36 posts tagged “qotd”

Are you celebrating Cinco de Mayo?

No, We celebrate seis de mayo -- which is my eldest daughter'[s birthday.

What's your favorite appetizer to order at a restaurant?

Depends on what I'm eating.
    Sushi = akadashi/miso
    Mexican = nachos & cheese sauce
    Italian = bread sticks w/marinara
    Steakhouse = onion rose
    Chinese = fried won ton
    Ad hoc = whatever looks yummy.

Do you consider yourself a patriotic person?  Why or why not?

    Yes. I grew up in a patriotic family headed by my father, who was the county judge. I spent the years from age 19 to age 47 in the U.S. Navy, retiring honorably. I served a year in VietNam -- a war which I now realize we were destined to lose not because of the troops but because our national leadership lacked the will to win. I see the same thing happening in Iraq.
    Nevertheless, I remain a committed patriot because I believe that, no matter how bad our system of government is, it's better than any other system in the world. Our founding fathers were men of genius and our government still, for the most part, works, however imperfectly.
    Are there things wrong with the U.S.? Of course. But look at any other country in the world and try to find one that works better. There aren't any.
    That being said, I feel that it's just as patriotic to protest the government's actions as it is to support them. "I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." -- Volaire

TV, books, movies: Who's your favorite fictional father?

    Either:

    (a) Robert Young as Jim Anderson in Father Knows Best, or

    (b) Hugh Beaumont as Ward Cleaver in Leave It to Beaver.

    Both of these dads were thoughtful, honest, loving fathers who loved their wives, and drew the best from their children.

    Both were much like my own father.

What story from your wild-and-crazy youth would nobody believe about you today?

    7th grade art class. I was at a table in the back of the room. Bored. So I put my ruler (one of those with a groove down the center of the back) over a pencil, but another pencil in the groove, and started launching the pencil up in the air.
    To get a higher arc, I finally moved the fulcrum pencil way down toward where I was striking the ruler. Success. A little too much success, as the pencil not only went high enough to hit the ceiling, it managed to stick point first in one of the holes in the acoustical tile. Where it hung, wobbling slightly.
    As I was wondering what to do, who should I espy approaching but the teacher. I quickly bent over my project and began drawing.
    The teacher bent over my shoulder and started to give me some constructive criticism.
    The pencil chose this moment to free itself from it's entrapment in the ceiling. It hit the teacher on the back of the head.
    The teacher straighted up and searched the class for the culprit. None was to be found.
    Unfortunately, she kept the pencil.
    I didn't feel it necessary to confess.

Where do you go to get away from it all? 
Submitted by Hops.  

I am always "away from it all." What I have trouble doing is getting back!

What, to you, is the first sign of spring? Have you seen it yet?
Submitted by Spy.

In our bedroom we have a sliding door that opens onto a deck. For me, the first sign of spring is that it's warm enough to sleep with that door open.

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

This one is easy. When I was in college a couple of friends and I answered
an ad on the bulletin board. It turned out to be steam-cleaning hog cars -
railroad cars used to haul hogs to market. The company provided protective suits, boots, etc., but it was litterally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We
worked one day and never went back. The smell, however, lingered for
several days, if only in my imagination.

What did you dream about last night?  

    Before I woke up I dreamt I was back on active duty. We had moved into a new building and there was some confusion as to what was where. At COB (close of business) I had to make a pit stop but was having trouble finding the rest room (a sure sign I needed to wake up and pit for real). Then I got on my motorcycle (my old Honda 350 dirt bike -- my first motorcycle) to ride home, but I had trouble fastening my briefcase and all the papers I was taking home to work on. Then on the road I had a low tire so had to circle back to get it fixed at a nearby, handy-dandy, bicycle/motorcycle repair shop. By the time they had finished repairing the tire it was snowing, and I foiund myself riding through tiny, narrow streets in Japan (where I never rode a motorcycle). Then (then?) it all got very confusing and at one point I was riding up flights of stairs, and at another point was riding through the linen department at a Sears store. Neverthess I finally made it home, and woke up in the nick of time to pit

Who taught you how to cook?
Submitted by Donna.

    My mother -- gave me the basics.

    My wife -- brought it all together.