listersgirl: (Default)
If you...

1. ...owned a restaurant, what kind of food would you serve?


It was long ago decided that any restaurant would have to be a side dish restaurant, in honour of the fact that mostly we want the dessert for the whipping cream, the salad for the salad dressing, and the chips for the dip. [livejournal.com profile] sarcasma, this was with you, right? I'm not losing my mind? So, yeah, a restaurant where the menu consists of sauces, dips, spreads and toppings.

2. ...owned a small store, what kind of merchandise would you sell?

Oh, probably locally made kitchy things, although at one point I had grand plans to open a store that sold everything to do with musicals: CDs, sheet music, posters, books, knick-knacks. Of course, then I discovered that if you went to real cities, there actually were stores like these.

3. ...wrote a book, what genre would it be?

Definitely a romance novel. Then I could count all the ones I've read as research. Plus, you know, I always want to read one where the woman is a vegetarian, or has actual good taste in music, so I probably should just write it myself.

4. ...ran a school, what would you teach?

Can't I just run the school, and let someone else do the teaching? Sad to say, I'd probably be a great administrator. I don't know, maybe I'd teach the finer techniques of not being able to make small talk, and how to ignore your co-workers in 5 easy lessons.

5. ...recorded an album, what kind of music would be on it?

Cabaret songs, definitely. And funny songs from musicals.
listersgirl: (Default)
1. List five things you'd like to accomplish by the end of the year.

Dude, that's soon. I'm going to have to keep them small. Okay, finish learning the choreography I'm working on, clean off my desk, make cookies for my co-workers as a holiday thing, go to at least two craftfairs, run on the treadmill for more than 3 minutes without falling off.

2. List five people you've lost contact with that you'd like to hear from again.

Julia, Jade, Laura, Angie, Marie (friends from high school and the job I had after university)

3. List five things you'd like to learn how to do.

Drive stick, speak fluent German, ballroom dance, bake a pie...and suddenly I'm drawing a blank, even though I know there're hundreds of things I'd like to learn. Um, how about do quick household repairs.

4. List five things you'd do if you won the lottery (no limit).

Give money to my parents, buy a condo, get said condo professionally decorated, set up scholarships at my various alumnis, go to New York and see every Broadway show I wanted.

5. List five things you do that help you relax.

Read, watch favourite TV shows (Buffy, Sports Night, Absolutely Fabulous, Red Dwarf), drink herbal tea, yoga, and, sadly, eat dessert.
listersgirl: (Default)
Why am I talking about sports? Procrastination is a wonderful thing...

1. Do you watch sports? If so, which ones?

Of my own volition? I'd say no. I've been known to enjoy bits of the Olympics, particularly speed skating (for the spectacular crashes) and curling (which I got slightly obsessed with during the last Olympics, to the point where I actually had to read the rules so that I could follow better), but I don't think I ever would have bothered if my roommate hadn't been watching.

2. What/who are your favorite sports teams and/or favorite athletes?

That would imply that I had a favourite sport. Or that, you know, I pay attention to these things.

3. Are there any sports you hate?

Ugh, boxing. *shiver*

4. Have you ever been to a sports event?

I've been to a few cricket games, which were mildly amusing. And I have a vague memory of going to a hockey game, minor league I think. Oh, and I watched a baseball game once, but that was only because my high school crush was playing.

5. Do/did you play any sports (in school or other)? How long did you play?

Oh, lord no. Well, other than those that I couldn't whine my way out of in school. Team sports in particular were the bane of my existence.

Friday Five

Sep. 5th, 2003 09:02 am
listersgirl: (Default)
1. What housekeeping chore(s) do you hate doing the most?

I hate washing the floors. It's not even like we have much in the way of floor in our tiny bathroom and tiny kitchen, but I just dread doing it. I put it off, and put it off, until I can actually dirt patterns on the floor. [livejournal.com profile] vestra, if you've ever thought that you had to wash the floors far more frequently than is your turn, this is why. *ducks*

2. Are there any that you like or don't mind doing?

I like to tidy - I get great satisfaction from recycling the old newspapers, and straightening up the coffee table, or making sure everything is put back where it belongs. I don't particularly mind cleaning the bathroom (other than the evil floor), either, although my back always regrets it after I scrub down the bathtub.

