilled the very real choking risk of doing so into us as kids and boy did it do the trick with preventing me from picking up that common habit.
16. How many people have you slept with this week?
I hope this question just means literally slept in the same bed with!!! None actually, as Tony is still in the States for work.
17. What size is your bed?
Queen. I'd love a king or even California king one day, but for now, I'm grateful to have one this big (and it fits our very modest sized master bedroom well, which is great).
18. What is your Song of the week?
Motown music and summer always go hand-in-hand for me (my parents used to play oodles of it all season long when I was a child), so I'd say that a true classic from that genre like I Heard it Through The Grapevine would be my mid-August song of the week.
19. Is it okay for guys to wear pink?
Absolutely! I'm of the mind that all colours can, and should, be freely worn by anyone who wishes to sport them.
20. Do you still watch cartoons?
You bet! Though these days they're pretty much all the sort that would be called adult oriented cartoons, such as Family Guy, The Simpsons, South Park, American Dad, and Rick and Morty. That said, I'll always have a soft spot for certain kid's classics, too, such as The Flintstones, Inspector Gadget, and The Care Bears.
21. What’s your least favorite movie
You know, and maybe this is a good thing, but there isn't one specific title that instantly springs to mind. In general I'm not a fan of modern horror movies, especially slasher films, so something in that genre might win out there.
22. Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some?
Wouldn't it defeat the purpose of it being secret treasure if I told everyone my answer? :D
23. What do you drink with dinner?
Almost exclusively water. In general, no joke, 99.5% of the time, that is the only beverage that I drink (due to my extremely restricted medical diet). Thankfully I love water and don't mind at all.
24. What do you dip a chicken nugget in?
A mix of ranch dressing and ketchup. Sounds strange, I know, but the flavour combo is sensational!
25. What is your favorite food?
Too many to count, oh my word!!! If I had to pick just one though, I'd go with a whole cuisine and say either Italian or Chinese (clearly I love a good pasta/noodle dish! :D).
26. What movies could you watch over and over and still love?
Again, there are tons in this camp! A few that really jump out at me are - in no particular order - Hocus Pocus, Grease, White Christmas, A League of Their Own, The Illusionist, Gone in 60 Seconds, Ace Venture (and the original Dumb and Dumber), Miracle on 34th Street, (1939's) The Women (for the sublime fashions!), both of the 90s Addams Family movies, and both of the Despicable Me films (I haven't seen this year's Minions movie yet, but can't wait to!).
28. Were you ever a boy/girl scout?
Yes, I was in Girl Guides for several years as a youngster and am extremely grateful for the fun experience and all of the valuable skills I picked up from my time there.
29. Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?
Never say never, right, but I highly, highly doubt it!
30. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?
I usually write a few snail mail letters to relatives and pen pals around the world each month and just penned one to a friend in Europe a few days ago.
31. Can you change the oil on a car?
In theory, yes, but I've never actually done it - just seen it carried out numerous times over the years.
32. Ever gotten a speeding ticket?
No, for the same reason I've not changed the oil in a car - I don't drive (for the reason discussed in this post).
33. Ever ran out of gas?
Again, I don't drive, so I haven't personally run out of gas while behind the wheel, but I have been in cars on a few occasions when such happened.
34. Favorite kind of sandwich?
It's really hard to beat a great classic grilled cheese sandwich in my books!
35. Best thing to eat for breakfast?
It truly depends on your mood, hunger level, and the season, but I think that (speaking of this type of food) it's hard to beat a cold roast turkey and cranberry sauce sandwich on Boxing Day morning!
36. What is your usual bedtime?
As touched on in my recent post called I woke up like this, I don't have a set bedtime in the slightest - but the general answer to that would be, late at night or early in the morning.
37. Are you lazy?
Humbly, no, not in the slightest. I am the polar opposite of lazy, virtually never procrastinate, and a workaholic to the point where I constantly jeopardize my health (further) because of it (even though I logically know better than to do so).
38. When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween?
Oh my word, yes!!! Every single year without fail - and I have continued to as an adult (see this fun post for mine and Tony's costumes last year).
39. What is your Chinese astrological sign?
The rat (not the nicest sounding critter sign to be born under, but then again, I'm a cancer in western astrology, which is represented by the crab, so I guess a rat might not be that bad after all! ;D).
40. How many languages can you speak?
Fluently, only English, but I do know a bit of French and a smaller amount of Italian.
41. Do you have any magazine subscriptions?
A small number, yes. To save money, I've cut back in recent years. At present I get four modern fashion magazine and one home decor magazine.
42. Which are better Legos or Lincoln Logs?
I never got the chance to play with Lincoln Logs as a kid, just Tinker Toys and Legos, so I'll give my vote to Legos.
