Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Call And Response


As I was sitting here thinking about what the hell to write today, it was suggested to me by Cardinal Spellman, a semi-regular commenter, that I should steal the questionnaire from The Walking Man's blog and answer the questions. Thanks Mark for saving me again. So God does answer prayers about what to write! Here goes -- I'll be back at you tomorrow with a regular post about the past, misery, funny times, and blood.

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
nothing to do, nowhere to be, a book I really want to read

2. What is your greatest fear?
losing my sense of humor because of some awful trauma

3. Which living person do you most admire?
I admire many people, but if you know someone long enough, you get out of that stage and that turns into love which isn't really admiration.

4. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
fear

5. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
being judgmental -- bullshit holier than thou attitude, that sort of thing

6. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
being right and political correctness ranks up there

7. On what occasion do you lie?
Why would I be truthful about that one?

8. What do you dislike most about your appearance?
Where to begin?

9. What is your greatest regret?
not one, but several, built up over time, waste, lack of planning

10. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
I will never ever tell!

11. Which talent would you most like to have?
comedy

12. What is your current state of mind?
pensive

13. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I'd tone down the anxiety and relax.

14. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
survival

15. If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
a book

16. What is your most treasured possession?
first edition of Franny and Zooey

17. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
doing something stupid to screw up my friendships

18. Where would you like to live?
despite all the negative publicity, the D is just fine

19. What is your most marked characteristic?
I'm pretty relentless, stubborn, have a photographic memory for useless information, terrible one for things that count.

20. Who are your favorite writers?
Raymond Carver, Amy Hempel, Larry McMurtry, John Updike, Augusten Burroughs, Caroline Knapp, Dorothy Allison, too many to count

21. Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Isadora Wing

22. Who are your heroes in real life?
writers and artists

23. What is it that you most dislike?
lack of generosity in people

24. What is your motto?
"Drinking and poetry -- what else is there that counts?" Richard Burton

25. Favorite journey?
all of them are interesting in their own ways

26. What do you value most in your friends?
compassion and forgiveness, sense of humor

27. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
usually bad ones, like "Fuck that shit."

28. Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Marvin Gaye except without his enormous talent

29. What is your greatest extravagance?
clothes and champagne

30. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
I'd make them live again, sort of a Reanimator fantasy.

31. What is your favorite occupation?
writing

32. What is the quality you most like in a woman?
kindness

33. What is the quality you most like in a man?
guarded optimism

34. How would you like to die?
painlessly and laughing

35. If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?
I'd try to come back as myself and do it better.

Michelle's Spell of the Day
"I've always taken 'The Wizard of Oz' very seriously, you know. I believe in the idea of the rainbow. And I've spent my entire life trying to get over it.” Judy Garland

Cocktail Hour
Drinking documentary suggestion: Deliver Us From Evil

Benedictions and Maledictions
Happy Wednesday! Thanks so much for all the suggestions on the story!

12 comments:

eric1313 said...

number three has to be the best answer to that particular question that I've ever seen.

JR's Thumbprints said...

As for number 18, I know where I wouldn't want to live: Texas. But I did like the smokehouses.

Unknown said...

Question 9 tells me you are a girl and I would have said the same even if I hadn't seen your blog or your picture.

the walking man said...

Michelle...just lose the fear and then you will begin to know that even though you may get damaged occasionally it will still come out right in the end game.

as for your favorite writers...Raymond who?

Peace

mark

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Paul said...

Michelle,

There is a picture for you on my most recent posting: robsfobs.blogspot.com

enjoy!

realbigwings said...

Hi Michelle,
I wrote you a comment on your story yesterday but my honesty made the comment too delicious and so it was eaten up by the hungry blogosphere, damn hungry blogosphere, with so many words around, don't know why it had to eat mine.
But anyway, I enjoyed your story and though it wasn't happy, I wasn't either and so my commisseration with your characters felt comfortable. I'm relieved all stories aren't happy or hopeful, or I wouldn't know what to read on days like yesterday.

Many blessings to the good friendships in life, and to kickass survival skills.

~Dawn

Anonymous said...

Oh, Michelle, I must tell you(once again) that your blog constantly has me doing reverse somersaults(I think you call them back flips on this side of the pond) and snorting and clapping with joy, especially today's. I happpen to know Cardinal Spellman because we both serve on the "Save Detroit Committee." Everyone here at the Consulate toasts you with your favorite Moet White Star(almost every day!). I especially enjoyed your "Fuck that shit!" answer and had an especially loud snort and clap over it!! Please stop by the Consulate at your leisure for a glass of the bubbles! As one of your songwriters says, "Your're the top!"
Affectionately yours,
Bazzy

Jason said...

I want the shirt! Where can I get one?

Joe said...

Based on the photograph that accompanies the post, I would say there is ab-so-lute-ly nothing to dislike about your appearance.

I have lurked here for almost a year. I very much enjoy your blog & your writing (every day!).

Also, thanks for the tip on Tito's Handmade... I've got a handle chilling in the freezer as we speak. Er, as I write.

Charles Gramlich said...

Always nice to learn more about folks. Interesting answers.

Scott said...

You may not have the same "kind" of talent as Marvin Gaye, but don't sell yourself short. You most definitely have talent in spades.