3. Do you have a routine throughout the week or just clean as it's needed?

For the summer, while I was living by myself, I supposedly vacuumed every weekend, and alternated cleaning the kitchen and the bathroom weekly. This...sort of deteriorated into "no one is coming over, it doesn't matter if I clean". It's a little embarrassing to admit, but as long as things are tidy, and there isn't random stuff all over the place, I can easily ignore a little grunge, at least when I'm living alone and therefore it's my grunge.

4. Do you have any odd cleaning/housekeeping quirks or rules?

No, but I am easily seduced into buying multiple cleaning products, one for each fixture in the house, even though I'm sure they're all actually the same.

5. What was the last thing you cleaned?

Hmm. I cleaned the toilet and the bathroom sink on Sunday, and wiped down the kitchen counters and stove yesterday.
listersgirl: (Default)
Friday Five for you:

1. What's the last place you traveled to, outside your own home state/country?

Vancouver in July (assuming home province to be where I live now, not where I'm from). Outside of the country would have been Austin TX in February for the MLA conference.

2. What's the most bizarre/unusual thing that's ever happened to you while traveling?

Perhaps only unusual to me, but last Christmas when I was flying home I fainted on the plane. Then I fulfilled all cliches by not having any idea what had happened or where I was when I can out of the faint. Luckily I was standing right beside the flight attendants at the time, and I got extra cookies out of the deal.

3. If you could take off to anywhere, money and time being no object, where would you go?

London, to see Kit. New York, to see musicals. Victoria, to see my parents and the cat. Germany, to learn German. Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and that whole part of the world. Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Somewhere where they'll feed me and water me and I can lie around reading.

4. Do you prefer traveling by plane, train or car?

How about "anything but bus"? I guess plane, mostly because it's fast and goes long distances. Or train, although I haven't gone all that far on the train. I've never really taken any kind of road trip, other than when I moved, but I can't imagine that the car is all that comfortable of a travel vehicle.

5. What's the next place on your list to visit?

Hopefully New York City this fall, if [livejournal.com profile] vestra and I actually get off our butts and make plans. Otherwise, home to Victoria for Christmas.

5

Aug. 1st, 2003 11:40 am
listersgirl: (Default)
Oh, look, it's a Friday Five I can answer without research (I mean, I tried really hard to create a cast last week, but it was just too painful).

1. What time do you wake up on weekday mornings?

Alarm goes off at 5:55am. Isn't that hideous? And really, I could do with another couple of minutes so that I can both make lunch *and* get to work on time, but anything before six just feels like the middle of the night to me.

2. Do you sleep in on the weekends? How late?

Do I ever. I am the queen of 12-hour sleeping on the weekend, going to bed at 11 "so that I can get a good sleep" and not waking up until 11, 11:30. Which is just so bad for me, because then the piddly 7 hours that I get during the week seems so pathetic. Plus my back always hurts from being in bed that long. Ouch. I can't seem to give it up, though, even though I love early morning Saturdays those rare times that I wake up early.

3. Aside from waking up, what is the first thing you do in the morning?

Well, depending on how technical you want to get about it, listen to the radio while waiting for the weather report, get out of bed, walk to the bathroom, or pee. Oh, no, wait, I usually turn on the shower before I pee, so that the water can warm up, so I guess "turn on the shower".

4. How long does it take to get ready for your day?

On average, an hour and 5 minutes. Usually I can manage to shave a couple of minutes off that if I don't shampoo my hair that day, and I have to add a few minutes if I want to make lunch. I've tried to get it less, but I just can't seem to find anywhere to cut - all that's left is shower, dress, breakfast, teeth, go, all essentials.

5. When possible, what is your favorite place to go for breakfast?

Bella! Did ya eat? - authentic Jewish brunch, Sundays at the Free Times Cafe. Best brunch ever. Otherwise, any one of a dozen restaurants in Toronto. Brunch is by far my favourite meal. When I first moved here, my roommates and I would go to a new restaurant every Sunday for brunch, in order to get a good collection of favourites. There never seems to be time for brunching anymore, because people are busy or out of town, and that makes me very sad, because eating the same food for breakfast on Sunday morning as you will on Monday morning is wrong.
listersgirl: (Default)
A topical Friday Five:

1. How are you planning to spend the summer?

Sadly, the same way that I spend the rest of the year: working. I miss the delineation of the seasons that school brings -- I mean, I've worked at least part-time every summer since grade 8, so it's not about not working, but about that change, and then the change of starting school again in the fall.

