I thought I would score higher in the awkward category.

1. What are you currently reading? 1984 by George Orwell, which I somehow managed to never read and re-reading Watchmen by Alan Moore just because I can’t wait for the movie (and it’s awesome).
If you’re not reading anything right now, what was the last book you read? I’m never not reading anything, but the last book I read was Middlesex.
2. Where is your favorite place to get your books from? Borders, Bookmooch and Paperbackswap. Or anyplace else that can feed my addiction.
3. Name a book you read and did not enjoy. A Treasury of Royal Scandals seemed just like a bookish history version of The Enquirer. That’s Disgusting was not as shocking as it pretends to be (also kind of boring) and I forced myself to finish it.
4. How has your taste in books changed over the years? I read more non-fiction that I did when I was younger.
What types of books do you read now as opposed to five years ago? I still read anything I can get my hands on.
5. When you walk into your favorite bookstore, where do you go? Mystery…Romance…Latest Releases….Non-Fiction…etc? I usually head to the New Releases, just because they’re right by the door. Sometimes they have a 3-for-the-price-of-1 that I usually can’t resist. Otherwise I’m quite content to wander up and down the aisles.

Saturday 9: Another High School Meme

1. Can you sing the fight song? I can still remember our school song for the most part. Honestly, I didn’t know it at all until graduation. We had to memorize and sing it and I haven’t forgotten it yet.

2. Who was your favorite teacher? Mr. Petula. I had him for Civics/Economics freshman year and for Law and the Citizen senior year, both of which were Presidential election years. I credit him for the fact that I am so interested in the political process and vote in every election. If it was an election year he would have us keep a Presidential election scrapbook of all the news clippings about the election that you would have to turn in at the end of the year. He’d also hold mock elections (Perot won in our class) and he would explain the whole voting process, even bringing in a miniature voting booth panel with the levers and labels. He’d also talk about traveling the world, of visiting Pompeii and other places.

3. What was your school mascot? We were the West Scranton Invaders, though I don’t think we actually had a mascot until my junior or senior year. He was freaky looking.

4. Did you go to the Prom? Yep, with my first boyfriend. Surprisingly we had a pretty good time. Then we came back to my house and fell asleep while watching While You Were Sleeping. I’ve always been a Wild Child.

5. If you could go back, would you? I’d like to go back and tell my High School self that it would all be okay, and to do the damn homework.

6. What do you remember most about graduation? Not much about the ceremony itself, but that night the school held a party for us at St. Mary’s Center with food and a DJ (probably to keep us from drinking and partying). It was a blast. The thing that really sticks out is this kid Damien, who was always an outsider, started doing martial arts moves to the music and the DJ promptly switched the song to Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting and all the cheerleaders and popular kids who ignored or taunted him throughout HS stood in a circle and cheered and applauded sincerely. It was a beautiful moment and the first time I thought that everything was really changing.

7. Where were you on Senior Skip Day? I honestly don’t remember.

8. Did you have a job your senior year? Burger King all the way.

9. Where did you go most often for lunch? There was a little corner store called Galdieri’s across the street and I would grab a hoagie and chips and we would eat on the steps of the school. Senior year when I had a car we would drive to McDonald’s, BK or somewhere else.

Saturday 9: The High School Meme

1. Who was your best friend? I was friends with this girl, Michele, until 10th grade when she suddenly stopped speaking to me and decided to hang out with the cheerleaders and join the pom pom squad. After that I was friends with a girl named Jennifer who was a year above me.

2. Did you play any sports? Nope. Asthma.

3. What kind of car did you drive? 1988 Ford Tempo that I paid for by working at Burger King. I loved that car.

4. It’s Friday night. Where were you? Home or driving around with friends.

5. Were you a party animal? Nope. I was a homebody and I didn’t drink or smoke.

6. Were you considered a flirt? Hell no. I was way too shy.

7. Were you in the band, orchestra or choir? I played violin from 4th to 8th grade, but gave it up when I went to High School.

8. Were you a nerd? Still am, but not bright enough to be Ultra Nerd (sadly). I used to bring my textbooks home the first day of school and read the history and literature books from cover to cover.

9. Were you ever suspended or expelled? No suspension or expulsion. Closest I came to getting in trouble was getting detention for skipping school the day before Thanksgiving break. It was unspoken tradition to come in, get your report card and leave. I had permission from my parents so I didn’t get in trouble with them. Plus the supervising teacher for the detention was my English teacher and he let me go after 10 minutes. Being nerdy came in handy.

