A Friendly Interrogation

This is a requested interview posed by Flenker! Some answers I knew straightaway, some I had never considered. I appreciate the thought catalyst, Flenker. And, sadly, I am of no relation to Mike Doughty. What a buzzkill.

If any reader would like to hop on the interview train, follow the directions at the end of the post.

Here goes nothing:

1. If there is one writer with whom you'd love to be compared, who would it be and why?

This is difficult. I don't think I write like one specific person, and while I love many writers, I wouldn't necessarily emulate their style. I would be happily surprised if I were compared to Jane Austen. I enjoy how she weaves her stories with social observations. The characters are true to life (as true as fiction can be), and the writing is concise...yet detailed.

2.  What would be your first drink of choice after a long day in the hot sun?  And what on a cold winter day?  ( realize you may not have had many cold winter days in Georgia, but play along. . .:) )

Strangely enough, I categorized my favorite Starbucks drinks by season a while back. Summer is a Tall Passion Iced Tea Lemonade: the most refreshing beverage ever to reach my parched little tastebuds. However, I have never turned down a glass of ice water.

Winter...hmm. Some changes have been made. My father works for Starbucks Coffee and often makes my favorite, basic coffee drink: a caramel macchiato. Once, he ran out of vanilla syrup and substituted hazelnut. I now request it frequently. This has become the "particular drink": Double Tall Caramel Macchiato with Hazelnut at 140 degrees, please. I know, I know. But it burns my tongue otherwise...

3.  Where would you go, if money were of no concern, for a weekend trip, and what would you do there?

I would take my first First Class flight to Studio City, CA to visit my favorite aunt. I haven't yet seen her new place and I'd love to see her LA favorites. I had thought about backpacking in Europe, but I don't think I can get the full experience in a weekend...I'll save that trip for the "money is no concern where would you go for a month" question.

4.  If you were a wrestler in the WWE or WCW, what song would you use as your entrance music, and what would your wrestling name be?

I am going to borrow an already used theme song. NHL's Anaheim Ducks' Bro Hymn by Pennywise. That is a power song if I ever heard one. Not a face melter, necessarily, but it does make me jump up and down.

My name? How about....Dominating Damsel of Death. I love alliteration. It has a ring to it, don't you think? I'm already pumped.

5.  If you could own one piece of memorabilia from any movie, what would you pick, and why you you want to have it?

Ooh. Okay, here goes. Can I offer options?
1. I'd love a Men In Black memory eraser. Sometimes the persons involved in my antics don't need the particulars. It'd have to be in perfect working order, of course.
2. I often fantasize about the Clockstoppers watch. Stopping time? Quite useful, I would imagine.
3. I am going to steal Forrest Gump's bench from the Savannah, GA Museum. How great would that be?? Yeah. That's the keeper. It doesn't deal with anything impossible like memory-erasing by piercing blue lightbulb, either.

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Now everyone else plays along! You may have seen this done elsewhere, but now it's your turn. Just follow these simple rules:
1. Leave me a comment on this post saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

I Didn't Really Want That...

I find it interesting, the things I convince myself I need...be it an object or person.

And when that/they are taken away, I am able to live without them, only by convincing myself that I can't have it. I can't be with them/own that object; I am not allowed.

This is a tough mindset to put myself in. I have focused so much energy on needing it, desiring it, only to find the energy wasted. The rebuilding of my desires is no easy task...but I hate wasting time on undeserving people. I don't deem them undeserving, they do. The worst part follows: my slight (or not-so-slight) obsession with "what's not good for me" affects the judgement of my character. Perhaps that is why my thoughts are so closed off.

So. All of a sudden, this thing is no longer forbidden. And I have no concrete reason to put it in the back of my mind...it floats right to the top. Now deserving, now accesible. Though that is what I knew I needed, I was mistaken. The rebuilding of desires begins yet again. And I didn't really want that. I'm back where I started.

Age of Maturity?

I've been thinking...while wisdom may increase with years, maturity eventually reaches a standstill save the initial years of mental and social progression. I know many immature adults: in their lives, kids and friends. I'm sure you do too. So, then, through parental influence, environment, and the genes themselves, maturity in the end is all it will be.

This explains how little difference in age affects friendship. Twenty year old women will fall in love with thirty-seven year old men, sisters become best friends despite their ten year age difference, it just doesn't matter. The most productive conversations I've had have been with parents' friends. The older we get the less the difference seems. Ten and fifteen? Iffy. But twenty and twenty-five...no problem.

I wonder if I am trapped in my age. I'm just a little guy, but I have my own share of wonderments and observations...some of which develop into worthwhile posts. Once my lack of years is realized, opinions will become what they must. I don't forsee a change in my level of thought in the next ten years. Twenty, even. I understand changing views through years of experience, but not in acuteness or profoundness. I learn wonderful new things about people and places every day and approach them with the same earnestness, openness, keenness, and depth.