2. What was your first summer job?

The summer between grades 8 and 9 I worked as a dishwasher at my dad's restaurant (and was paid -- this wasn't forced family labour). I worked pretty much full-time, except for the 2 weeks when we went over to the island as usual (the benefit of working for my dad was that he automatically found someone to cover for those 2 weeks, since obviously I was going on holiday with my parents). I have to say, I hated that job and would never again be a dishwasher. I used to dream every night about washing the floors at the end of my shift. I think it's because of that job that I kind of don't like to touch food (although I still love to eat it).

Sometime around then I also started working at the music store where my mom worked, but it was only very occasionally until the next summer.

3. If you could go anywhere this summer, where would you go?

I'd love to go to New York again, but not in the summer. It'd be too much like the horrendous weather I'm living in now. I'd like to go somewhere where I could be outside without burning or getting too hot -- somewhere breezy where I could sit outside and read my book and be given silly girly drinks. Or Sweden. I always want to go to Sweden.

4. What was your worst vacation ever?

I don't think I've ever really had a bad vacation. I've been on some unimpressive band trips, but that's not quite the same thing. Nope, generally I've been a very satisfied vacationer. Although, now that I think about it, there was one summer trip to the island that was far far too hot, and everyone we knew ended up showing up at the same time, instead of one after the other like we'd planned, so there were about 16 people in one tiny little 2-room cabin. That wasn't so much fun.

5. What was your best vacation ever?

Possibly the 3 1/2 day speed vacation in NYC in 1997, where we managed to not only see New York (Central Park, Empire State Building, Bloomies, a very rain-soaked Chinatown), but also 5 shows. In 3 1/2 days!

Runners up would be Italy last year, Disneyland with friends 5 or so years ago and any variety of summers at the cabin.

Vacations are wonderful things, I tell you. Thank god I'm leaving for one tomorrow. See you all in a week or so, and Happy Canada Day in advance!
listersgirl: (Default)
It's not stunningly exciting, but here it is, the Friday Five

1. Is your hair naturally curly, wavy, or straight? Long or short?

Can hair be naturally long or short? Doesn't short hair require some sort of action to take place? Anyway, my hair is naturally sort of wavy -- when it's long it's straight and when it's short it tends to dry in strange waves and/or go very curly with the application of a diffuser, as I just discovered.

2. How has your hair changed over your lifetime?

Very little, really. I suppose it used to be redder, or at least that's what I remember. Other than that it's been a process of growing very long, cutting short, growing very long, cutting short, growing very long and cutting short. With a brief period of layered and feathered. Hey, I was in grade 6, okay?

3. How do your normally wear your hair?

These days, I follow the extensive routine of washing it, wrapping it in a towel, and then shaking it out with my fingers as I run out the door in the morning. It's kind of...chin length, very flippy-out on the bottom and lots of different lengths, so that I don't have to style it.

4. If you could change your hair this minute, what would it look like?

Really red, long, and curly. Basically, I want Bernadette's hair. Or else short and pixie and black, but that would require an entirely different face, too.

5. Ever had a hair disaster? What happened?

Only in retrospect.
listersgirl: (Default)
Happy Friday the 13th!

1. What's one thing you've always wanted to do, but never have?

This could go places that I'm not ready to go, so let's just say, move to Sweden. Okay, "always" may be somewhat of an exaggeration, but it's definitely been in the back of my mind for the last 10 years or so, or possibly even since the creation of the Reform/Alliance Party.

There's a sad little story here. Back in June of 2001, when I had just started this job, I came across a posting for a one year position for a cataloguer at an English language school in Sweden, and I didn't apply, much as I wanted to, because I'd just taken my first professional position and I didn't want to screw up my chances at later employment by looking flaky. So no Sweden for me. One day, though.

2. When someone asks your opinion about a new haircut/outfit/etc, are you always honest?

There's a big difference between haircut and outfit, in my opinion. If someone asks me about an outfit (and I'm talking about friends here), I can say it looks bad, because they can take it off and never think about it again. Not that I really think anyone values my opinion quite that much, but you get the idea. And I do tend to be pretty honest with people about things like this if they ask, because I *really* hope people are honest with me. If I'm wearing pants that give me camel toe, please, for the love of Pete, TELL ME.

I'd never say really bad things about a haircut though, no matter what I thought, because that's more a part of a person. I can always come up with something positive, even if I don't ever actually say that I like it. Of course, when the pictures get pulled out 10 years later, all bets are off.

3. Have you ever found out something about a friend and then wished you hadn't? What happened?

If I did, I don't remember.

