If you’d like for me to tailor five questions for you to answer on YOUR LiveJournal (or blog), leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite ice cream flavor. It may take a while, but I will eventually respond (also in my comments) with five questions unique to you.
My five questions came from the fabulous Amanda, and I’ll answer them behind a cut. Thanks, Amanda!
1. You once mentioned an interest in teaching a course on LGBT literature at the college level. What five books would have to be on your syllabus?
Since I don’t have enough expertise to choose at least one each from all four categories (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered), I decided to focus on urban gay male fiction after kicking my class off with one coming of age story:
The World of Normal Boys, K.M. Soehnlein
The Lost Language of Cranes, David Leavitt
Nights in Aruba, Andrew Holleran
Everybody Loves You, Ethan Mordden
Like People in History, Felice Picano
2. What is your favorite culinary indulgence? (Not just your favorite food: something you only eat on very rare occasions.)
I’ll choose fried corn because (1) it has to be cooked by my mother in a very specific way, and (2) only one kind of corn will do (roasting ears, she says, and I’ve never figured out what roasting ears are, and it’s not necessary to explain it to me, because other people have, but no grocery store ever calls any corn “roasting ears” so I can’t find the corn anyway, and no one else has EVER made this dish to taste like my mother’s, including me, even when she gave me roasting ears and I did exactly what she told me to do). When I was a little girl, I made such a pig of myself over fried corn that my mother once made a bowl for the family and an equal-sized bowl for me, to see how much of it I’d eat before I got sick of it. I ate my entire bowl and asked if I could have some of theirs.
3. What would your dream vacation entail?
N.o.t.h.i.n.g. Doing absolutely nothing that I don’t want to do or because I feel obligated to do it. I’d love to be in a cottage on the Pacific Ocean with a breeze blowing through the windows and the mountains behind me (Mendocino would work). If friends or family were there, that would be fine, but no one would ever want in the bathroom when I was in it. No one would care if I didn’t want to do what everyone else did. No one would expect anything from me except that I enjoy my daily massage, my pedicures, and all the reading and conversation my heart could stand. P.S. I don’t want to have to fly there.
4. If you were to write the biography of any public figure — historical or contemporary — who would you
choose?
Jane Addams.
5. If you could start a rumor about yourself, without anyone knowing the source, what would it be?
That the reason I’m not answering the phone or my e-mail or showing up online or meeting anyone for coffee or fulfilling any of my obligations is because I’m in a cottage in Mendocino (rented by my publisher) finishing a novel that I got a seven-figure advance to write and five brilliant contemporary authors have read drafts of it and BEGGED to write cover blurbs–it’s that good.
Oh, wait. I can’t live up to that. Since I’m thirty-five, let the rumor be that I’m pregnant with the next incarnation of the Dalai Lama.
I like bananna straw berry ice cream.. and cake batter
Marika’s Questions
1. If Dash could talk, what would he want us to know about you?
2. What is your best habit?
3. You’ve got your own Amtrak car to travel from NOLA to NYC. Name any three authors (contemporary or historical) that you want on your trip with you.
4. Is it really better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?
5. Who’s your favorite relative?
Mint chocolate chip, or peppermint.
You know Tim, I have never understood the attraction to mint ice cream…. then I one night a boy kissed me after we had ice cream cones – and I “got” the wholew mint chocolate chip thing very well. It’s good kissin’ cream
SO that’s why Bob loves it!
Tim’s Questions
1. You just got picked to be on “Survivor!” What luxury item will you take with you?
2. Yay, you get to go back in time and have a conversation with either John Steinbeck or Dorothy Parker. Which one will you choose and what would you talk about?
3. How much money does it take to be happy?
4. Do you believe in love at first sight?
5. If you were offered an all-expenses paid college education, no strings attached, what reasoning would you use to make your yes/no decision?
I currently (can’t let myself) enjoy (very often) Breyer’s Fried Ice Cream. Yummm!!
Lisa’s Questions
1. Steven Spielberg called. He’s making a movie of one of your favorite books and wants you to cast it. What’s the movie and who’s in it?
2. As a nurse, what one bit of advice would you give anyone who’s about to have a stay in the hospital?
3. What’s the happiest moment of your life so far?
4. What “theme” song would you choose for each of your dogs?
5. What are your dreams for your children?
That Amanda asks a good question. : )
(I like lime sherbet.)
Mark’s Questions
1. You’ve been given a chance to take your dream vacation, all expenses paid. Who’s going with you, your best friend or your brother?
2. If Joey were human, who would you pick as his perfect life mate and why?
3. Is perception reality?
4. Marie Antoinette has just arrived at your door courtesy of a time machine, and she speaks and understands English just fine. What are you going to share with her about today’s world?
5. If you could live anywhere other than where you are, what location would you choose?
vanilla. I am a plain girl.