43. Are you stubborn?
I wouldn't say I'm stubborn per se (I know that Tony is off rolling his eyes somewhere and grinning up a storm as write that), but rather that I'm both very passionate and very tenacious.
44. Who is better...Leno or Letterman?
I was always a Leno fan growing up and his was the most frequently watched late night snow in my house during the nineties, so he get my vote (perhaps to thank me he'll let me pose with some of his amazing classic cars! :D).
45. Ever watch soap operas?
Nope. I've never watched a single episode of a soap opera that I can recall . I don't hate them of course, they just don't appeal to me.
46. Are you afraid of heights?
Sort of - I'm not a fan of heights when the floor is transparent, such as on the observational desks of some sightseeing towers in cities like Calgary and Toronto, and in general, heights are not my favourite thing, but if I know that there's no immediate risk of falling, I can handle them.
47. Do you sing in the car?
Occasionally. It can be fun, especially if the other people in the vehicle are doing so, too.
48. Do you sing in the shower?
Not really, no. This one never spoke to me, though I do see the general appeal.
49. Do you dance in the car?
That would have to be a pretty spacious car, no? :) To date, I don't believe I've ever danced in a car, no.
50. Ever used a gun?
Only water pistols and cap guns.
51. Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer?
In June, when Tony took my photos last before leaving to work in the States this summer.
52. Do you think musicals are cheesy?
Not at all - they're fun, creative, lively, charming, and often full of great costumes.
53. Is Christmas stressful?
It certainly can be, yes, though I often find the days following it to be harder, as all the activity leading up to Christmas catches up with me and I inevitably pay for it on the health front.
54. Ever eat a pierogi?
Many, many times. They're one of my all-time favourite foods. I especially love them cooked with onions and sausage or crumbled bacon and served with copious amounts of thick sour cream. Yum!!!!
55. Favorite type of fruit pie?
Ooohhh, there are very many of them. It's hard to say! I really adore apple, peach, cherry, and raisin - plus, though it's technically a squash, pumpkin.
56. Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid?
A lot of possible career paths spoke to me as a youngster, including the possibility of becoming a doctor, journalist/writer, scientist, and (above all else) a chef. None of them came to fruition, but interestingly, elements of each one have been a part of my professional life in some (often round about) capacity at point or another.
57. Do you believe in ghosts?
Short answer, yes. Long(er) answer I am very scientifically minded person, but I'm also the first to say that I think there are many things out there that science doesn't fully understand yet or which we might not even know about at this point, so I'm open to the possibility of ghosts and have actually had three separate possible ghost encounters so far in my life.
58. Ever have a Deja-vu feeling?
Yes, many times. I've also had dreams with settings and/or people that I had never encountered in real life previously and then had similar events and people occur in my life later on. I really treasure this kind of premonition actually and am grateful for each one that has occurred to me over the years.
59. Take a vitamin daily?
I do indeed, plus numerous supplements.
60. Do you wear slippers?
Yes, especially during the fall and winter. My current pair is a cute pink one that Tony gave me a couple of years ago.
61. Wear a bath robe?
Big time! Ditto for a dressing gown.
62. What do you wear to bed?
Usually loose, comfy two-piece pajamas or a night gown. I have modern and vintage versions of both and wear them all throughout the course of the year.
63. First concert?
I think it was the children's entertainer Charlotte Diamond when I was just two or three years old, but I'd have to double check with my mom there (interestingly, when I was a little bit older, say four years old or so, my mom and I ran into her at a local grocery store and I was positively star struck! :)).
64. Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart?
Though, at one point or another, Canada has had all three of those chains, after Target folder earlier this year in Canada, we only have Walmart left, so it wins by default. If I could pick, I'd take a US Target or the sadly defunct (similar) Canadian chain, Zellers.
65. Nike or Adidas?
Not really a sportswear person, but I guess Nike, because I did have a pair of their sneakers as a teenager.
66. Cheetos Or Fritos?
Cheetos all the way! And if they ever want to bring back that super fun nineties classic, Cheeto Paws, I'll buy a caseload the first day (assuming they're GF!).
67. Peanuts or Sunflower seeds?
Darn hard call, as I truly love them both, but I think I'd have to veer more towards peanuts at the moment.
68. Ever hear of the group Tres Bien?
If this question is in reference to the 1960s American jazz group Quartette Trés Bien, this yes, I have heard of them, but don't claim to be an expert on this group.
69. Ever take dance lessons?
I have indeed. I was involved with jazz, tap, swing dancing, and (a little bit of) Irish dance as a youngster.
70. Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing?
My spouse is already employed with IBM Canada as a software engineer, computer programmer, and technical evangelist, on top of running his own business, but if he wasn't doing that, there are so many careers that Tony would be amazing for - spanning university professor to lawyer, psychologist to (literary) author (he has already penned two IT related books).
