five questions meme
Feb. 11th, 2008 11:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rhienellethFrom ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kistha:
1. Is there one place you must see before you die?
Hmm, there are so many places I just really want to see, it's hard to choose just one. Mark and I are definitely going to go to Europe one day, with particular emphasis on Rome and Greece, followed by places like Ireland and Scotland, I imagine.
2. What established fictional world would you leave this one for?
Oh, goodness! The choices! Okay, there are a couple, but mostly it all goes back to Pern. But only if I can Impress a dragon of my very own (and some firelizards). That's been a dream since I was twelve, and reading those books for the first time. (The Dragonriders of Pern, and The Harper Hall Trilogy by Anne McCaffrey, for those who don't know.) I was horse crazy up until then, you see, but then dragons were such amazing, beautiful, magical creatures, and you can travel through time, and go instantly anywhere you want...yes, definitely Pern.
3. What one superpower would you want and why?
Funnily enough, I know Mark's answer without having to think about it (time travel), but my own takes a little more examination. Hmm. I've always really wanted to be able to fly, or teleport. Those would be so useful, you know? Especially the teleport thing. I could just go all over the world whenever I wanted, visit whoever and whatever I want to, instantly! Plus, no more high gas prices. :)
4. What do you think makes so many writers and other people in the business such bitches?
Ooooh, this is a delicate one. And one I'm not sure how to answer, as this could be interpreted a couple of ways - so I guess I'll answer it twice. I'm guessing you meant the unfortunate cruelty some people seem to stoop to when critiquing or evaluating others' work (based on some recent events/conversations), and really...I have no idea. I think in any field, there will be people who either lack tact completely, or don't care enough to use it, or worst yet, are deliberately mean because it makes them feel good and/or better than others in some way. This is unfortunately human nature, and these people will find their way into every field/you can't escape them. Thankfully, there are also people who DO have tact, and do care enough to give honest feedback/advice/etc.
My second interpretation is - when you mention writers and bitches, it puts me in mind of the writer's strike, and how writers in general have a hard time standing up for themselves/their craft and placing value on what they do, hence, we are the entertainment industry's bitches. I think, in part, we've been trained to think that way. Writers face an enormous amount of rejection before ever experiencing success, and sometimes it is useful rejection, and sometimes it can be cruel. They say to develop a thick skin, but writers are creative minded folks, and in general creative people tend to be more sensitive than not. Hence, we're like the dog that continually gets kicked, and then when a hand finally does extend to us in acceptance or kindness, we are often pathetically grateful. (Sure, a $1000 contract for a 100,000 word book sounds great! At least I'll be published!) <-- I think this is mostly exaggeration, but sadly, not too much of one.
5. What's your theme song and what are the pertinent lyrics?
Theme song? Hmm. I don't know that I have one. I sometimes assign songs to characters in my head, but not ever to myself. And my 'favorite' songs are an everchanging list, and tend to be score music and thus, lyric-less.
Fromdthon:
1. What thrills you more – lightning, fire, thunder, wind, or ocean waves?
It depends on your interpretation of 'thrill' - though I am a fire sign, I have always had a deep and abiding fear of fire. I was an adult before I could make myself light a match (I am not making that up), and I used to hide in my room under the blankets as a child, rather than watch the more spectacular fireworks. I was too afraid something awful would happen, and someone would get horribly burned setting them off. (Years ago, someone I know had a theory that in a past life, if you believe in such things, I died in some way that had to do with fire.) In the last decade or so, that fear has become more a healthy respect. I can now light matches, and even the gas grill, though I use a long lighter and stand well back, just in case. And I do love to curl up with a book near a fire that is properly controlled. Ironically, I married another fire sign, and he just loves building our campfires to epic bonfire proportions, being the proper firebug that he is.
As far as more happily interpreted thrills, I love the ocean waves, and also lightning and thunder because it is powerful and beautiful, and happens to rarely.