4. If you could live in any fictional world (from a book/movie/game/etc.) which would it be and why?

Hmm, hard. Okay, it's pathetic, but I always wanted to live in a situation like Friends, where I would have a group of friends that I hung around with all the time, and who lived across the hall, and we just wandered in and out. Although I'm sure I'd get tired of that pretty quick. Ooh, or in a musical, where people break out into song and choreographed dance (with chorus boys!) in the middle of the street! Or, I don't know, the world of any romance novel, where anyone even remotely connected to the lead characters eventually gets a whirlwind romance of their own, because you can't have anyone left unpaired. I could use those kinds of odds.

5. What's one talent/skill you don't have but always wanted?

There's so many, but I think the one that comes up the most is that I wish I were artistic/crafty. I feel like I should be -- I mean, I'm musical, and I've had minor success in theatre and dance. I think it's definitely a mistake that I'm not. But I'm really not. I was in the art club in junior high, and I still can't believe that I wasn't kicked out for lack of talent.
listersgirl: (Default)
I am so not a brand person. I think this will be a very short Friday Five.

1. What brand of toothpaste do you use?

Crest, because that's what my parents always used, and I can't imagine one toothpaste works any differently than another. Or in actuality whatever they give me at the dentist in those little mini tubes.

2. What brand of toilet paper do you prefer?

The one that's cheap and comes in very large amounts so I don't have to buy it very often, especially now that I live right across the street from the grocery store and can carry it home without toppling over.

3. What brand(s) of shoes do you wear?

Cheap & Non-Leather. What do you mean, that's not a brand?

4. What brand of [pop] do you drink?

If I'm drinking pop, it's store brand gingerale, because as [livejournal.com profile] sarcasma said, it has much more flavour. It doesn't even matter which store brand we're talking about.

5. What brand of gum do you chew?

The story of me and gum: every time I fly anywhere, I buy a pack of gum -- usually Trident, because I need the little papers so that I can throw it out without getting it stuck to me. I always buy the supersize packs, use 4 pieces, and leave the rest in my bag, where I forget about them. In retaliation for being ignored the gum pieces escape from their little wrappers and stick their stale selves to everything I own, making my bag smell like some sort of mutant fruit salad. Eventually I get frustrated with sticking my hand into gum every time I reach for my keys and I throw them out, necessitating buying a whole new pack the next time I fly, even though I barely used the last pack.

Short answer: Trident.
listersgirl: (Default)
I vote that all Friday Fives be about food.

1. What drinking water do you prefer -- tap, bottle, purifier, etc.?

Definitely Brita filter from the fridge. It's the only kind of water that I actively enjoy drinking. Most bottled water I find tastes like plastic, although I drink a lot of it if I'm not at home, since it's portable and usually comes from a cooler of some sort. And the water from the water fountain at work is ass, but if I put it in the fridge first I can pretend it's not so bad. Key to water for me is teeth-freezingly cold.

2. What is your favourite flavor of chips?

Salt and vinegar. Or possibly Ruffles all-dressed. But mostly salt and vinegar.

3. Of all the things you can cook, what dish do you like the most?

I'm not entirely sure that I actually actively like anything that I cook. And I can't decide if it counts if it's from a recipe, because then the fact that it's good should really to be credited to the recipe author. Still, that said, I make a mean stirfry, assuming I manage not to undercook the rice.

4. How do you have your eggs?

Hardboiled, in salads or as egg salad sandwiches. Or scrambled, with dill. Or if someone else is making them for me, deviled. Oh, and last week I made a tasty frittata with swiss chard and tomato (which would have been tastier had the tomatos actually come off the pan when it was finished). I'm actually going through a big egg phase right now, which is strange, because I never used to eat them.

5. Who was the last person who cooked you a meal? How did it turn out?

Um. Okay, this is a little sad that I can't remember anyone cooking for...oh, wait, Sarcasma's sweetie cooked us tasty pasta involving vegetables and peanut sauce last week. And I have to say, as an attempt at feeding us into agreement, it very nearly worked.
listersgirl: (Default)
Now this is a Friday Five I can really get into...

1. Would you consider yourself an organized person? Why or why not?

I think I am. I mean, I know I come off that way, but some of that is just surface organization and some of that is just lack of ability to watch other people be unorganized. Sometimes, though, I feel like I can't organize myself enough to sit upright.

