Thanks, Tense

Here’s another meaningless meme, ripped off of my beloved Tense Teacher. I’m distracted and busy today, and I’m sorry, but this is the best I’ve got.

1. Are you taller than your best friend?

My very best friend is Mr. Chili and no, I’m not taller than he is. In fact, I’m not taller than ANY of my friends.

2. Do you have a favorite type of pen?

I love razor point pens. I found a few with grey ink that I love, but I’ll take them in pretty much any color.

3. Look at your planner; what are were your plans for January 15th?

January 15th is my birthday! I went to lunch with girlfriends from work, then went home and rested (my back was still pretty wrong then). Later in the evening, Bowyer, Tonks and the boys came by and Mr. Chili cooked steaks. Tonks baked me a cake, the power went out, and I opened my presents by candlelight.

4. What color are your toenails usually? They are the color of my toenails. I very RARELY paint my toes (or my fingers, for that matter) because if the polish isn’t PERFECT, it bugs me. Most of the time, my nails are naked.

5. What was the last thing you highlighted? My printed-from-the-internet copy of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I used three different color highlighters, too. I NEVER - repeat that, NEVER - highlight in books. Ever.

6. What color are the curtains in your bedroom? There are no curtains in my bedroom.

7. What color are the seats in your car? The seats in my car are black and grey with some Volkswagonesque splashes of muted red and blue here and there. Very understated.

8. Have you ever had a black and white cat? I have three. The fourth is all black.

9. What is the last thing you put a stamp on? (asshole) The application for the summer fellowship at Not-So-Local College.

10. Do you know anyone who lives in Japan? No, but Tonks USED to live in Japan. Does that count?

11. Why did you withdraw cash from the ATM the last time? Oh, good lord - I can’t remember the last time I took cash out of an ATM. It was probably around Christmas time, and probably for fast food.

12. Last baby you held? Is there a question in there somewhere? I’m going to go with “who” and tell you that there aren’t any babies in my life at the moment, so the last baby I held was my own.

13. Can you spell well? I can spell extremely well; unless you’re asking me to spell pursuit or bureaucracy, neither of which I can get right on the first try.

14. Do you like cinnamon toothpaste? No, thank you. I prefer Colgate Original.

15. How fast have you driven in a car before? Driven? Probably about 100. BEEN driven? Around 118, in Mr. Chili’s Corrado on the highway to our home. The memorable quote from that experience was “Wow! Our exit comes up pretty fast at a buck twenty, huh?”

16. Pick one: Miami Hurricanes or Florida Gators? Sorry, I’m a Yankee Girl. The Patriots.

17. Last time you went to Six Flags? I’m not sure I’ve EVER been to a Six Flags. We went to a Busch Gardens last summer - can that count?

18. Do you have any wallpaper in your house? None. Not a blessed molecule.

19. Closest thing to you that is yellow? It’s a tie between a photo of a sunflower and a year’s worth of National Geographic magazines.’

20. Last person who gave you a business card? A massage therapist (whose appointment I completely forgot and have to reschedule).

21. Who was the last person you wrote a check or money order to? (asshole) I’m sure it was to one of the girls’ schools for a fund raiser or a lunch account. I’m too lazy (Hi, Rich!) to get up to consult the register.

22. Closest framed picture to you? A three way tie among flower pictures hanging on the wall in front of me - the aforementioned sunflower, a morning glory of some sort, and what looks like a purple daisy - I’m not sure of it’s actual name.

23. Last time you had someone cook for you? Xena took me to Ruby Tuesday for lunch yesterday - someone else cooked my burgers.

24. Have you ever felt you weren’t good enough? Felt? It’s possible to use the past tense in this question?….

25. How many emails do you get in your inbox daily (excluding spam)? That depends. On a really good day, I’ll get about 25-30, including blog comments and student emails.

26. Last time you received flowers? Mr. Chili brought home roses for all us girls last month.

27. What’s one thing you live for? Just ONE?! I’d have to say my marriage.

28. Do you play air guitar? Nope.

29. Has anyone ever proposed to you? Yep.

30. Do you take anything in your coffee? I don’t drink coffee.

31. Do you have any Willow Tree figurines? Nope, and I’d like to keep it that way.

32. How many books have you read in the last year? Oh, GOD. Let me think… probably about 14?

33. Last person you spoke to from high school? My beloved Kizz. Oh, I take it back - the last person I SPOKE to was MeadMaker, but the last person I communicated with was Kizz.

34. Last time you used hand sanitizer? I can’t remember, though I have a mini-bottle of it in my coat pocket, it never occurs to me to actually use the stuff.

35. Would you like to learn to play the drums? Not particularly. This is not on my list of things to do before I die.

36. What color are the blinds in your living room? There are no blinds in my living room.

37. Have you ever developed your own film? Nope.

38. Last thing you read in the newspaper? A colleague’s article in my local freebie.

39. What was the last pageant or play you attended? Do Beanie’s and Punkin’s holiday concerts count?

40. What is the last place you bought pizza from? (asshole) Bertucci’s. We went across the state to see Auntie and caught a late lunch/early dinner at our favorite place (that DOESN’T have an outlet closer than an hour away from us, the bastards!)

41. Have you ever worn a crown? Um…. no…

42. What is the last thing you stapled? I know where my stapler is, but I don’t remember the last time I used it. The copier automatically staples things for me, though, so I guess my answer would be a short story about the civil rights era that I copied for my lit students this morning.

43. Did you ever drink clear Pepsi? No!

44. Are you ticklish? Yes!

45. Last time you saw fireworks? Literally? On television on New Year’s Eve.

46. Last time you had a Krispy Kreme doughnut? I’m pretty sure I’ve had a Krispy Kreme donut, but it’s been literally years. We’re in Dunkin Donuts country around here.

47. Who is the last person that left you a message, and you actually returned it? One of my students emailed me today, and I emailed her right back.

48. Last time you parked under a carport? Never. Carports are USELESS in New England. It’s a garage or nothing.

49. Do you have a black dog? No dogs. I USED to have a black dog, but he died when I was about 11.

50. Can you give one reason why David Caruso is allowed to keep acting? Not really - I don’t watch anything he’s in and, to quote Gerry, I don’t really care.

51. Are you an aunt or uncle? Given that I’m MRS. Chili, I’m going to say “aunt.” And yes, I do get to use that title.

52. Who has the most gorgeous eyes that you know of? That’s a hard one. Beanie’s got some gorgeous blue ones, and the fact that they’re the only blue ones in the family kind of makes them stand out.

53. Last time you saw a semi truck? I saw one on the highway on the way home from work this afternoon.

54. Do you remember Ugly Kid Joe? WHO?!

55. Do you have a little black dress? I actually have two of them; neither of which I get to wear very much, sadly.

I’m off to read essays. Wish me luck!