quick spurt of passages
Like Dawn, I’m exhausted and need to turn my thoughts to things less complicated, so I’ll do the whole pass the survey along and answer the questions that Dawn posts today. Plus, this counts for a post for the next-to-last day of November.
Survey under the cut.
do you own a gun?
No. Interestingly, I come from a family of deer hunters and actually went hunting when I was a middle schooler. No more, though. I’m vegan now, so hunting’s a bit out of the question, and I don’t really see the point of owning something that has the explicit purpose of harming someone or something else.
what do you think of hot dogs?
Umm… I’m vegan? I used to eat hot dogs a lot as a kid. I loved them then. Now, I’ve only found a few veggie dogs that are decent (there is a wonderful restaurant in Seattle with the most magnificent veggie dog meals!). But pretty much, real hot dogs sound gross.
What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
12 oz. hot coffee, served black
Can you do push-ups?
Yes! Haven’t done them in a few weeks due to the broken foot, though.
What’s your favorite piece of jewelery?
My lip ring, I think. If I had something cooler than the current plug in my ear, it’d be whatever would be there, but jewelry is expensive, so I’ll stick with what I have.
What is your secret weapon to lure the opposite sex?
Like Dawn, I’m disturbed by the war metaphor here for courtship. I’m also disturbed by the heterosexism. Oh, and the idea that we should be “luring” others and “trapping” them.
Middle name?
James
Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment:
1. I’m surprised I’m still awake, I’m so exhausted.
2. It feels good to have my first PhD application in the mail.
3. I don’t like how it gets dark so early now.
Name 3 drinks you regularly drink:
1. cofee
2. wine
3. gin and tonic (I don’t drink that often, really; I just don’t drink much else other than coffee)
What time did you wake up today?
7:30, which was too late for today. I stress out over the fear that I’ll oversleep and miss my 8:30 class, but so far I haven’t. Normally, I try to get up at 6:00 or 6:30, but that’s been harder this week.
Current hate?
I don’t really like to use the word hate, though sometimes I do. I think hate is wrapped up with banality and simplicity: you can only hate something or someone if you simplify it and ignore its or their complexity. Things I am currently disliking: the United States’ administration, Congress, etc.
Favorite place to be?
The coffee shop Interzone here in town. It’s friendly and fun, and I get a lot of work done here (I’m here right now).
Least favourite place to be?
crowds of traditional men who value masculinity too much
Where would you like to go?
Everywhere! Specifically, in two weeks I leave for Europe: Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, Oviedo (Spain), and Barcelona!
Do you own slippers?
Yes, but I am unsure where I put them when I moved over the summer.
What shirt are you wearing?
White button-up shirt.
Do you burn or tan?
Oh, I only burn. It’s the Scots-Irish/German/English mix in me.
Favorite color(s)?
Probably pink, but many times shades of blues, greens, and black.
Would you be a pirate?
Aren’t we all pirates?
What is your favorite holiday?
Probably Halloween, though I’m not sure.
What songs do you sing in the shower?
I don’t sing in the shower. I do, however, sing very loudly in the car, along with anything that’s playing!
What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child?
I don’t remember having any fears at night as a child.
What’s in your pockets right now?
Pants, Left: a pen and a keychain with 11 keys on it. Pants, Right: Cell phone, toilet paper that I’m using as a kleenex (I have developed a slight cold). Pants, Back pocket, Left: Wallet. Jacket, Left: Camel No. 9 cigarettes and a lighter. Jacket, Right: 85 cents in change.
Last thing that made you laugh?
My friend Luke making fun of my typos in an instant message.
Best bed sheets as a child?
I don’t remember having any special ones. Oh, I guess I had a Mario sheet that was pretty rad (and still is!).
Worst injury you’ve ever had?
I rolled a four-wheeler when I was 15 and broke my cheekbone in three places. I still have titanium alloy plates in my face from that. At the time, I also had a bunch of road-burn scrapes on the left side of my face and a very swollen right eye.
Are your parents still together?
Yes, for 28.5 years now.
Do you wish on shooting stars?
No, I’m a bit too much of a skeptic for that.
What is your favorite book(s)?
100 Years of Solitude, possibly. Or A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.
What is your favourite candy?
dark chocolate, perhaps. Or Wasabi Peas, which aren’t really candy, but I treat them as such.
How is the weather outside right now?
Chilly, with occasional rain, and dark.
What was your first thought this morning when you woke up?
What is the latest I can wake up?
How about you?
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Oh, Michael. Say it isn’t so. You actually liked Eggers’ book?
I think I burned it after reading it (ok, I couldn’t even get to the end, it bored me so much).
Your comment about luring the opposite sex was right on. I completely agree.
I loved AHWOSG!!! It’s so clever and ironic. And I’m really moved by the force of the book. I can understand reasons for disliking it, but it’s definitely one of my favorites.
