Happy Birthday!
http://clarkesrestaurant.net/content...ain%20cake.jpg
An interview with Calidore:
*Why are we doing this interview thing?*
I don't think I've ever been interviewed before. Gives me a chance to try to make myself sound interesting, a.k.a. practicing my fiction writing.
*So, how old are you?*
I decided to follow Jack Benny's lead and stay 39. This will be my...*counts up from 38 on fingers*...ninth 39th birthday. Crap, two more years and I'm going to have to start using my toes.
*What is the best birthday present you've ever received?*
I really don't know; they're always pretty good these days. My mom will give me Amazon and B & N gift cards, which lets me choose my own goodies. My dad will mail random cool books and DVDs that he likes and also call (he's in California), and we'll chat for a couple hours at least. If I get together with my friends around that time (another has a birthday in this general area), we may do cake or something. Nothing extravagant, in other words, but perfect for me, and I wouldn't change anything.
*If you had a personal theme song what would it be?*
Can't think of anything offhand that fits.
*Are you male or female? *
Male.
*Would you like to join Maximilianus' Air Force?*
I don't like flying but will be happy to help out from the ground.
*If you owned the site, what would you change?*
I'd cut the more intrusive time limits in half--at least the one-minute-between-searches one, just because it's annoying having to wait that long after a typo. Also, just for fun and if the software allows it, I'd ask some of our artistically inclined members to design some color schemes. And you can't have too many smilies.
*Do you think there should be more discussion about literature of other languages on this site?*
Not sure "should" applies. People can talk about whatever literature they want; somebody just has to bring it up, and others have to continue it.
*What was the inspiration for your LitNet username?*
Calidore was the Knight of Courtesy in Spenser's Faerie Queene. I adopted it as an online nic years ago as a way to try to counter my natural tendency to snark. It's worked, too, as I hardly ever have to ask myself anymore, "Would Calidore write that?"
*Which countries did you visit?*
The first time my sister and I visited my dad in California, we went to Tijuana, Mexico just to see it. That's about it. I'd like to go to London someday to see things and maybe research some family.
*Which languages do you speak?*
Just English. I've though at times that Spanish, Japanese, French, and Polish might be good to learn, but never gotten to it.
*If you could live somewhere different, where would it be and why?*
I love living in Chicago for the people and innumerable things to do and eat. I'd like to live somewhere exactly like here, but with fewer unnecessary expenses and where the people have better judgment about who they elect (and especially reelect).
*Do you have any pets?*
No, my family had two dogs when I was younger, plus I recently cared for a friend's until it died. I love other people's pets, but have no urge to have another myself.
*What makes you happy?*
Being with friends, eating out (unfortunately), reading or watching something new and terrific. Simple pleasures.
*What's your favourite song for singing in the shower?*
Never sing, sorry.
*How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?*
Hopefully enough.
*Which actor should play you in a movie based on your life?*
A long time ago, an old woman on the bus mistook me for Timothy Hutton, so him.
*What's your signature dance move?*
The Hide to the Side.
*Given the option, what animal would you choose to be?*
A tortoise. They can live well over 150 years and never have to be in a hurry to do anything.
*What makes you feel great about yourself?*
That's the eternal quest. Probably the biggest victory I've ever had over anything was in overcoming my neighbor's youngest son's total disinterest in reading and extreme stubbornness in never changing his mind about anything (but only concerning reading).
*How did you meet your significant other?*
I'll have to let you know.
*What was the best day of your life?*
Still to come, I hope.
*Has it all worked out so far?*
Can't say so, but there's still plenty of time.
*What are you naturally good at? (Skills, abilities, gifts etc.)*
In school, math and English, in that order. In work and life, the ability to find solutions to problems and easier ways to do things, and diplomacy.
*What is the one thing you must do before you die?*
Find a way to accept death with dignity rather than terror.
What’s the geekiest thing about you?
Yikes, what isn't?
*What would you regret not fully doing, being or having in your life?*
I wish I had more charisma and more money.
*If you were to be stuck at a particular time in your life, which one would you choose and why?*
Looking back at various periods, I can see both good things I wouldn't mind reliving and frustrations and failures that I wouldn't want to. I'll hope instead that the future holds something I can be less ambivalent about.
*What one thing would you NEED to have on a deserted island if you didn't have to worry over food and water? *
Computer with internet would enable everything else I'd need.
*If you were a king/queen for a day, what would you do?*
Try to find a positive, lasting change that I could sneak into being without it getting reversed the next day. Maybe just try to write the best The Way Things Should Be speech ever.
*What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?*
Ice cream is my major vice, so no way can I choose just one, or even a top five. It just has to be one of the better brands, not the cheap gooey stuff. Someone in a recent interview mentioned butterscotch ice cream, which I've never seen but would snap up in a second if I could find it.
*What song is in your head at the moment?*
Because I've just seen it, the awesome Russian soldiers' marching song from the 1966 War and Peace film (about an hour in). Does anyone know what that's called and where I could find a recording?
*Which book are you reading at the moment?*
I've just finished The Wind's Twelve Quarters, a collection of Ursula LeGuin's short stories, and am now starting Shadow of the Lariat, an anthology of old pulp Western stories. I'm sticking to short stories for the time being so that when I'm done with the War and Peace films I can go right to the novel.
*What is your favourite quote?*
I hate trying to pick favorites; so many people have said so many good things.
*What’s your favorite word?*
"Hi!"
Which comedians or cabaret artists do you like?
Bill Cosby for his matchless ability to kill an audience with G-rated storytelling; Richard Pryor for his depth and ability to make R-rated material mean something, and Steven Wright for his ability to look at things sideways and say a lot with a little.
