12 posts tagged “qotd”

What's the one thing you're most neurotic about?

Just one thing!?

Sitting on the bed in street clothes.

It's true that I live in a studio apartment, and that the seating there is quite limited.  It's either one of two chairs, the floor, or the bed.  Just please don't get under the covers wearing the jeans in which your butt area has touched the butt area of countless others riding the MTA New York City Transit.  Thankyou.

I will have to ask the dude his opinion on my most neurotic tic, as he has likely seen them all.  But I have an idea of what he might say.

Did you know...

Where I come from, we call any kind of athletic footwear tennis shoes, whether or not we actually play tennis in them?

And that the area between the sidewalk and the curb is actually a portal to hell?

devilstrip

Ok I think I have really run out of things to say.  I don't like any of the questions of the day.  I'm not excited about Harry Potter, and I wish I knew more people who, like me, have never read a book or seen a movie and are still living rich, full lives.  Let me go check to see what the oldest thing in my fridge is.

...

It's a six-way tie between 1/3 bag frozen edamame, frozen unopened bag of Cascadian Farm Organic Veggie Medley, 1/16 jar mango chutney, 1/2 bottle tamari soy sauce, pine nuts, and the bottom tray of ice cubes.

Actually I think the bottom tray of ice cubes wins.  Like the French, I drink my water and Coca-Cola sans glace.

So in conclusion, this vaguely depressing activity was actually worthwhile, because it reminded me it's that time of the year again: I need to do some serious defrostification.

What is the most interesting class you have ever taken? 
Submitted by Melissa. 

I used to have a lot of complaints about my undergraduate education.  Namely, that pursuing an English degree didn't really prepare me for the working world, as much as I tried to make it happen.  I didn't feel like the department there was very supportive of my endeavors.  (I once attended a graduate school information session, and all they talked about were M.A. programs... when I was thinking more along the lines of something, erm, professional.  No offense.)

But liberal arts education does help to teach you how to think, and how to write down those thoughts once you've thought them out a little more.  I once took an entire class on Friedrich Nietzsche.  It was a small class and there was a lot of discussion.  I frequently felt like I was in over my head, but in a good way.  We read House of Games and The Man In High Castle, in addition to the philosopher's collected works.  My two main papers were on the Nietzsche's treatment of the feminine, and his theory of the eternal return.  I got really high marks on the papers, but more than that, I feel like I learned how to come up with an original idea and turn it into something beautiful on paper.  When I go back and read them I still feel that.  I still feel like in a small way the readings and discussions we did then had an overall effect on my philosophy of life; yeah God is dead and all that.  But also that life is art.  To be is to do.  To do is to be.  Do be do be do.

One of my favorite memories of college actually, is going over to the professor's house to watch the Mamet movie with my classmates.  It was strangely intimate to be in his home, having off-campus conversation with him and his wife, who was also a prof (English too, feminism and the Bible stuff).  We drank wine and ate strawberry rhubarb pie.  It was late spring, and I was six credits away from graduation.  I know I didn't think so at the time, but living the life of the mind was pretty good.

What was the most embarrassing hobby you've ever had? 
Submitted by Billie Fable.

I got all the requisite nerd-hobbies out of the way at a pretty young age.  There was the butterfly collection, the stamp collection (my grandma worked for the post office at the time so that was cool.)  The rock collection.  And the coin and paper money collection: my prize items included European currency from World War II era (my other grandma had some interesting soldier penpals) and a steel penny from 1943 that I found in a jar that my second grade teacher gave me to look through.

No more embarrassing hobbies for me.  Unless you count bus riding, which I am rather unabashedly fond of.

Knitting does not embarrass me.

What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?

mmmmghmmm

B&J oatmeal chocolate chunk.  I love oatmeal cookies, and love the fact that in this incarnation thereof the traditional raisins are replaced with CHOCOLATE CHUNKS.  Hell yeah.  Makes me want to pay a visit to the bodega guys.

Which band or artist which is no longer performing or alive would you have loved to have seen?
Submitted by Rev Stan.

my bloody valentine

The one and only fabulous MBV.  I've heard stories.  But most of the stories are about how people ALMOST went, and didn't, or maybe used to know someone who did.