I also love A Heartbreaking Work. I can’t believe someone couldn’t get through it. I couldn’t put it down.
Michael, did you read You Shall Know Our Velocity? It is even better.
I’m going to respond to the survey in a comment. If it’s annoying feel free to delete it.
do you own a gun?
No
what do you think of hot dogs?
Hot dogs are pretty icky. I don’t eat meat. I wish I had it in me to go vegan.
What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
A double tall mocha, sometimes non-fat.
Can you do push-ups?
Probably one or two.
What’s your favorite piece of jewelery?
These jade necklaces I have… They’re supposed to be authentic Tibetan jade but I have no idea if that’s true.
What is your secret weapon to lure the opposite sex?
I don’t have one and am not trying to cultivate one.
Middle name?
Louise
Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment:
1. Michael did too much thinking on this survey for not wanting to think.
2. I want Robert to come get me for lunch.
3. I wonder if Robert is too masculine for Michael to like.
Name 3 drinks you regularly drink:
1. coffee
2. wine
3. water
What time did you wake up today?
7ish. It was harsh. Anything before 7 is pretty fucking harsh.
Current hate?
Uh, yeah, I don’t say “hate” much, either, but I’m annoyed at some of the students in my English class calling the professor by her first name. It makes me feel kind of hierarchical/patriarchal, but she hasn’t invited anyone to call her by her first name and some of these guys are just pompous…
Favorite place to be?
In bed. Yeah, kinda lame, but I like doing lots of stuff in bed.
Least favourite place to be?
A large family Christmas party where the women are doing all the work, the men are standing around talking about work and there are children running around screaming. I actually don’t want to do the thinking to explain why that’s depressing.
Where would you like to go?
France, Spain, Italy (I am so having some Nutella gellato one of these days) and the San Juan Islands, where I may be going soon.
Do you own slippers?
yeah
What shirt are you wearing?
A “Who Killed Amanda Palmer?” shirt I got from her show with Estrada in Portland.
Do you burn or tan?
both
Favorite color(s)?
black, purple, dark blue. you know, gothy.
Would you be a pirate?
I don’t know. I don’t shower very much.
What is your favorite holiday?
Thanksgiving.
What songs do you sing in the shower?
I don’t sing in the shower very often, but this morning I was singing “Candy Says”
What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child?
I was scared of vampires.
What’s in your pockets right now?
Carmex and a tissue. You should’ve asked about my purse, though.
Last thing that made you laugh?
Seinfeld?
Best bed sheets as a child?
Red ones… I remember when I got a new bed and these red bed sheets and I wanted my friend Amanda to see how cool my new room looked, but when she came over she got this look on her face like things did not look as cool as I thought. In retrospect I see that she was seeing a bare tile or whatever kind of floor it was with a folding metal frame cot with red sheets on it.
Worst injury you’ve ever had?
Does spinal meningitis count? I guess that’s in illness. Besides that I’ve never even broken a bone.
Are your parents still together?
yeah. I think they actually love each other, too.
Do you wish on shooting stars?
no
What is your favorite book(s)?
I’ll say 1)Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, 2) Valis, 3) You Shall Know Our Velocity. (not necessarily in that order)
What is your favourite candy?
ferror rocher.
How is the weather outside right now?
depressing.
What was your first thought this morning when you woke up?
“Why is robert’s phone ringing?”
Chanel, I have read You Shall Know Our Velocity. I loved it, but I liked AHWOSG more.
And I’m sure Robert is a nice guy. I don’t dislike masculine people; I dislike being in environments where masculinity is the norm and is enforced, and femininity and femaleness is derided (these two almost always go together).
Oh, man. I get so emotional when I think about You Shall Know Our Velocity. Have you read How We Are Hungry? I haven’t yet.
Is that the collection of short stories? A friend of mine and I actually tried to read it a few years ago, but couldn’t get through it. It just didn’t seem as good. I might try to read it again, but it just didn’t strike me as compelling as his other work.
Hey Michael!
I just started a new project for adjunct activism. The blog comment/ pitch sits below. Please consider posting about this, participating, and/or encouraging others to participate.
All it takes is a few minutes with YouTube and an email!
I hope you are going well, and I hope you have quality papers to read! Me, I have to read a bunch of competency exams (timed in class writings) that CR runs, but then that is it! (On Friday, that is!)
Yes!
My name is Gregory Zobel and I am an adjunct at College of the Redwoods in Humboldt County California. While many tenured and part-timers understand the problems of adjuncts, most people outside of academia don’t know that we even exist—much less what we look like. This is why I started the Adjunct Faces: The Faces of Contingent Academic Labor (AF:FOCAL) documentary project
Please participate in this project! It will literally take only a few minutes, it will create new content for your blog, and you are in complete control of your own content! On top of that, you can help bring attention to adjunct issues!
Please follow this link: http://adjunctfaces.blogspot.com/
Thanks for your time & consideration!
Gregory Zobel