Surveillance

1. Do you open people’s medicine cabinets? Do you feel, on the whole, guiltier when you get caught or don’t get caught? Do you feel guilty about not feeling guilty enough when you don’t get caught?
I’m definitely a medicine cabinet snoop. I don’t rifle through them or anything, but I definitely peek. And I don’t feel guilty about it because frankly, I assume people do the same thing when they’re at my house.

2. What was the first "adult" book you recall reading? (As opposed to kids books.)
I honestly can’t remember the first. The first I distinctly recall was The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo. I probably only remember it because it was a real challenge and I was only 12 or 13 at the time. Looking back, I probably wasn’t quite ready for it. 

3. As a little kid, did you consciously act like a little kid?
I don’t think acting like what you are is really a conscious decision. I was something of a little adult just because I was an only child, but it was never a conscious behavior.

4. As far as places you’ve been, if you are tallying the list for the sheer pleasure of a large number, do airports count?
I’ve never had layovers in places that I haven’t been. I do count the states I drove through on the way out here.

5. What is the longest you’ve ever gone without speaking to another human? Do you think you could go a week?
I’m not sure. I suppose a couple days when Alan was out in the field. But now I actually know people out here. I have friends! Plus I feel connected through all my friends here.

6. For whom have you caused the greatest joy?
I like to imagine that I’ve caused my parents a lot of joy, being an only child and all. I also think I’ve caused Alan quite a bit of joy.

7. When is the last time you purchased pornography?
When I was 18 and it was a joke gift for a friend’s 18th birthday. So 10 years ago.

8. When was the last time you ran as fast as you possibly could?
Last summer sometime. I was having an argument with Alan about a hike we were on, so I took off down the trail as fast as I could until I lost him.

9. Do you ever find yourself (particularly when dressed up) tallying up the total cost of all that you have on?
Sometimes, but that’s more something I do BEFORE I get dressed up.

10. Is "like" your vocal tic, or is it "you know"?
I’m actually pretty good at speaking without those weakening phrases and tones. I think it must come from having to assert myself in parent-teacher conferences and telling students and teachers what to do in front of the camera.

11. In what grade in school did people begin to "date"? Were you in on this?
People started to "go out" in middle school for the most part. Not me, though. I was a total nerd.

12. If you had to dispose of a dead body, how would you?
I’m not sure. Maybe in a very deep body of water to wash away any forensic evidence. It worked for Dexter, right?

13. Who is your least judgmental friend?
I don’t know that my friends are particularly judgmental. Maybe Annie. She’s absolutely one of the sweetest souls I’ve ever met. One of those people that you know the world will probably rip to shreds because she has such complete faith in everyone.

14. What is the first website you go to after you check your email?
I check AOL mail, then Yahoo! mail, then I come here.

15. What is the longest book or series of books you’ve ever read? Are you at a loss when you finish?
Technically, it’s the Discworld series, by Terry Pratchett. It’s not exactly a series, but all the books happen in the same world and many of them are intertwined. And I haven’t finished it! I’ve read 29 of them so far and I’m nowhere near the end.

16. Do you like watching flying helium balloons disappear into specks? Do you watch loved ones disappear on train platforms or in rearview mirrors? Do you watch as long as you can?
I’m not a dweller. So I really don’t do any of those things. Even when Alan left for Basic, I cried for about 10 minutes, then shrugged and got on with it.

17. As a host, are you skilled and willing, skilled and unwilling, unskilled and willing, or unskilled and unwilling? In general, do you feel it’s your fault if someone is not having a good time?
Honestly, I don’t do a lot of hostessing. I am willing, but I can be a bit flakey sometimes, so I’m not as skilled as I’d like to be. I figure if someone’s not having a good time and I’ve done what’s in my power, then it’s something personal with that person. No big deal.

18. If you opened the hood of your own smoking car, would you have any idea what you were looking at?
Well, what color is the smoke? If it”s white, I’m going to be looking at the radiator. If it’s black, I’ve got a serious oil problem. Either way, I won’t be looking at anything until the engine’s cooled off.

19. How often do you Google yourself?
I have, but nothing comes up except for some pictures from Facebook, which is actually pretty reassuring.

20. At what age was your first kiss? How often do you think of this?
My first real kiss? I was 15… I don’t even really remember the actual kiss (Sorry, Brett!) but it was at DisneyWorld or Epcot with my first serious boyfriend.

21. How often do you sleep till you wake? Is there anything better than climbing into bed and knowing this, knowing you’ll be sleeping an indefinite length?
Most days, actually. And since it’s not a rarity, it hasn’t become a luxury.

22. If you could own a pro sports franchise, which sport would it be? Which team?
I would be remiss if I didn’t say hockey on this. Because of course, I would own the Carolina Hurricanes and bring them back home to Hartford where they could once more be the Whalers.

23. Who was your favorite teacher? Is s/he still where s/he was, still teaching?
Kurt Simonsen, junior English. John Serena, sophomore US History and senior Sociology. Tony Rosso, 18th Century British Literature and Romantic Poets. As far as I know, Simonsen and Rosso are both still teaching. I think Serena has retired. I was friends with his step-daughter in school and I’m still connected to her on Facebook. Simonsen was that cool, hot teacher that everyone loved… girls, guys, and parents. Rosso was just… Rosso. ::sigh::

24. At what age did you cease taking baths or cease exclusively taking baths?
Probably sometimes in elementary school. Maybe age 7? I still take baths occasionally, but I’m tall and it’s hard to fit all me in a tub.

25. What is your favorite month?
February, because it’s my birth month, and September. I always loved back to school season and the temperatures getting cooler. That’s why we got married in September.

~Liz