I remember reading an article in MAGNET a few years ago (it was a big issue devoted to the shoegaze era) where a guy told a story about seeing them live.  During the 30-minute extended-jam of "You Made Me Realise," the sound got so BIG/LOUD/distorted that it actually made him VOMIT.

To me, it just sounds like love.  So yeah.

Hey Kev-- forget about the follow-up.  How about reunion tour??

Ok in case there is going to be any confusion, this is Lo Librarian.  Not LOLbrarian.  There is an "i" in there.

In case anyone was confused.  In case anyone reads this, in case anyone Googles it and is looking for amusing PhotoShop tomfoolery and can't find it and is now completely and utterly bereft of laughter, misspellings, and improper syntax.

I think this was just a QOTD but I passed on it because I didn't want to have to give the following lame explanation:

Lo because it is short for Lauren.  It was my nickname in high school and is now a term of endearment used mainly (only) by my parents.  And like three other people from high school that I still talk to on a semi-regular basis.  You can call me Lo though, for sho'.  I'm a ho for the fro-yo. 

Librarian because that's what I am, it's what I do, it's the air I breathe, the dewey I decimal, the engine I search, the taxes I onomize.  Also because I was not creative enough to come up with another unique online identity for myself.

I always thought the fact that it starts with LOL was nice.  It alludes to my humorous nature, my ability to "laugh-out-loud," as it were.  Maybe I will change my middle name to "Olivia."  And maybe I will name my firstborn "Rotflmao."  It sounds almost French.  Rautflameaux!

What was the worst job you ever had?
Submitted by salaryman.

Instead of going really in depth into the worst. job. ever, let me instead take you on a whirlwind tour of all of my bad jobs.  Oh and when I say bad what I mean is character-building.  Right, dad?

Age 16-17: Bus "person"/dishwasher at local Italian restaurant. Had to wear androgenizing dress shirt, tie and apron, also had my hair cut short + no boobs = often referred to as a "he" by both elderly and non-elderly diners.  Started painting my fingernails religiously, did not seem to have substantial effect.  (It chipped off every time I had to scrub the cast iron pans or unload the steaming hot industrial-strength dishwasher.)  Came home at night smelling of burnt grease and garlic.  Added perks: Free pizza for my family.  But, the "free" was only after they found a baby cockroach in a pie and I presented it to my boss wrapped in foil.

Age 17-18: Bakery biotch.  Worked with a bunch of odd, menopausal sisters and their mother.  Added perks: Got to leave school early.  Got to eat a ton of iced sugar cutout cookies, for which there was perennially a jaunty holiday theme.  But, paid less than minimum wage for some reason.

Age 18: Data entry/accounts receivable for fitness club company.  I don't quite know what I did there, except for making copies of people's records to send to credit card companies to explain why we were penalizing them x number of dollars/sending them to collections for breaking the fine print on their contract.  It is now I realize I was actually doing the devil's handiwork.  I'm pretty sure I knew it then though.  I shared a cubicle with a woman who loved to post pictures of, and talk incessantly about her child.  And then she got pregnant!  Again!  Added perks: Off the books.  But, I got "laid off" after like a month.  And I cried because it was the most money I had ever made, and I hated food service.

Age 18: Summer before college, my friend got me a job hostessing in the restaurant of a Holiday Inn: "Barney Googles."  Took my very first (and last) drug test.  Which is weird considering everyone who worked there was on drugs.  There were a few regulars ("Horseman" comes immediately to mind, both for his ponytail and his storytelling charm) who were actually tenants at the Holiday Inn.  Like, they lived there.  Also lots of truckers, and kids who were staying the night before getting sent to Army bases.  These were called MEPS and had a special menu.  The food at the restaurant was terrible, and the cash register computer system was from 1984.  There was a KIDZONE where families with children could sit, scream, play with toys, and put chewed up food absolutely anywhere they wanted.  Added perks: Nothing really; a depressing time.

Age 20: Internship at local nonprofit charitable organization.  Spent most of the time collating/trying to look busy.