71. Can you curl your tongue?
That I can!
72. Ever won a spelling bee?
I did! I won my grade six spelling bee and received a novel (I can't remember the title, but it was sci-fi and I really enjoyed it, as memory serves me) and a paper certificate as the prize.
73. Have you ever cried because you were so happy?
Yes, with the last time being when Tony received his Canadian Citizenship in June 2012.
74. Own any record albums?
Yeppers! Not a huge collection, but a fun selection of vintage ones that I've picked up over the years primarily from yard sales.
75. Own a record player?
We do! It's a vintage style (c. 1940s) looking dark wood one that is also a radio and CD player.
76. Regularly burn incense?
Sometimes. With two various curious pets in the house, I have to make sure I do so in a room where they can't get in and to it.
77. Ever been in love?
I most certainly have, above all else, with my darling husband, Tony, for over eleven years now.
78. Who would you like to see in concert?
Ooohh, soooo many people and groups! If we stick with folks who are still alive and performing, some big contenders for me would Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, The Beach Boys, Paul McCartney and/or Ringo, Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, and John Fogerty (yes, I madly adore classic rock!).
79. What was the last concert you saw?
Honestly, I haven't seen a lot of concerts in person at all. It's been so many years and I haven't been to any truly big name acts, I can't recall of the top of my head what the last one would have been.
80. Hot tea or cold tea?
Love them both, but cold/iced, please.
81. Tea or coffee?
Unfortunately, I can't drink either due to medical reasons (save for a small number of herbal tisanes), but when I could, I enjoyed both equally.
82. Sugar cookies or snickerdoodles?
Hard call! Probably sugar cookies, because I adore decorating them for the holidays.
83. Can you swim well?
Like a deep sea fish!!!
84. Can you hold your breath without holding your nose?
For a little while at least. :)
85. Are you patient?
Extremely so. I've always been that way, but living every day of my life with multiple chronic illnesses has made me even more so, as there often a great deal of waiting and patience involved when you're constantly unwell (from time spent at doctor's offices to simply biding my time until I have a day where I'm doing well enough to leave the house).
86. DJ or band at a wedding?
It really depends on the couple. We didn't have live music at our (uber small civil ceremony) wedding, but given the choice I would have opted for a (likely swing or jazz) band.
87. Ever won a contest?
I have, several over the years, most going back to my school days. Nothing major in terms of the prizes or notoriety attached though. Maybe one day!
88. Ever have plastic surgery?
No, never. I don't think I would ever do it electively, but I fully understand the appeal and have zero qualms with folks who want to get it done.
89. Which are better black or green olives?
I really like both, but black win out for me (especially on a pizza or sub sandwich - yum!!!).
90. Can you knit or crochet?
No, neither. I admire both classic art forms and those who can do one or both immensely though.
91. Best room for a fireplace?
It really depends on the house, but I'm a big fan of having one in a cozy den or family room. They can be breathtaking in a large enough bedroom or bathroom, too.
92. Do you want to get married?
I am and have been, to my soul mate, for close to eleven marvelous years now.
93. If married, how long have you been married?
See the answer above.
95. Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way?
Dear goodness, no. That that kind of behaviour is deplorable in adults and really, children over the age of about five, in my books.
96. Do you have kids?
No, we don't have children yet.
97. Do you want kids?
With every last fiber of my being, however I am infertile and with my state of poor health far beyond that due to all of my various chronic illnesses, children have not been able to happen for us yet. If we're able to adopt (heartbreaking, and utterly bizarrely, it is illegal to pay someone else to carry a child for you in Canada, so surrogacy is exceedingly rare in this country, otherwise that would be a very real option for us), it will most likely happen in the next decade or so, but it still remains to be seen if such is possible for a number of reasons.
98. What’s your favorite color?
Pink! (Though red is my signature wardrobe colour.) Followed by burgundy, turquoise/aqua, teal, and pine green.
99. Do you miss anyone right now?
I am massively missing my sweet husband, who is in the States for work, as he's been since mid-June, and will be until early September.
*EDIT* I started answering these questions back when Tony was away this summer. He's been back for a couple of months now, but is traveling again more days than not this month of November, so I'm missing him again.
{To learn more about a specific image used in this post, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.}
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Thank you very much for sharing this engaging series of 99 questions, dear Lindsay. I hope that you'll continue to post other Q&As that speak to you in the future, because chances are, they'll be hollering out my name as well. If any of you play along and answer this diverse assortment of questions, too, please be sure to comment below with a link so that I cap lap up your answers and learn oodles more about you.
Okay, my sweet dears. One shy of hitting the triple digit mark when it comes to questions and answers were plenty to read through here for a single day, so I'll wrap up this post in this very line and wish you each a stellar, fun filled first weekend of November!!!
