My previous BI partner never replied, but Karen’s right here, right now, and rarin’ to go. So here’s this week’s Blogger Insider, courtesy of Karen at Kacroon.
1 – I see many quizzes – are you addicted to doing them?
I suppose. On the Personality Quizzes (“You are: EMPEROR PALPATINE!”), I’ve gotten more selective these days. They have to have very cool graphics, a fun subject, or questions that seem at least slightly meaningful. On the Personality Q&A (like, er, Blogger Insider), I’ve got a near-daily stable of them that I indulge in. It lets the topics find me, rather than them. And, since I think blogging is an extremely egotistical exercise, it let’s me talk about the important stuff, to wit, ME, ME, ME.
2 – How did you hear about Blogging and what tempted you to start?
My bud Doyce got me into it. “Hey, man, I found the coolest stuff. It’ll really blow your socks off. Hey, come on … first post is free …” The rest is, sadly, history.
3 – Have you being dreaming of having nightmares about your “local” fire?
No. Aside from waking up with a mouth tasting like a bad trip to a smoky pub, I’ve not had it affect my sleep (or dreams) at all. I don’t remember my dreams much, anyway.
4 – What, other than family, would be the one thing you would save if you had to?
Probably my notebook computer. Too much of my life is on this beast. I’ve got a little fire-resistant lockbox I’d try to grab. My wedding album. The Muro over the fireplace. The … OHMYGOD, THE WINE …
I’m assuming you include the cats in the category of “family.”
5 – Is the smoke actually that close that it is in the house?
It didn’t get so thick that it was visible inside the house (along the lines of, “What the hell did you last cook in the oven, honey?”). But it slightly dimmed the view even to the house behind us.
6 – How long have you had a beard and why have you got it??!!
I first grew a beard … hmmm, I think it was post-college, though I grew a moustache while there (using the excuse of a play I was in). I’ve had it on and off, mostly on, in various forms, since then. My changes in facial hair have gotten further apart over the years, though I did go from goateed to cleanshaven to bearded again so far this year.
As to why … well partly vanity (a desperate attempt to cover a multitude a chins), partly laziness (it’s a lot faster and easier to shave if most of your face is covered in hair, and you can get by for a day or two without shaving if need be).
7 – If you could take anyone famous, dead or alive, for a drink, who would
it be??
At the risk of cliche, it would probably be Jesus Christ. Actually, I fancy having a drink with Jesus. A nice, relaxed setting for asking a lot of questions I’m rather tense about the answers to.
8 – Have you ever, or would you wear flip flops?
Assuming that in the UK “flip flops” refer to sandals with no backs to them …
I wore flip-flops when I was Very Young. A decade or more ago I was reintroduced to sandals, via Birkenstocks. I’ve since graduated to Tivas. I like wearing sandals — very convenient on and off, not to mention comfortable.
9 – How many of the extensive list of blogs, do you read on a daily basis?
Honestly….!!
I hit all of the Gottas daily, if not more often. The Wannas every other day or so. The Oughtas maybe once a week. The Source Material I try to hit at least weekly (though the bottom three are more like daily).
But not at work. Never at work. Nosirree, that would be against company policy, you betcha …
10 – The photo of you on the About page, where in the world are you?
Atop Mt. Evans, once of the “14ers” near Denver (as in “14,000 feet above sea level”). It’s actually home to the highest paved highway in the US (or something like that), which will take you within about 100 breathless yards from the top. It’s a great place to bring visitors.
11 – Where an earth did the names from the cats come from?
“Mist” was named that when he sort of came into our life from the shadows, plus his grey color, plus I had this weird thing at the time about giving all my cats names starting with “M”.
“Indy” was named after Indiana (“We named the cat Indiana”), which is the state where, as a stray, he was given to us by some friends. His full name is “Indiana Pizza & Beer,” after his first meal wandering up to the bonfire the night before we arrived.
12 – How close are you to finishing your novel?
Heh. To paraphrase Paul Valery, a novel is never finished, only abandoned. The first novel I started on shortly after college needs probably about two weeks of concentrated effort to give it one final buffing. The NaNoWriMo novel I did last November could use a bit more work than that, but is less likely to get it.
One of these days …
13 – What would be the one wish that you could grant for your daughter?
Could grant or would grant?
The only one I can grant is to be the best father I know how to be — supportive, teaching, entertaining, loving, nurturing, providing, etc.
The one I would grant, if I could with a wave of my hand, would be that she would live in joy.
14 – Actually, what is you daughter called?
Katherine Lydia Hill, the middle name after my mom’s mom. A/k/a, Little Girl, Kitten, KATHERINE-NO!, Squiggy-boo, and Kitten.
15 – What is the naughtiest thing you have ever done?
When but a wee lad of five or six, I sprinkled salt and pepper about the kitchen counters, then ran to my mom and blamed my younger brother. Once he was banished to his room, I tried the same thing again, sprinkling sugar this time as well, and adding to it the story that my brother had not only done this thing, but had left his banishment to do so. Alas, I didn’t know my mother could see into the kitchen from where she was …
A memorable Talking To ensued …
I’m now officially