Searching for inspiration

Writing the narrative essay for my professional education portfolio is not going so well…basically, it’s not going anywhere.  So I’m taking a break, calming down, and answering some questions that have nothing to do with education and Wisconsin standards and anything like that.

If you had to describe yourself as a color, which would you choose?

I think I would be yellow.  I’m a Gemini, and it means I have a dualistic personality (oooh, dualistic…that’s from AP English and Crime and Punishment!).  So, sometimes I’m warm, nurturing, and mellow.  Other times, I’m bright, fiery, passionate.  Voila, yellow.

If you were lost in the woods and it got dark, what would you do?

Think about the book The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon and freak out. 

What do you think the world needs now?

A good, swift kick in the behind.  Then a big hug and a root beer float.

What do you think courage means?

I once heard that courage doesn’t mean you’re not scared, it means you’re brave enough to admit that you are.  I like that definition of it.

What does “There are two sides to every coin” mean to you?

It means that I always have the choice to change my mind.  My opinion can change, my mood can shift, my heart can tumble and fall and get right back up.

What makes you laugh?

Conan O’Brien.  My brother and his girlfriend when they order milkshakes at Red Robin.  When Iggy chases his tail.  My mom’s dancing.  Certain quotes from Harry Potter books.  Whenever anyone asks if I’ve found any porn under the seat of my car lately.  When I think about Eric performing “The Thong Song” at the talent show my sophomore year.  “Dumb and Dumber.”  Tiny dogs.  My uncle’s horrible jokes.  When Shane and Corey do the “World of Tile” competition.  The broken ankle dive.  The word “zarf.”  Dad’s socks.  The picture of Michael with the Scooby Doo underwear on his head.  Things my kids at the center say.  Ice blocking.  Forking.  And so much more…   

Describe the most ludicrous outfit you can think of.

That weird purple outfit Lil Kim wore to some awards show…with the seashells.  Gag me!

When do you feel proud?

When I write something that I can read over and over…to me, if my work is good, I want to look at it often, perhaps just to make sure it hasn’t changed into something horrible.

When someone picks on someone else, how do you feel? What do you do?

It makes me feel disheartened and totally useless.  But, despite that second feeling, I’m usually able to make a stand and help out.  I’m left without much more to say about this one, I’m afraid…

Why do you think some people take advantage of others?

Because the survival instinct is savagely strong in some people.  Darwin wasn’t just spouting crap when he said that the strong members of the species survive – we are animals, albeit educated ones.  I also think it comes down to lack of intelligence.  When someone knows that they just won’t be able to live up to another, they may use whatever means necessary to get ahead without having to use their brain.   

What is something that really makes you angry?

When people tell me not to feel bad because someone else is worse off than I am.  Damn it, I’m human, I have emotions and feelings – I will feel however I damn well please.  I also get really ticked off when people refuse to even LISTEN to the other side of an argument.  Open your mind – it’s amazing what you’ll experience.

What is the best advice you ever received?

“The sun always rises tomorrow – life always goes on.”

What would happen if you could fly whenever you wanted? When would you use this ability?

I would be the happiest damn girl on earth!  I would use this ability whenever I could – there are so many places on this planet I want to see!

What if cows gave root beer instead of milk?

Well, if that was normal, if that’s how things always were, I wouldn’t think anything of it.  But if this was a sudden switch, for example, it happened tomorrow, I might be pretty unhappy.  I’m a Wisconsin girl – gotta have my dairy!

What would you do if you saw little bugs in your salad?

Get a new one.

What do you think your friends say to each other when you’re not around?

I’m paranoid, so I always think it’s bad things…but I can always hope it’s good things!

What do you think makes a good friend?

A person who is honest, open, loyal, and a good listener.  Someone who can lean and be leaned on.  And someone who does the little things to make you feel loved and appreciated.

What things do you think are beautiful?

There’s so much beauty in this world…fire glass, the ocean, lightning, clear blue eyes, rosebuds, lilacs, puppies, bright orange goldfish, new running shoes, seashells, bright green grass, little old ladies with wrinkled faces, baby socks, random acts of kindness, etc.  I could go on forever. 

How do you feel when you do something wrong?

Upset with myself and mad – I wonder why I can’t have a little more self-control.

How do you feel about your appearance?

Sometimes, right after I’ve finished getting ready in the morning and my hair is freshly dried, I feel beautiful.  But then the day wears on and my skin dulls and my hair droops and when I get home, I feel anything but pretty.

If all my wishes came true, I would…

…know that I did something pretty damn good in another lifetime.

When it might hurt their feelings, how do you feel about telling your friends the truth?

Sometimes, you have to sugarcoat things a bit.  Not about the really important stuff, but when your friend asks if she looks good with a streak of temporary orange dye in her hair, yeah, agree with her.  It’ll wash out soon enough. 

Pretend that you have a choice to save someone you love. If you save them you will never see them again. If you don’t save them they will die. What would you do?

Obviously, I’d save them.  How horrible of a person would I be if I let someone I love die?  If they could continue living their life and be happy, even if I couldn’t see them anymore, it would still be worth it.

What would you think about the people living in the state of Utah if the only things you knew about them were: 1- they eat more Jello per person than any other state, 2- they use more hair spray per person than any other state, and 3- they eat more ice cream per person than any other state.

::giggles::  I’d think that those are the kind of people I need to live amongst!  At least when it comes to the ice cream, that is…