2. Stick shift or automatic?
*sigh* My car is a stick, and I don't mind it - it has uses like lower gas mileage and downshifting rather than braking to slow, but I admit after eight years of driving it, I'm rather ready for an automatic. Mark's truck is an automatic, and I enjoy not having to shift when I drive it. Ironically, his answer would unequivocally be "stick".
3. What defines a miracle to you?
Something that happens in defiance of everything we know about the laws of the universe, to the betterment of someone. Also, babies seem very miraculous to me.
4. Name five books you just can't live without.
As in, I could never bear to not have them on my shelves? How am I supposed to limit that to just five? And especially if I include the reference books I can't live without as a writer.
Okay, so I'll do two lists. One as a writer:
1. The Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language (we buy a new copy every couple of years)
2. Bartlett's Quotations
3. The Oxford Dictionary of Surnames
4. Roget's Thesaurus
5. The ever-handy 30,000 name, multi-cultural baby name book
Plus, every book I write seems to develop its own list of can't-live-without-resources.
As a reader, and yes, I'm aware some of these contain multiple volumes:
1. The Dragonriders of Pern, Anne McCaffrey
2. Dune, Frank Herbert (only the first one)
3. Sandman, Neil Gaiman
4. Legend and Waylander (and all others in those series, if possible), David Gemmell
5. Outlander series, Diana Gabaldon
5b. In Death series by J.D. Robb
And really, there are others, but this list only goes to five....I couldn't decide on the last one, so it's a tie.
5. What government policy would you like to personally remodel, and how would you change it?
Wow, again with the choosing! Okay, it's not a policy, exactly, but this asinine "refund" that's really a tax "advance" they're forcing on us in May/June? SO WOULDN'T HAPPEN!!!! I still get angry, thinking about it. And how, exactly, are those who didn't pay taxes last year but still get $300 going to pay back this advance like the rest of us? Oh, wait, they won't. The rest of us tax paying citizens will end up eating that in some way shape or form, because we, you know, work for a living.
kistha:1. Is there one place you must see before you die?
Hmm, there are so many places I just really want to see, it's hard to choose just one. Mark and I are definitely going to go to Europe one day, with particular emphasis on Rome and Greece, followed by places like Ireland and Scotland, I imagine.
2. What established fictional world would you leave this one for?
Oh, goodness! The choices! Okay, there are a couple, but mostly it all goes back to Pern. But only if I can Impress a dragon of my very own (and some firelizards). That's been a dream since I was twelve, and reading those books for the first time. (The Dragonriders of Pern, and The Harper Hall Trilogy by Anne McCaffrey, for those who don't know.) I was horse crazy up until then, you see, but then dragons were such amazing, beautiful, magical creatures, and you can travel through time, and go instantly anywhere you want...yes, definitely Pern.
3. What one superpower would you want and why?
Funnily enough, I know Mark's answer without having to think about it (time travel), but my own takes a little more examination. Hmm. I've always really wanted to be able to fly, or teleport. Those would be so useful, you know? Especially the teleport thing. I could just go all over the world whenever I wanted, visit whoever and whatever I want to, instantly! Plus, no more high gas prices. :)
4. What do you think makes so many writers and other people in the business such bitches?
Ooooh, this is a delicate one. And one I'm not sure how to answer, as this could be interpreted a couple of ways - so I guess I'll answer it twice. I'm guessing you meant the unfortunate cruelty some people seem to stoop to when critiquing or evaluating others' work (based on some recent events/conversations), and really...I have no idea. I think in any field, there will be people who either lack tact completely, or don't care enough to use it, or worst yet, are deliberately mean because it makes them feel good and/or better than others in some way. This is unfortunately human nature, and these people will find their way into every field/you can't escape them. Thankfully, there are also people who DO have tact, and do care enough to give honest feedback/advice/etc.
