interview meme

[serenissima]

Rules of the game:
I have been asked questions by other people which I am answering here. If you would like me to ask you questions, just say so in a comment on this post. I will reply in another comment with my questions for you. You will post the questions and your answers to them in your own journal. People may reply to your post asking to be interviewed, and you will make up questions for them. And so on.

Questions from taldragon:

1. where do you see yourself in the future? (jobwise/relationshipwise/familywise etc)

This is a big hazy question mark. Family-wise, I would eventually like to get married and have kids... maybe in 8-10 years. This implies a steady, loving relationship with my co-parent.   :)   I'm on pretty good terms with my extended family, and I would like to remain so.

Regarding jobs/career, I never really felt compelled to be any particular thing. I've always liked math and science, and when I was in grade school I thought I'd become an engineer. While in college, I thought I'd be a programmer, hence the degree in CS. Now I'm not sure. I still like computers and problem-solving, but I don't have a lot of confidence in my ability to make good programs. I think I might enjoy adult education. And I like foreign languages. So maybe I'll branch out somehow.

2. what are your views on draconicity/otherkinness? are you a dragon/other animal? are you one irl?

Hm, it's been a few years since I last thought about this question. I can tell you what I am not: I am not a reincarnated anything. I believe I have a soul, and this is its first time and last time around the block. I am doubtful of other people's claims to be reincarnated whatevers (humans or otherwise), but I do not rule out the possibility.

In the interest of keeping an open mind, I also allow for the possibility that souls suitable for other animals were instead granted to humans, and that's what's responsible for the affinity some people have for other species. This implies that creatures other than humans have souls, a concept that I'm willing to accept to for some species, based on their intelligence (e.g., maybe parrots but not starfish). It also brings up the question, do animals ever get souls suitable for humans?

I would not try to argue a person out of the belief that he or she is really a [dragon/fox/elf/space alien], unless there were special circumstances. I'm not interesting in converting other people's religious beliefs.

Getting back to the point, draconity is a matter of perspective for me. Draconity discussions on alt.fan.dragons often boiled down to the conclusion "if you say you are a dragon, then you are." The definition of dragon stretches to fit the person. Sometimes I think of myself as one. Sometimes I don't. The newsgroup was really the catalyst that made me wonder if I might be a dragon in the first place, and since leaving the newsgroup about four years ago (time management reasons, and it just wasn't as compelling anymore), I've been thinking about draconity less and less.

So: Am I a dragon? Online, yes. In real life, depends on your definitions.

3. do you have a favourite author/book/film/food? why are they your favourite?

I have a few favorite films. I love the "Indiana Jones" series, especially "The Last Crusade." I understand that a fourth one will be made in the next few years; I'm curious how it will turn out, and how Harrison Ford will handle it. He's not exactly young anymore. I like "Run Lola Run." I think I've even mentioned it here in the LJ before. I like the unusual way the story is presented, and all the details that change in the different parts. Let's see... "Jurassic Park" and "Independence Day" were exciting & fun, and I enjoyed "The Pelican Brief" and "A Time To Kill," but I'm not sure they make the grade of favorites.

With books and authors, I like too many to think of right now. But a couple do come to mind at the moment: I like Isaac Asimov's stories. I remember reading the "Foundation" series, and thinking the tone of his writing was pretty cold toward his characters, and then realizing that he was actually very sympathetic to them. I also like Robin McKinley, although I've only read her early work, none of her later novels. She has (or had?) a very down-to-earth tone: for instance, at one point the hero of her story got a headache. There's a list of more books here , but it's a little outdated.

Regarding food, just a few of my favorites are steak, chocolate, mangos, fried okra, and zucchini, in no particular order. I like fruit in general, and I'm willing to try most vegetables. Foods that I like that other people might not include tofu, mushrooms, spinach, and squid. I'm not a big fan of beans & peas, mussels & oysters, egg yolks, shrimp fry (baby shrimp), and bitter melon, but I will eat them in limited quantities. I refuse to eat organ meats.

4. what's your earliest memory?

My very earliest memories are mixed up and confused with how I imagine things being from having seen photographs of myself as a toddler. I can picture how the kitchen looked peering out from beneath my mother's skirt, but I don't know whether I'm just making that up from the photo, or if it's a real memory.

I do remember being utterly bored in preschool at about age four, when the teacher was using wooden alphabet blocks to teach the class to read three-letter words. We were all sitting on the carpet, I was at the back of the group, and the teacher was sitting in a chair in front, with some kind of tray or box to hold the blocks. I could already read fairly well, and there she was spelling out "the."

I also remember visiting my mother in the hospital when my brother was born. I was four and a half at the time. Mom let me eat her carrot cake from the lunch the hospital gave her.

Questions from daisho:

1. How much of your time did you spend outdoors as a child?

Hm, not a lot I guess. At school I went outside during recess, and at home I'd sometimes sit in the backyard, where it's shady and cool. I have never been a very active person, so I wasn't looking for a place to run around.

2. Tell us about a moment you felt totally at peace.

Mornings when I wake up with no pressing need to go anywhere or do anything and I can just lie in bed for a few minutes are very peaceful. When I've had a good night's rest, I appreciate the birdsong and early morning light coming through my window. Nature has that calming, refreshing effect on me. I think my most peaceful moments have been when I was at the beach, or in the mountains, or in my own backyard (see the previous question), just listening and taking in the environment. That's why spending part of my lunch break in the park across the street always does me good.

3. Do you find movie/theatre thrillers, rollercoasters or other intense experiences frightening and do you enjoy the sensation?

I do find them... thrilling. I don't deal well with movie or TV show thrillers. Suspense makes me very tense. If I'm just waiting for something to happen, for a shoe to drop, then I can enjoy that type of movie despite being tense: that's exciting. But I don't like horror at all, nothing disgusting. I can't stand torture or gore. For some movies, I cover my eyes at certain parts until my companions tell me it's safe to look. On the other hand, I enjoy rollercoasters and amusement park rides that fling me about. Those are exciting but not frightening.

4. What five possessions would you keep if everything else had to be given away?

Am I permitted to upload all my digital possessions, including music from CDs, onto a [failsafe] server somewhere before I give away all my electronic media? If so, the question gets slightly easier. I think I'd keep my class ring, my photo albums (counting as one item), my diaries (also counting as one item), and... my car (with keys, owner's manual, title & registration, etc.). Upon consideration, I find I'm not that attached to my stuffed animal collection. I'm even having a hard time thinking of a fifth item. Can I choose the money I've saved up so far? If not, then maybe my opal earrings & necklace set. I'm very fond of it, but in the end it is replaceable.

5. Sight or sound?

Tough one. I think sight. I really enjoy having both those senses, though.   :)

Comments

[403.livejournal.com]

I finally have time to do this.
1: Describe something that really annoys you and why.
2: If anything you chose could be drawn/painted/etc by the artist of your choice, who and what would you select?

Ask me whatever questions you will.