My friend Jennie emailed me a survey. More than slightly rambly because I wrote this at 3 a.m. before my internet went wonky. Not edited just because I’m lazy, but I’ll post it here

01. Do you like blue cheese? No. As Gordon Ramsay would say “It looks like baby vomit!” Only he’d curse a lot more.
02. Have you ever smoked? Yes, though I didn’t get it.
03. Do you own a gun? Does a BB rifle count?
04. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite? The red kind. I assume it had some sort of fruit-name, but it was always “the red kind” Useless information: Kool-Aid was painfully responsible for me knowing the difference between “radio” and “remote” controlled. I saved up Kool Aid points and got all excited about my new toy only to discover that the car was tethered to the remote by a 2 foot cord. You had to be careful not to step on the thing like Godzilla when playing with it. So now I kind of know the difference. Lesson learned, Kool-Aid Man. Lesson learned.
05. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Waiting rooms make me intensely uncomfortable, but seeing the doctor doesn’t.
06. What do you think of hot dogs? I like it when they’re made of meat.
07. Favorite Christmas movie? A Christmas Story
08. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Anything with loads of caffeine if it’s early. Otherwise Earl Grey or English Breakfast tea.
09. Can you do push ups? Unwillingly.
10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? The necklace and ring Rob gave me. Because he gave them to me. Plus they’re Ultra Purty.
11. Favorite hobby? Devouring books, watching movies, playing games on the computer.
12. Do you have A.D.D.? No. What was the question again?
13. What’s one trait you hate about yourself? My insecurity.
14. Middle name? Jane Elizabeth. Awww yeah! Confirmation extra middle names, baby! Whoo!
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? “Why am I typing out Ric Flair ‘Whoos’?” “I’d like some tea” “I wish I had some bacon”
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Water, Caffeine-free pepsi, tea
17. Current worry? Whether my car will pass inspection and whether the transmission is going. Please don’t be the transmission.
18 What do you hate right now? I’m not really hating on anything at the moment.
19. Favorite place to be? Anywhere with people who make me happy.
20. How did you bring in the New Year? How did I “bring” in the New Year? In a basket, maybe? In the cartoons the New Year is always a happy baby. I think it would fit in a basket. A shopping cart at most. Honestly I know I was with Rob, but I don’t remember where we were. It was something low-key.
21. Where would you like to go? Ireland or South Korea
22. Name three people who will complete this: I don’t even know who I’m sending it to.
23. Do you own slippers? Somewhere, but I never where them.
24. What shirt are you wearing? *looks down* A brownish t-shirt thingie.
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I have not had the chance to test this. If anyone’s offering, I’d also like to try sleeping on a pile of $100 bills if I get to keep them.
26. Can you whistle? Yes. But cabs and horses never show up spontaneously.
27. Favorite color? Blue
28. Would you be a pirate? Sure. I say “argh” enough to possibly qualify at a discount rate.
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? Whatever is stuck in my head.
30. Favorite Girls Name? Sophie or Sophia
31. Favorite boy’s name? I don’t really have one. I was once in a toy store at the mall and overheard a woman yelling at her two boys who apparently were named Hunter and Tanner. It made me wonder if she had another one named Skinner at home. So none of those.
32. What’s in your pocket right now? Some change and a pack of Listerine strips.
33. Last thing that made you laugh? My guinea pig makes weird noises. ALL THE TIME.
34. Best bed sheets as a child? I had this set of Strawberry Shortcake sheets that had poles to make a little tent. Which remind me, why the heck did they change the way Strawberry Shortcake looks?
35. Worst injury you’ve ever had? The technicolor mess Rob’s stairs made of my back X 2.
36. Do you love where you live? I miss it when I’m away.
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? Too many.
38. Who is your loudest friend? I don’t know. I might say me, which makes one ask “Am I my own friend?” Wow. You’re deep, Survey. I’m impressed by your philosophical profundity.
39. How many dogs do you have? None.
40.Does someone have a crush on you? Not as far as I know.
41. What is your favorite book? I’m making this plural and you can’t stop me. American Gods by Neil Gaiman, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell, The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye (everyone should read this), Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, The Princess Bride by William Goldman, The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte… I need to stop myself, don’t I?
42. What is your favorite candy? Reese’s Pieces. Though honestly, I love candy of all types. I’m open-minded like that.
43. Favorite Sports team? I don’t really have a sports team, so I tend to root for the teams of people close to me. Though I refuse to root for the Yankees, Cowboys or Packers (sorry, Jennie)
44. What song do you want played at your funeral? The March of The Sinister Ducks or something equally inappropriate. I don’t know. I’m not exactly going to complain, am I? But if someone whips out Celine Dion or Sarah MacLachlan I will come back and haunt you mercilessly.