Scarlet's meme via Leah. [Ha. See what I did there?]

I was tagged by Leah, who was tagged by Scarlet. The mission, which I gladly accepted, was to answer the 10 questions Leah wrote. In turn, I am to write 10 questions of my own and tag six people. We’ll see about the tagging part when I get there.

1. What is your least favorite piece of clothing that you own? (from Hedgehog)
These. My living nightmare.

They’re from Kenneth Cole. They’re like clamping two steel bear traps to my feet. After walking 10 blocks, I can feel the blood pounding in my ankles.

2. Gravity or magnetism? (Sarge)
Gravity. I feel it pressing down. Don’t you?

3. Would you rather fantasize, or act it out in real life?
If I act it out, I'll hurt a lot of people who I care about. It wouldn't be worth it. It's best to keep it as a fantasy.

4. What is a name, other than your own, that you think suits you?
Call me Ishmael. I have an Ahab or two in my life and few great white whales that could use slaying, as well.

Fun fact #1: I took Mrs. Wife’s name when we got married. I think my new name suites me better than my old name ever did.

5. Tell us about a nice thing a stranger did for you.
Many years ago, I was on the subway platform at 42nd Street waiting for the downtown #1 train. I was reading the passage in Ian Fleming's CASINO ROYAL where Bond was being tortured. He was tied to a cane chair with the caning cut out of the seat and was repeatedly hit in the testicles.

I wasn't feeling well that day and the scene hit a raw nerve. I PASSED OUT! Right there in the middle of the subway platform! I hit the cement like a sack of potatoes. When I came to a few moments later, I was surrounded by caring New Yorkers. (Not gawkers!) Someone gave me a peppermint candy thinking I was diabetic. The train came. It was packed, but the crowd bullied a guy out of his seat so I could sit down. Absolutely true story.

Fun fact #2: On the flip side of receiving a stranger's kindness: Occasionally, I will anonymously pick up the lunch/dinner tab for tourists when I’m in a diner. If I see a couple with backpacks pouring over a street or subway map, on my way out, I'll pay their bill and instruct the waitress to tell them, “Welcome to New York!” It gives them a New York story to tell when they get home.

6. What was your favorite childhood toy?
Silly putty. To this very day I still keep a large wad to work.

7. Do you hold a grudge, or let things go easily?
Holding a grudge seems to be a natural part of the human condition, but a few years of meditation have taught me what a useless waste of time it is. I know someone who likes to say, “I forgive, but I don’t forget,” which is such a dark, evil thing to do. Forgetting lies at the very core of forgiving. They want to feel good about themselves by believing they have a forgiving nature without doing any of the heavy lifting. For shame.

I’m sorry, what was the question?

8. Favorite children's book?
As I pointed out in an earlier post, I was not read to as a child and didn’t read for pleasure until I was 21. To Kill a Mockingbird did it for me and we don’t need to re-hash that story. I remember reading A Wrinkle in Time. The fact that I actually remember reading it is significant. Also, I remember using my mom’s lipstick to color Dr. Seuss's Put Me In The Zoo. So that was an early influence.

9. Something you're proud of?
I’m a much [much] better father than my dad ever was. But the bar wasn’t set very high so I don’t want to pat myself on the back too hard. My goal is to never have my daughters look back and say, “My father was a little man and a fool” (as I do). So far, so good, but it’s early. I have plenty of time to blow it.

10. Which of the following four artworks do you relate to most, on first glance, and why?
I'm particularly fond of Picasso's blue period but even more than that, I am such a sucker for R. Crumb. I made a point of seeing the original drawings from his Book of Genesis Illustrated when they went on display and it was a big thrill for me. The other three works, obviously, have more artistic merit, but Mr. Natural always puts a smile on my face.

I hope you don’t mind my saying so, but your choices have a distinct female bent to them.

* * *

Here are my ten questions. As always with these things, feel free to jump on board or take a pass.

1. George Bush. Lindsay Lohan. Dick Cheney. You have to sleep with one, marry one and kill one.

2. Would you prefer a comfortable relationship that was passionless or a torrid affair that’s riddled with angst and uncertainty?

3. What is your drink of choice?

4. Would you rather work an interesting job that was low-paying and be under constant financial duress, or have a comfortable lifestyle with a job that wasn’t very satisfying (but not a nightmare)?

5. You are boarding a plane tomorrow morning. Where are you going?

6. What was the last piece of music you purchased?

7. If a book isn't working for you, do you hang on hoping for redemption or bail out?

8. Is it easy for you to admit when you're wrong? Let's be honest here.

9. Do you think fame is a useful tool or more trouble than it's worth? If it came knocking on your door, would you open it?

10. Fill in the blank. I wish my parents had not __________.

I'll tap

Here in Franklin

Daisyfae

Nimpipi

Annie

Savannah

And I would love to hear Jo's answers, but she is in transit and is not likely to read this post for a few weeks.

Again, feel free to answer all, a few, swap out these for some of Leah's questions or take a mulligan.