Sunday Stealing

1. Would you prefer to be smart or happy, and why?
If I were smart, that would make me happy.

2. If you could choose one superpower, what would it be and why?
Sigh.  This question again.  if I had a superpower, it would be the ability to erase this stupid question from every meme in existence.

3. What is your biggest regret in life so far?
I regret all the painful deaths.  I regret having no good memories of my father.  I regret being unable to "fix" my mother.  I regret all the friendships I lost for reasons I never knew.

4. If you could marry a fictional character, who would it be and why?
At this age, I'm not looking to marry any character, but if I were, say, in my 30s, of course I'd be tempted by Jamie Fraser ... and anybody who has read Diana Gabaldon's books will know why.

5. If money and career were no object, where in the world would you choose to live?
That would have to be if money and career were no object and you had no children or grandchildren.  Under those circumstances, I would love to live either in London, the South of France, or Ireland.  But I don't mind being anchored to someplace close to two of my children and my grandchildren.

6. What’s the last book you read that you simply could not put down until you finished?
The latest was "Home," by Harlan Coben, the new book in his Myron Bolitar series.  Not only have I missed Myron et al. terribly, but this was also not a disappointment, bringing them back after all these years.  I couldn't put it down and I hated finishing it because that meant it was over.

7. What television show do you plan your day around in order to see it live?
With a DVR you don't have to plan your day around any show, but we most often try to get home in time to see Jeopardy each night.

8. What extracurricular activities or sports did you participate in when you were in high school?
I was terrible at and hated sports, but I loved working on the yearbook (I was editor), the school newspaper, being in the school play and that sort of thing.

9. Of all your pet-peeves, which is the strangest?
I'll go with a literal "pet" peeve....my dog who will not stop jumping on me when i get home from...anywhere (even just from going outside to get something out of the car), and the dog who thinks that the only reason I ever get up out of a chair is to give her food.

10. Is it better to beg forgiveness or ask permission?
If you ask permission, you will never have to beg forgiveness.

11. If you inherited or won a million dollars, what would you do with it?
There is not a lot I want or need, so I would use it to do the most good in the world, starting with making sure my mother has adequate care for the year(s) she has left, helping our kids financially, and then spreading out to help improve the conditions of my sponsored children through Compassion, and to do what I can for causes like saving elephants and providing clean water to people without.

12. What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
I am very good at embarrassing myself, but the event that always comes to mind when I see this question is a time when I was in grammar school, got caught in a local park that had no toilet, peed in the bushes, and tore my pants open.  I had to walk home (about 4 city blocks) with my butt hanging out and was hailed from an upstairs window by a classmate I hated to begin with.  I still blush thinking about that....and that was more the 50 years ago!

13. Which fictional character do you believe is the most like yourself?
Mrs. Fezziwig

14. Are you superstitious? If so, what are you most superstitious about?
I'm not really superstitious, but I refused to even think that Hillary would win when all the polls were going in her direction.  Turns out I was right.  :(

15. Do you believe it is vital to everyday life to know what is happening in the world around you?
"Vital to everyday life" is such a big thing.  But I do believe in trying to find out what is going on, though I admit that since the election, being in a news vacuum sounds awfully nice.

16. What is the nicest thing anybody has said, or you believe they would say, about you?
That I'm a good daughter and being nice to my mother.

17. What are your life and career goals in 5, 10 and 15 years?
Well, in 15 years, I hope I'm dead! (I'll be 91 then and God help me if I end up like my mother, at 97!).  But I don't see any career goals in 5 or 10 years.  Not much chance for advancement when you are retired!

18. Would you rather live in a large house in the suburbs, or a tiny apartment in the city with an excellent view?
If I were living alone, I'd choose the apartment, in San Francisco, please, but only if the rent were paid for me.  I need very little space and in this large house, I tend to spread out.

19. What are you three weaknesses?
Peanut butter
Chocolate
Ice cream

20. How would you describe yourself in three words?
* Neanimorphic
* Grandiloquent
* Waggish

21. Which is more logical to follow—your heart or your head?
The more logical is to follow your head, which is why I usually follow my heart.

22. Are you spiritual or religious in any way? If so, how?
I gave up organized religion when the Catholic Chuch began protecting pedophile priests.  So I'm a "recovering Catholic."  I believe in a "something" out there, but not an old man in a long beard with a bird hovering over his head. 

23. If you could have any career possible, what would it be?
The one I have now:  retired, with the occasional show to review to keep my creative juices flowing.

24. Have you ever been arrested or contracted any diseases?
I have never been arrested, but heck, who has NOT contracted any disease?  Everything from the common cold to more serious illnesses.  (Fortunately, I have not had any truly serious illnesses)

25. Which is better—a novel or a movie?
I have had so many beloved novels ruined by the movie.  I continue to see movies made from books, but they are never, ever as good as the book.