Age 22-23: Finished college.  Sent out seemingly stellar English-major resumes far and wide.  Took a job at a video store to "tide me over."  Worked there until the store closed almost a year later.  Got to watch endless stream of PG-13 (PG when regional manager was around) movies in-store.  Someday soon I will have to make a list of these gems (among them Don't Tell Her It's Me, Teen Wolf Too, She's Out of Control, Mr. Nanny, plus a marathon screening of Weekend at Bernie's II.)  Rented and sold comedies, dramas, B-horror flicks, cult classics and Disney cartoons to an affluent suburban public.  Also porn.  Lots and lots of porno.  All genres.  Even the kinds you didn't know existed.*   Had the unique opportunity to interact with/avoid interaction with many customers interested in porn.**  Cried after the first day.  Came home at night smelling of that coconut oil fake butter we used in the popcorn machine and smoke from the manager's Dorals.  Had to wear one of those HUGE company t-shirts that on a petite girl had short sleeves that reached to mid-forearm; meanwhile one of the hipster dudes who worked there had somehow gotten hold of a tiny tee.  Added perks: Free rentals.  Unlimited (smoke) breaks.  Putting nasty/funny/cautionary comments on customer accounts for coworkers to read and similarly find hilarious.

Age 23: Customer service desk in department store.  Similar to library, actually: answering questions, directing calls, dealing with the crazy dude who comes in every day to pay down his balance by a few pennies.  Lots and lots of rules and policies that if broken WILL NOT GO UNPUNISHED and everyone will talk about it.  No security, all kinds of theft.  Lots of disgruntled saleswomen working on commission.  Really not that great of a discount.  (Morale was kinda low.)  Added perks: Made friends with a sweet older lady there who was born and used to live in Brooklyn.  As I was deciding whether or not to move to Brooklyn.  But, I gave one day less than two weeks notice before I moved, so the store made it clear that because of that they will never rehire me for as long as I live. 

They can all kiss my ass. 

Looking back at this all now, this glowing resume of humiliating trials and travails, I again thank the Lord to be where I am today, in my own apartment, not in Ohio, with not too much debt and a job that I don't hate and don't hate myself for doing.  And I'm glad I can leave at the end of the day without smelling strongly of popcorn butter or garlic or smoke, or burnt anything.  Well, usually.

What method do you use to prepare your coffee or tea? 
Submitted by AgentBouche.

This little bad boy.

mokapot

The moka pot method also makes the strongest cup of coffee EVAR.  Well I mean it is really espresso, but I usually mix it with milk.  It packs a punch.  I only wish I could get up early enough in the morning to make it instead of giving my money to the watery midtown coffee purveyors that shall remain nameless.

No other system of preparation can compare to the moka pot in terms of efficiency, taste, and style.  I retired my French press long ago.  I never once considered using a drip coffee pot: (as much as I would love having a timer feature on my moka pot) I simply do not have the patience nor the inclination for more than one cup of coffee per day.

Also, have you ever seen the size of my kitchen?

the lone tomato

Where the hell would you stash a regular coffee maker?  The area above the fridge (to the left of the sink) holds the combo micro/toaster.  Practicality is the name of the game over here in studio land.  Right after deliciousness, and caffeination ability.  Moka pot 4EVA.

If you could open a restaurant, any kind you want, what would it look like and what's on the menu?
Submitted by A is for Amy.

In high school I had this awesome plan to open up a restaurant with food based on works of Great Literature.  The menu would feature such dishes as:

• Grapeleaves of Wrath
• Cherry Orchard pie
• Count of Monte Cristo sandwich
• Breakfast of Champions (similar to a Denny's Grand Slam)
• The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock do I dare to eat a peach melba
• The Jungle mystery meatloaf surprise
• Dante's Inferno spicy chili
• Moveable Feast all-you-can-eat buffet
  

I can’t think of any more right now but you get the gist.  At some point, probably in college, I decided it would be better as a bar and then I could just focus on the various signature cocktails of the Great Authors.  Hemingway Tequila Sun Also Rises or what have you.

Needless to say the restaurant I would create today would be much different.  Now my dream is to open a rice pudding boutique to serve as a front for my crime ring.