This here thought stemmed from my observations of the world: teens beyond their years and adults behind them.

A Combo of Sorts

As of today 35 people have died beknownst to me, including the VA Tech tragedy. The others were a student, a mother, and an uncle. I understand that death is part of life and happens every day. Why so close all of a sudden? Why so related to me and people I know? I don't think I overreact when I say it's been a spooky week.
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I have links on my three most respected blogs! This makes me very happy as writing is a recent thing for me, and the "impact" is unsuspected. Thank you all.

Jad, Flenker, Stephen, and Matt now have their own playlists. Considering Jad doesn't know I exist, well...hah. I'll think up a good comment to leave ASAP.
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Drumline practice today included drums and tracking. That's marching, for all you non-bandos. I got the chance to play bass and snare. I'm glad I did since I doubt I'll be behind a snare's carrier ever again.

Something I may not have shared: I love band. There is nothing like being part of a great line..listening to the synchronicity, letting every roll flow, feeling the tempo in my heels. Ah.

For all of the smirks this screen is receiving right now: that's okay. I embrace the geekiness.

The Thunder Spoke

lush leaves
bellies up
moving as one
with their wind
a storm is coming

stay inside
near the shuddering panes
tight in an old quilt
favorite brew in hand
the best ones last all night

sometimes sprinkles begin
and like a concerto's crescendo
fat drops make their way
to the relentless pavement
always bouncing back

to some a storm begins
at the first lightning's pierce
jagged in the clear sky
signaling the thunder
to steal the show

every strike strikes someplace
seldom does one find a life
but if it did, this quilted body,
a jumpstart would find solace
in the cozy veins, open wide

it is grade school
when one learns
lightning's gap
shows the way
to thunder's power

counting the seconds between
is it nearing?
is it fading?
a picture worth a thousand words
a second worth one mile

every slow rumble
leads to a crash
jaws clench, joints tighten
in anticipation
nothing is as empowering

as that boom
that shakes the house
rattles the salt shaker
lets us know
we are not alone

thunder passes
lightning dies
rain reduces
to a conclusive
pitter-patter

the mug is empty
the window foggy with breath
the rain cleansed
the lightning warned
the thunder spoke

Survey Says

survey borrowed from a random link...answers as of sunday night @ 9:30. few have changed.

Section 1 - Last 1s?
1. last beverage? double tall caramel macchiato
2. last phone call? leslie
3. last instant message? casey
4. last cd played? morning benders
5. last time you cried? today
6. last text message? savannah

Section 2 - Have You Ever:
1. dated someone twice? no
2. been cheated on? no
3. kissed someone & regretted it? no
4. lost someone special? yes
5. been depressed? of course
6. been drunk and threw up? nope

Section 3 - List 3 Favorite Colors
green, blue, black. preferably with metal flake.

Section 4 - This month have you
1. Made a new friend? yes
2. Fallen out of love? i haven't decided if it was love
3. Laughed until you cried? many times
4. Met someone who changed your life? don't they all?
5. Found out who your true friends were? step by step
6. Is there something you want to tell someone? many things
7. How many kids do you want to have? I'm not sure...more than one
8. Do you have any pets? no
9. Do you wanna change your name? no
10. What did you do for your last birthday? party at my house with close friends and family
11. What time did you wake up today? for good? 9:15 a.m.
12. What were you doing at midnight last night? talking
13. Name something you CANNOT wait for? an open weekend
14. Last time you saw your father? about thirty seconds ago
15. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life? I wish aging a year didn't take a year
16. What are you listening to right now? the TV
17. Have you ever talked to Tom? my uncle? not for awhile
18. Have you ever talked about someone behind their back? worriedly
19. What’s the last piece of clothing you borrowed from anyone? sister's pink floyd tee
20. Who’s getting on your nerves right now? writer's block
21. Most visited webpage? does mine count? thesaurus.com. stephen's.
22. Coke or Pepsi? Coke
23. Have you kissed or been kissed by anyone in the past week? no
24. Mac or PC? Mac

Misc.

Maybe a rut is a good thing. A rut is like a trench, right? And a trench protects soldiers from enemy fire. I'm thinking I'll hang out in this rut and do the best that I can.

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I really appreciate all readers and comments. If not for you, I wouldn't post at all.
All of my non-member friends: thanks for the face-to-face comments and anonymous musings.
For the two (that I know of) blogs that have me linked: I'm honored. I read you guys every day. "Love" is overused, but I'm pretty sure I love it.

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I'm gonna go write about the rain. Weather is surprisingly inspirational.