Shannon’s Questions
1. You are chef for a day at an eclectic restaurant. What’s the special?
2. You’ve been chosen to interview Prince Harry. What’s the first question you ask him?
3. How has your study of philosophy impacted your life?
4. How would you compare the advantages/ disadvantages of cats and dogs as companion animals?
5. You found the magic lamp with the genie! What’s your one wish?
Fried Corn
Now see, this is nutters to me. There is a restaurant that I HAVE to go to in Maggie Valley, called, Butts on the Creek. I have never had fried corn before. They have it. It’s the best thing ever. They roll theirs in a corn meal, frying it up, and serving it with BBQ. It’s my favorite. I have never had it anywhere else, either. That’s why I go there whenever I am in Maggie.
So good.
Re: Fried Corn
Is that corn fried ON the cob? The restaurant Black Eyed Pea has done that. It’s not the same way my mother prepares fried corn.
Re: Fried Corn
ON the cob. Yeppers. Pretty good, too.
Re: Fried Corn
They serve it that way at this place called The Catfish House, here in BG. I was so disapointed. REAL fried corn is off the cob, fried in a skillet with bacon drippings. LOL
Re: Fried Corn
Right.
Re: Fried Corn
As Clairee said to Truvy in Steel Magnolias, “You were raised right.”
Re: Fried Corn
And that’s why I know there’s no sugar in cornbread and no sugar on grits.
*adds Becky’s syllabus to the list of books to read…*
My favorite is Bluebell’s Tin Roof, but most places here never have it. It’s got chocolate syrup and chocolate covered peanuts in the icecream. SO good!
Johnny’s Questions
1. Celine Dion is coming to dinner! What two other people will be at the table with you?
2. If you could design your own Barbie, what would her name be and what story or theme would you give her?
3. An anonymous benefactor is giving you money to open a “theme bar” in the old Meteor location. Can you describe your bar for me?
4. What’s the most fun date you’ve ever had with Matt?
5. What would your ideal retirement involve?
My favorite ice cream is Mayfield Moo-lenium.
Bus since they don’t seem to make that anymore I will go with Mayfield TurtleTracks
Vanilla ice cream with chocolate caramel turtles, chocolate covered pecans and a caramel swirl.
However, I am an ice cream slut and also love Breyer’s All Natural Vanilla Bean. Mmmmmm…and “Oh crap!” it is procedure day and I cant eat anything.
Gene’s Questions
1. Donald Trump just offered to buy you one of the world’s great masterpieces for your living room. Which one will you pick?
2. What’s a perfect Sunday for you?
3. What’s the first thing you remember wanting to be when you grew up?
4. What’s the best lesson your life experience has taught you?
5. Do you think it’s important to vote?
Ice Cream
Becky,
I like it better when you use a pretty smiling icon. 😀 It brightens my day.
I love chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.
Ellen
PS Since you always convince me to do these, I tag you to do the book quiz that’s on my journal. Hehehe *runs away*
Re: Ice Cream
Then I’ll go in and change my icon in case it helps you have a better Wednesday. 😉
Re: Ice Cream
Ahhh, Thank you! That must be why my day is getting so much better. 😀 You have a beautiful smile, so you should show it off.
Ellen
Re: Ice Cream
You are so good for my self-image, Ellen. =)
Ellen’s Questions
1. What’s the first song you ever remember hearing?
2. Your dog is a superhero! What’s her super power and what’s her fatal weakness?
3. Would you rather write only one blockbuster novel and nothing else, or write several novels with limited sales?
4. If you could invent a gadget to improve your life, what would it be?
5. Are you a sun worshipper or a moon child and what do you think that means?
Rocky Road.
(PS – I would love to take your Lit course.)
David’s Questions
1. You just won a recurring role on a soap opera, and you get to write your own character! Tell me about him. Or her. Your choice.
2. Do you have a favorite family tradition you can share?
3. Do you still think about your first love?
4. You get to spend the summer at a writer’s colony. Name four authors, living or now undead, who you want to be there, too.
5. Who’s the first “best friend” you remember?
1) Cool book choices. I’ve only read The Wolrd of Normal Boys and Nights in Aruba. I own Lost Language but it’s on the to read list. Chris was reading the Picano book when I was visiting last time.
2) Fidge Ripple
I mean fudge ripple…
Gary’s Questions
1. You are going shopping in the Big Apple with the four divas of your choice and they’re picking up the tab for everything. Which four will you choose?
2. What’s the biggest success story you’ve had as a teacher?
3. If life really is like a box of chocolates, what chocolate candy compares to your life so far?
4. You’re needed to fill in for Larry King on CNN for a night. Who do you want to interview and why?
5. Is it really bad to change horses in the middle of a stream?
you’ve got quite a list of people to get questions for!
however, if you aren’t sick to death of this, my favorite ice cream is ben & jerry’s creme brulee.
Jandy’s Questions
1. What do you love about your life?
2. A great artist (living or dead) wants to come paint something on your fence. Which artist will you choose?
3. What’s the perfect party?
4. Oh, no! You’re trapped in an elevator! Fortunately, you’re with the celebrity of your choice. Who is it and why?
5. Is gossip good or bad?
Re: Jandy’s Questions
1. oh, there’s probably lots of things, but i’ll keep it short. i love the fact that i had a really good childhood (compared to many stories from people i know). i love that i have a small group of people around me that would honestly do anything for me.
2. any of the artists that have drawn for disney – past or present.