My second interpretation is - when you mention writers and bitches, it puts me in mind of the writer's strike, and how writers in general have a hard time standing up for themselves/their craft and placing value on what they do, hence, we are the entertainment industry's bitches. I think, in part, we've been trained to think that way. Writers face an enormous amount of rejection before ever experiencing success, and sometimes it is useful rejection, and sometimes it can be cruel. They say to develop a thick skin, but writers are creative minded folks, and in general creative people tend to be more sensitive than not. Hence, we're like the dog that continually gets kicked, and then when a hand finally does extend to us in acceptance or kindness, we are often pathetically grateful. (Sure, a $1000 contract for a 100,000 word book sounds great! At least I'll be published!) <-- I think this is mostly exaggeration, but sadly, not too much of one.
5. What's your theme song and what are the pertinent lyrics?
Theme song? Hmm. I don't know that I have one. I sometimes assign songs to characters in my head, but not ever to myself. And my 'favorite' songs are an everchanging list, and tend to be score music and thus, lyric-less.
From
dthon:1. What thrills you more – lightning, fire, thunder, wind, or ocean waves?
It depends on your interpretation of 'thrill' - though I am a fire sign, I have always had a deep and abiding fear of fire. I was an adult before I could make myself light a match (I am not making that up), and I used to hide in my room under the blankets as a child, rather than watch the more spectacular fireworks. I was too afraid something awful would happen, and someone would get horribly burned setting them off. (Years ago, someone I know had a theory that in a past life, if you believe in such things, I died in some way that had to do with fire.) In the last decade or so, that fear has become more a healthy respect. I can now light matches, and even the gas grill, though I use a long lighter and stand well back, just in case. And I do love to curl up with a book near a fire that is properly controlled. Ironically, I married another fire sign, and he just loves building our campfires to epic bonfire proportions, being the proper firebug that he is.
As far as more happily interpreted thrills, I love the ocean waves, and also lightning and thunder because it is powerful and beautiful, and happens to rarely.
2. Stick shift or automatic?
*sigh* My car is a stick, and I don't mind it - it has uses like lower gas mileage and downshifting rather than braking to slow, but I admit after eight years of driving it, I'm rather ready for an automatic. Mark's truck is an automatic, and I enjoy not having to shift when I drive it. Ironically, his answer would unequivocally be "stick".
3. What defines a miracle to you?
Something that happens in defiance of everything we know about the laws of the universe, to the betterment of someone. Also, babies seem very miraculous to me.
4. Name five books you just can't live without.
As in, I could never bear to not have them on my shelves? How am I supposed to limit that to just five? And especially if I include the reference books I can't live without as a writer.
Okay, so I'll do two lists. One as a writer:
1. The Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language (we buy a new copy every couple of years)
2. Bartlett's Quotations
3. The Oxford Dictionary of Surnames
4. Roget's Thesaurus
5. The ever-handy 30,000 name, multi-cultural baby name book
Plus, every book I write seems to develop its own list of can't-live-without-resources.
As a reader, and yes, I'm aware some of these contain multiple volumes:
1. The Dragonriders of Pern, Anne McCaffrey
2. Dune, Frank Herbert (only the first one)
3. Sandman, Neil Gaiman
4. Legend and Waylander (and all others in those series, if possible), David Gemmell
5. Outlander series, Diana Gabaldon
5b. In Death series by J.D. Robb
And really, there are others, but this list only goes to five....I couldn't decide on the last one, so it's a tie.
5. What government policy would you like to personally remodel, and how would you change it?
Wow, again with the choosing! Okay, it's not a policy, exactly, but this asinine "refund" that's really a tax "advance" they're forcing on us in May/June? SO WOULDN'T HAPPEN!!!! I still get angry, thinking about it. And how, exactly, are those who didn't pay taxes last year but still get $300 going to pay back this advance like the rest of us? Oh, wait, they won't. The rest of us tax paying citizens will end up eating that in some way shape or form, because we, you know, work for a living.
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no subject
Date: 2008-02-11 08:02 pm (UTC)What? WHAT?! But... but... This isn't just a tax break or something similar? What if someone ends up owing a couple hundred already? They'll end up owing even more. I guess they could just give it back. I... just... it's... what?