2. Do you keep some type of planner, organizer, calendar, etc. with you, and do you use it regularly?

I did all through school, because it was full of deadlines and rehearsals. These days, though, my life is pretty routine (which is another topic all together), so there's not really much point. I am a devoted listmaker, though, because I have a remarkable ability to forget about things I don't want to do.

3. Would you say that your desk is organized right now?

Definitely. I can't work if there's random crap all over my desk. I mean, my desk isn't empty or anything -- in fact it's covered with piles of CDs -- but each of those piles mean something specific, and ideally by the end of the day each pile will be dealt with and shuffled off to a more permanent home. I think clutter makes me somewhat anxious and mildly panicky.

4. Do you alphabetize CDs, books, and DVDs, or does it not matter?

Maybe I'm just a dork, but it matters very much to me that the alphabet is well utilized in my house.

5. What's the hardest thing you've ever had to organize?

Social events kill me -- the whole "when can you be there?" and "where will we meet?" and "what are we doing?". Exhausting.
listersgirl: (Default)
1. What was the last TV show you watched?
Eco-Challenge. It's highly addictive, partially because I really don't understand why people would hurt themselves like that voluntarily. And there were far too many bodily functions happening on Wednesday's show. Still, I'm enjoying seeing the people flail around, and get lost, and fall down. What?

2. What was the last thing you complained about and what was the problem?
Does it count if I'm just complaining to myself? Because I'm pretty sure that I spent the entire 3 hours from 5 am to 8 am alone in the library whining about the fact that I was there in the first place.

3. Who was the last person you complimented and what did you say?
I think it was last night, when I complimented Lara on her hand-beaded headband (and the rest of her costume, which I didn't see, but which must have been fantastic, judging by the headband).

4. What was the last thing you threw away?
The paper towel that I dried my hands on. No, wait, the envelopes from the 11 o'clock mail run went into the recycling.

5. What was the last website (besides this one) that you visited?
Real Names of Hip-Hop and R&B Artists. It was for work. Did you know that Snow's real name is Darrin O'Brien? Well, now you do.
listersgirl: (Default)
How fitting is it that something as mundane as the phone would inspire me to start with the Friday Five?

1. Do you like talking on the phone? Why or why not?

I pretty much hate talking on the phone, especially to people I don't know all that well. I'm probably the only person ever who actually *got rid* of her private line as a teenager. Although mostly, these days, I hate making phone calls. See, I can never recognize anyone's voice over the phone, so phoning anyone where there's more than one person that could answer the phone brings up all these issues -- Do I ask for the person I need even if I think it's them? Do I assume I have the right person, but be prepared for the possibility that I'm totally wrong? And what about houses where I sort of know everyone who lives there? Then I feel rude if I just ask for the person I'm calling without saying hi to whoever answers the phone, but I can't tell who it is who answers the phone, and I don't want to be one of those rude people who say "Hi, who is this?". Not to mention with the proliferation of cell phones, I'm always afraid I'm going to call someone just at the moment they're trying to buy coffee or something. It's all far too stressful.

2. Who is the last person you talked to on the phone?

I guess that would be the person who called the library at 8:30 last night to find out how late we were open. Does it count as talking to someone if all I said was "9 o'clock" and "you're welcome"?

3. About how many telephones do you have at home?

"About"? I can do better than that, we absolutely, positively have one. Er, except for the ones stashed away in boxes, of which there are maybe 2. Oh, fine, about 3.

4. Have you encountered anyone who has really bad phone manners? What happened?

The only person that sticks out, and this is probably a case of bad overall manners, was a very badly timed wrong number that I got in Montreal. It was Saturday night and I'd just gotten home to find that my apartment had been broken into. I was waiting for my landlord to call me back and tell me when someone would be around to put a new lock on my door, since mine had been broken right off the door. So of course when the phone rang, I answered it, instead of screening like I normally do. On the other end was this guy, asking if I'd paged Monique. Buddy on the other end of the phone would not believe me when I said I hadn't, and kept calling me back, insisting I'd paged Monique. This finally deteriorated into nasty insults left on my answering machine (after I gave up picking up the phone), which went on until about 4 in the morning.

You know, it just occurred to me -- I wonder if the guy who broke into my place stopped to page Monique while he was there?

5. Would you rather pick up the phone and call someone or write them an e-mail or a letter? Why or why not?

Oh, dude, I'm all about the email. I already mentioned my phobias about the person answering on the other end, plus with email you don't have to make small talk! You never catch a person at a bad time, and if you forget what you were going to say, you can just finish the email later. It's all good.

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