Playing catch-up on the various Personal Q&As from the past few days …
First, howzabout the Thursday Thumb-Twiddler?
1. You’re at a friend’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. You find a dead cockroach in your salad. What do you do?
Ew.
My first impulse, beyond not eating another bite of the salad, is to say nothing. The host will just be embarrassed, the others at the meal grossed out. Impolite.
If it were some big affair where it was all catered, I’d let the host know, though. Then it wouldn’t reflect personally on him. (At least that’s how I’d feel — moritified, sure, but angry at the caterers.)
But then the problem of germs comes up. What if everyone gets some horrible disease, just because I didn’t warn them?
Too hypothetical. I’d push my salad aside and stay quiet.
2. What particular historical document (or portion thereof) do you think every person (or at least every citizen of your country) should know by heart?
I’d stick with a secular doc, to begin with. The Declaration of Independence has the advantage of being profoundly influential and relatively short. The Gettysburg Address is pretty, but not all that important. The Constitution is just way too long, though, frankly, if I could get all citizens to memorize it by magic somehow, that would be the most valuable; failing that, the Bill of Rights (first ten amendments) part of it wouldn’t be a bad thing for people to know by heart, rather than by reference in editorials.
3. A follow-on to last week: what five TV series have or had the best theme song with lyrics?
Amazingly enough, I have some at hand — though once I review the answers from some others, I’ll likely amend this list.
- Maverick (the end titles had the lyrics)
- Mary Tyler Moore Show (either version, though I thought the first season was the best)
- Drew Carey (“5 O’Clock World” version)
- The Vicar of Dibley (faboo rendition of the 23rd Psalm)
- Have Gun, Will Travel (actually, any number of old Westerns had fine ballads introducing them)
Honorable Mention to James at 15.
Now we move on to the Thursday Threesome.
New: It’s been a few weeks; what’s new with you?
RTFB. That’s what I keep it for.
Fall: Do you fall all over yourself getting bulbs in the ground for winter and spring blooms?
Usually, yes. Or, rather, I fall all over myself buying lots and lots of bulbs, then realize I need to plant them. Which is, in fact, the case this year. Only thing is, I really have to finish the fence first. Then plant bulbs. Then mulch. And, somewhere in there, possible do some retaining wall work.
Colors: Which do you prefer, the bright jewel colors of fall, the white snow of winter, the pastels of new life in spring, the greens of summer?
I have become a huge Spring fan since moving here. But Autumn is pretty nice, too. I enjoy snowscapes in the Winter, especially when I can work from home. Have to say that Summer falls last on the list.
And moving right along to the Friday Five.
1. How many TVs do you have in your home?
Two at the moment — one in the family room, one in the basement. That’s a good number. I don’t want us to be one of those TV-in-every-room sorts of families.
2. On average, how much TV do you watch in a week?
Actually watch, vs. simply have on in the background? We intentionally watch an hour or two a day. Really. The TV is actually on much more than that, but a lot of it is background noise and part of the Katherine environment.
3. Do you feel that television is bad for young children?
I don’t know. Are books bad for young children? Depends on the books. Katherine enjoys TV, but she rarely sits mesmerized by it. She enjoys books, toys, running around, taking walks, etc. I think much of it depends on how the adults behave toward TV.
4. What TV shows do you absolutely HAVE to watch, and if you miss them, you’re heartbroken?
Firefly. Farscape. Those are it, probably. Other voluntary items include Junkyard Wars, etc.
5. If you had the power to create your own television network, what would your line-up look like?
Well, if I had a TiVo, we’d find out, wouldn’t we?
And since the Saturday Scruples isn’t yet updated this week, and the Game WISH should go in its own category, let’s call that a wrap.