3. i’m not so much a ‘party’ person as far as loud music, dancing, etc. goes. however, having people over to hang out and play games is great to me.
4. if i was single, it’d be either dita von teese, jennifer tilly, shirley manson, toni collette, or candye kane. for obvious reasons. hey, it’s my fake scenario, so i can make the rules…and all those girls would ADORE me.
not single would be wanda sykes or kathy griffin so we could laugh until someone saved us.
5. it’s probably bad since most of it’s hearsay. but i read tmz and perezhilton religiously, sooooo….
Re: Jandy’s Questions
Thank you for answering my questions. The fact that you have so many things to love about your life must be one reason why I like you so much. =) I’d definitely come over to play games in your fantastic game room.
Re: Jandy’s Questions
aww – you’re too kind.
next time you’re in dallas, come on over! 🙂
OK…I’ll play. I’m an orange sherbet kinda gal.
My middle name is “Orange Sherbert.”
Rhonda’s Questions
1. Woohoo! You and Lindsey got picked to be on “Amazing Race.” What’s the ONE thing that could keep you from winning?
2. Do you have a hero? Who and why?
3. Seriously, why DID the chicken cross the road?
4. What screen legend was Sugar in a previous life and why do you think so?
5. Do you think there ALWAYS has to be that one person at work who makes things unpleasant for everyone else?
What is it about Nights In Aruba, that made you pick it over Dancer From The Dance? : )
Mind you, my memory may be sketchy, but as I recall, Nights in Aruba provides a view of a man’s life from boyhood to adulthood. I felt like Dancer from the Dance would be too similar in theme and POV to Picano’s book, so I picked a different Holleran book, since I wanted to teach both authors.
Also, I really would love to teach the novel Plays Well With Others but left it off this list because, again, it was so similar to Holleran and Picano. It was also hard not to include an Edmund White or a Michael Cunningham novel.
And if the course got into nonfiction, I’d be all over Mark Doty and Paul Monette.
I’m a total whore for this kind-of stuff… and Cherry Garcia. 😉
Lindsey’s Questions
1. All right; you’ve got it–your meeting with Hugh Hefner. You get eight hours; what are you two going to do?
2. What’s your ideal location–anywhere in the world–to spend a month doing nothing but painting?
3. Have you ever experienced a miracle you can share with us?
4. What’s the silliest joke you’ve ever heard that still makes you laugh whenever you hear it?
5. What are the best qualities you hope you’ve gotten from each of your parents?
Late, but not fashionable! Me?
Oh, and I’m only allowed to eat Vanilla from one particular ice cream company, as they don’t use peanuts.
‘Nathan’s Questions
1. An invisible dragon named Bartholomew is one of your best friends. Who do you trust enough to tell about him?
2. Yes, you’ve been stranded on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and you can have one book with you. The twist is, whenever you read it, the author appears to keep you company. What’s the book, who’s the author, and why?
3. What superpower would satisfy you most in your job and would using it make you good or wicked?
4. What person in your life has shown you the greatest kindness and can you share how?
5. What’s the first “grown-up” book you remember reading that impacted who you are as a person?
Re: ‘Nathan’s Questions
Answered. Tricksy posers!
I only get to pick one favorite? Then that would have to be Velvet Freeze’s Swiss Chocolate. It was creamy vanilla ice cream overloaded with tiny coffee ground sized pieces of dark chocolate. Yum-likkety-yum
Rob’s Questions
1. Oskar Le Chat has just been cast as the lead in another remake of “That Darn Cat.” What will he demand in his dressing room trailer?
2. You’re good at pointing out the sights in your city. What other city do you know well enough to recommend three must-see spots?
3. St. Martin’s Press has just offered you a big advance to write your autobiography, and the editor wants the titles of your first five chapters. What are they?
4. What major lesson did the biggest influence on your life teach you?
5. A wizard with a grudge has shown up at your door and is going to eliminate either your books or your music. Which do you choose to keep?
Re: Rob’s Questions
(Anonymous is me, Rob, I just forgot to sign in.)
Re: Rob’s Questions
The questions have been answered and posted on my blog.
sorry if i’m too late.
my favorite at the moment is ben and jerry’s americone dream.
i got overwhelmed and couldn’t respond for a few days..
Late, perhaps. But FASHIONABLY late, because you have style.
1. Speaking of style, Prince just pulled up in a little red Corvette. What local spots will help you show him a good time?
2. You’re sitting on the couch, almost asleep as you watch an episode of Beavis and Butt-Head when all of a sudden–BAM!–you’re on THEIR couch! What video will you mock together and can you give me a sample of your comments?
3. What’s the best concert you ever saw?
4. Uh-oh. Your dog can talk. What secret don’t you want him telling? HA! I know you can’t answer that question. Just tell me what you’ll bribe him with to keep him from spilling your secrets.
5. You’re on a road trip with Jandy. What song might she play on the car stereo that will make you threaten to stop the car and put her out?
Mendocino and massages…..calgon take me with you! Sounds heavenly!
Bless your heart. I’m assuming you’re not here asking for questions because you’re WAY TOO BUSY for such right now. I’ll send good, relaxing vibes your way. =)