56 Questions

A dear friend of mine recently moved to Madrid and has been adjusting to life “on the continent.”  Last week, she sent a list of girlfriends this series of questions.  I thought I would answer them here for fun…   

1. What time did you get up this morning?  7:10 am, and that was too late to be on time.  Ugh.
2. Diamonds  or pearls? Pearls, but I certainly wouldn’t turn up my nose at diamonds.

3. What was  the last film you saw at the  cinema?  The September Issue.  It was a fascinating look at the the art of  business, at the creative process, and of the rarefied world of couture fashion. 
4. What is  your favorite TV show?   Does anybody still watch those things?
5. What do  you usually have for breakfast?  A soft-boiled egg with toast cut in strips for dipping , a fresh fruit shake and a dark roast coffee with cream.  I am spoiled beyond belief by the fella.
6. What is  your middle name?   Grace, which is ironic because I am a total klutz.
7. What food do you dislike?   Hmmm.  Had to think about that.  I’m like a kid about turnip and brussel sprouts. They’re “blech”!
8. What is  your favorite CD at the moment?   Still can’t enough of Neil Diamond’s recent albums “Home Before Dark” and “12 Songs”.   I think I’m ready for something new though, and am hoping Santa will bring Leonard Cohen’s Live in London on CD.
9. What kind of car do you drive?   ooo.  This is exciting.  The fella and I just acquired a new Volkswagen Jetta TDI (that’s diesel if you didn’t already know).  It was voted Green Car of the year for 2009 and is super fuel efficient.  Yay!

 
10. Favorite  sandwich?   Egg salad, hands down.  (Do you sense a trend?)
11. What characteristic do you despise? A closed mind.  I’m not terribly fond of arrogance or pretentiousness either.   
12. Favorite item of clothing? It’s a toss up between my forever boots and my black blazer.
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?   I have a very long list, but to start, I’d be happy to return to Jamaica where lived for a year as toddler.   I have never been back, but my memories are vivid, and my curiousity continues to grow.

14. Favorite  brand of clothing?  Top quality vintage or thrifted clothes are really fun to find, but I do rely heavily on basics from Banana Republic.
15. Where would you retire to?  There is a picture emerging in my mind of a beach house with a small studio and a comfortable, relaxed vibe.  Beach location to be determined.
16. What was your most recent memorable  birthday?   I like quiet birthdays, and I like to do what I want to do, whatever that might be. 
17. Favorite sport to watch?   Huh? Do not compute.                                                                                                                                                                       18. Furthest place you are sending this?  Probably Spain.  
19. Person you expect to send it back first?  Comments are always welcome at girlaboutOtown.com!
20. When is your birthday?  Suffice it to say I’m a Gemini.
21. Are you a morning person or a night person?  Night.  Mornings are really hard.  Really hard.
22. What is your shoe size? It depends on the shoe. It’s  bizarre, but true… 
23. Pets?  2 cats.  They came with the fella. They’re insufferably annoying and irresistibly adorable at the same time.  What can you do?
24. Any new and exciting news you’d like to  share?  Yup.  Soon!   
25. What did you want to be when you were little?   A Muppeteer.
26. How are you today?  Good.  A bit overwhelmed, but what’s new?   
27. What is your favorite candy?  Chocolate.  I can’t make it through the day without it.  Yikes.
28. What is your favorite flower?  Pink peonies.  They grow in my backyard, and don’t take much to keep alive.
29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?  January 8, 2010.  More on why soon.
30. What is your favorite  pastime?  Decorating & thrift shopping.
31. What are you listening to right now?   Wintery silence (and the sweet sound of the furnace running).  Ahhh….
32. What was the last thing you ate?  Chocolate.  Aack.  I know.
33. Do you wish on stars?   Yup.  And when I blow out birthday candles, and when the numbers on the digital clock are all the same, and when I throw a penny in a fountain.

34. If you were a crayon, what color would you  be?  Aquamarine.
35. How is the weather right now?   Cold.  Brrr…
36. The first person you spoke to on the phone today?  My pay & benefits advisor.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                37. Favorite soft drink?  Fresca.  Does that make me weird?    
38. Favorite restaurant?    I still love stopping in at the 4th Ave. Wine Bar, but I’ve enjoyed Play more than a few times lately.
39. Real hair color?  Bronde.   
40. What was your favorite toy as a child?  I think I loved art supplies the most, but was often too inhibited to actually use them. 
41. Summer or winter?   Forever summer. 
42. Hugs or kisses?  Both!
43. Chocolate  or Vanilla?     Chocolate, as previously stated.
44. Coffee or tea?   Coffee before noon, tea after.
45. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back?  It’s always nice to hear from friends!
46. When was the last time you cried?  November.  Can’t remember why…
48. What did you do last night?   Christmas party #3 out of 4 this week.
49. What are you afraid of?  Running out of time.
50. Salty or sweet?  Since the wisdom teeth came out, my taste buds aren’t what they used to be.  Sweet is about all that’s left to enjoy.
51. How many keys on your key ring?  Just 2.  Car door & front door.
52. How many years at your current job?  Too many. 
53. Favorite day of the week?  Mondays, because they belong to me. 
54. How many towns have you lived in?  Wow.  That’s a question I’ve never considered.  I guess I would say 5.
55. Do you make friends easily?   I think so, but I really try to keep them too!
56. How many people will you send this to?  Only my readers will know…

What about you? 

Earrings via Birks, Green Car logo courtesy of  GreenCar.com.  Jamaica photo by Dorling Kindersley/Getty Images via National Geographic, and crayons by bookgrl on Flickr.