aruan | Asked and answered.

1. Name one thing you want to accomplish this year.

Ooh, good start. Also, scary, but that is an entirely different matter. I want to get published again, in some medium. And work on a play, either as cast or crew.

2. What were you like as a child?

My favorite things were jigsaw puzzles and Lego blocks, on the playground I loved the swings, and at home, I listened to books on records/tapes and watched a fairly unhealthy amount of television, most of it in English which I didn't speak then. You may draw the grossly understating conclusion that I was somewhat of an introvert. Not much of this has changed, though I do chat online and am actively involved in fandom as well as LiveJournal. I also loved to act and was quite good at memorizing, though usually by reading/hearing things out loud, neither of which has changed at all. I was a cute kid, smart and loved to flaunt it by correcting the adults around me. Have always lived in my own world, which is always just a shade off of where I ought to be in my head.

3. What's your definition of beauty?

I'm one of Those to whom a person can become more or less attractive (physically) as I get to know more about them. Of course I make value judgements based on appearances, but I don't use that as a guideline to write people off as unintelligent or inconsequential. Beauty to me is confidence, strength of character, and wit. Few things strike me as beautiful on first sight, though many more have blossomed into it upon further exploration.

4. Is the glass half full or half empty? Why?

The glass is as the glass feels it is. I'm so nonchalant about most things that really, if it makes you happy and doesn't harm anyone, I say go for it. For me though, generally, the glass is half full. I contemplate the improbability of my existance sometimes, and it's quite enheartening.

5. Would you rather be rich or famous? Why?

I'm from a little lower than middle class family. We've always (if sometimes only barely) had everything we needed, but it was very hard for a long time in there. I despise having to worry about money more than anything in the world, except maybe palmetto bugs. I'm not a terribly outgoing person so fame wouldn't suit me in a lot of ways. And money can buy any kind of favor a charming, well-known smile can, so I'd choose to be rich, even if that only meant my loved ones and I could continue to live the life we do without having to check our bank balances so often.

And now for you!
1. What is your personal recurring existential crisis?
2. Is there a deeper meaning behind people's preference toward either chocolate or vanilla?
3. Which single person unrelated to you has made the single biggest difference in your life, how, what is that difference, and was it for the better (if you put value judgements on experiences)?
4. Why do you think so many people are unhappy with the lives they lead and what have you found to be the single most motivating factor to facilitate change within yourself?
5. Is blood necessarily thicker than friendship?

The Music Meme

Favorite REM song:
Losing My Religion

Favorite U2 song:
Oof. Tie between Mysterious Ways and Until the End of the World

Favorite Police song:
Roxanne

Cheat! Favorite The Cure song:
Fascination Street, followed very closely by Lovesong

Favorite Driving song:
Speeding: Fatboy Slim - Praise You and Groovecult ft. Safiye - Bang to the Beat
Mellow: The Dandy Warhols - Every Day Should Be A Holiday and DJ Shadow - Midnight in a Perfect World

Favorite Sing-Along song:
Not counting any musical numbers, The Offspring - Original Prankster and my guilty pleasure, Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back

Artist who has never done a thing I won't listen to:
The boys are out on account of I Need Love. I'd have to go with The Cure or New Order.

Artist who just needs to stop and go AWAY:
Wow that's a lot of animosity toward someone who hasn't done you personally wrong. Maybe 50Cent? I'm not feeling the 'it's your birthday' and 'come give me a hug' lyrics as ghetto fabulous. Or particularly praiseworthy.

Song that I love because of a happy memory:
5th grade trip to Sea Camp: The Beach Boys - Kokomo
Elissa's Bat Mitzvah: The B52s - Love Shack
Key West: Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun
CFTC IV, lost on the Orlando freeways: *NSYNC - Space Cowboy ('But I like this song!' 'That's because you have good taste.') and Just Got Lai- err, Paid *snerk*

Song that is forever tainted because of negative associations:
Janet Jackson - Again

Song or Artist that I am ashamed to admit I enjoy:
I still blush when I tell people about my unholy *NSYNC love. Years and years of conditioning against anything mainstream, I suppose. Though as I work out the specific, legitimate reasons behind it, I'm getting progressively less defensive and more articulate than: uhm, what's not to love about the pretty, dancing boys with a harmony like the most finely-tuned orchestra of instruments?