*Favorite avatar on the Forum?*
Again, so many good ones, and they change to other good ones.
*Favorite threads?*
Several of the game threads and the Comedy/Satire/Pun Poetry contest (thanks, Pendragon!), which doesn't get nearly enough attention.
What's your favorite sandwich?
I love sandwiches. I've never outgrown peanut butter & jelly, but a good, tall roast beef with lots of veggies and a manly mustard is also good.
*What is your answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything?*?
Eat the strawberry.
*How could English teachers make reading literature more meaningful to students (young or old)*?
Pick books they'd want to read! Encourage and guide, like the shepherd with his staff.
*What are you wearing at the moment?*
Jeans, t-shirt, and a button-down outer shirt since it's a bit chilly. Lounging-at-home comfort clothes.
*Favorite poem?*
Never had much of a head for poetry. Too much trying to paint pictures with overly elaborate and heavy-handed verbosity, not enough of actual substance that I'd want to read. I have seen some stuff I like that focuses on ideas and is simply told, like in the haiku and cinquain threads here, but in general, prose feels much more natural to me.
*First novel you remember reading on your own?*
Way too far back; I have no idea.
*What era do you find most of the books you read are from?*
Relatively modern.
*Favorite TV shows?*
What comes to mind immediately: The Cosby Show, X-Files, the first season of 24, Monty Python's Flying Circus, the anime series Serial Experiments Lain and Clannad. I'm sure I'll think of more once I've submitted this.
*Which Forum members would you like to meet in person?*
I'd be happy to at least meet and handshake pretty much anyone.
*Are you a winter or summer?*
Autumn.
*Last words you said out loud?*
Chewing out the kid for ignoring my calls to his cell phone while he was out.
*Last person you hugged/kissed?*
THat would be my best friend (female) the other day when she left to go back home downstate after a brief visit.
*What do you do to be able to keep your LitNet addiction going? And are you happy with your chosen profession?*
Right now I'm house and child-minding for a friend who can't, and cable internet is included. :) My chosen profession, office administrative support, more chose me; it's what I fell into when I started working. Sometimes it's great, like my several years at a foster care agency, sometimes it's same old.
*What would you like to be if you could change your profession?*
Math teacher and/or co-writer of math textbooks. Programmer, maybe.
*Which one of the seven dwarves are you and why?*
The eighth one nobody notices.
*What is your most outstanding feature?*
Physical feature? Probably my size (6'3", 245 pounds (though hopefully less soon)). Personality feature, probably amiability and the abilty to listen. I can get along with most anyone, and people who need help with something or just an ear gravitate to me.
*If you could change one thing about the way you look, what would that be?*
Something to make me more memorable, in an attractive way.
*Which book do you wish you had written?*
The Bible. It would be more consistent, and I'd be unbelievably stinking rich.
*What book would you recommend to others of all types and ages as a must read?*
One book? Impossible. Everyone needs variety. I guess for starters, I'd say the Bible again. Regardless of whether you believe in that God, it has lots of good writing and philosophies, and reading it with a neutral eye can help with critical thinking and analytical skills.
*What should you be doing at the moment instead of answering these questions?*
The Super Bowl's on now, so I wouldn't be doing anything else anyway.
*Favorite movie?*
Can't pick just one, five, or ten.
*Last movie you watched?
The 1956 War and Peace. Yawn. The 1966 Russian version is looking much better so far.
[*How are you going to pick just one favourite painting?*
Visual art tends to leave me cold. Maybe I'm not right-brain enough. Last time my father was in town, we went to the Art Institute; likely my first trip there as an adult. I thought I'd like it better with my new aged perspective, but I was still bored silly. Except for one thing: The Japanese screens. Some of those were astonishing in their ability to show a lot with a few lines and some shading. That's the one kind of art I'd do if I had to choose one.
*Favorite painting?*
Not enough exposure or interest to have one.
*Are you gellin'?*
? Does this mean "chillin'"? If so, yes.
*Wonderful Superman or depressing Batman?*
I'd rather be Superman, but I'd rather read about Batman.
*Something you want to forget but you never can?*
Lots of things.
*What is the wisest thing that has been said to you?*
Probably something along the lines of "Be good."
*What is the funniest thing that happened to you lately?*
That would probably be my recent first-ever yoga session with my new DVD. My normal breakfast is cereal, in this case raisin bran. Well, I had a largeish bowl for the extra energy, but there can be side effects to that, and it turns out some of the yoga poses aren't exactly conducive to holding anything in. I think I triggered a car alarm outside. Thank God I was alone in the house, and that the fireplace was unlit.
Of course, what other people usually think is the funniest thing that's happened to me would be my spectacular wipeout on the ice at a nearby train station some years ago, but that wasn't the question.
If you could relive one moment in your life whenever you wanted to, what would it be?
Probably opening Christmas presents as a child. Pure, unbridled joy is hard to find as an adult, but it's easy for a kid.
What is the best thing that happened to you since your last birthday?
My best friend's visits. I have a good circle of friends, but I can be relaxed and unselfconscious with her like no one else.
*If you could send one thing to the Room 101, one would that be?*
Their worst fear or phobia? I haven't read 1984 so I don't know how it works exactly, but there are many people who could use an unfettered look at themselves as they truly are and would probably fear that more than anything.
Tell us something scandalous about yourself.
I wish.
*How long did it take you to answer all of these questions?*
A few hours, plus next-day rereading and editing.
*One final word of wisdom for LitNet users?*
Always keep an open mind and a sense of humor and perspective.
*What question would you like to ask to the person to be interview after you?
If you could trade one quality that you have for one that you lack, what would they be?
