An Interview

Rules: Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me." I will respond by asking you five questions of a very intimate and creepily personal nature. Or not so creepy/personal. You will update your 'blog with the answers to the questions. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the post. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions. Also, if you have five questions for me put them here and I'll get to them.


1) You've traveled all over the world. Of the places you've been, where is your favorite? Why?

I know it's a cliche, but I really, really liked Venice. There is just something magical about a city built on water. I also liked Avignon, in France, and Canterbury, in England.

2) How has your life changed since your surgery two years ago? What is easier? Harder? Would you do it again?

In a heartbeat. I haven't had any back pain--in fact, it is hard for me to even remember that my back was usually so sore at the end of the day that I was unable to lie down in my bed! I also think the surgery has made it easier for me to get in shape. I have to wear two sports bras to run... but I'm running!

The only thing I regret is not having been more adament about them taking more off. I still have problems finding swimsuits that fit.

But overall, I'm happy. And I highly, highly, highly recommend the surgery!! ; )

3) Why do you blog? What do you get out of it?

I started this 'blog before I went to France so my family and friends could keep up with my adventures. I've kept it up because I really like being connected. I'm not a big phone person and it can sometimes take me awhile to answer e-mails. But if I can read someone's 'blog, I can keep up with his or her life.

4) What's your favorite book? What about it touches you?

Oh shit, I always hate this question. I was a Lit. major, so I always feel pressured to write something intelligent and profound. Of course, I usually just sound like a complete blithering idiot.

At different points in my life, different books have affected me. WHen I was in third grade, I read _The Ordinary Princess_ and it really, really, really got me reading (not like I wasn't reading before, but it is one of the first books I remember reading). I remember _Bridge to Terebithia_ when I was in fifth grade. I remember Ray Bradbury in Middle School. In High School it was Steinbeck and Hesse. When I was in the Army it was Kafka, Heller, and Vonnegut (Yeah, I know--a little obvious. But I wasn't exactly dealing with much subtility then anyway). As an undergrad it was Faulkner and Morrison. Each author, at each point in my life, has answered a need that I have had. I can't really pin-point one author as having had the most influence on me, and I certainly can't name one book.

So, that's my cop-out answer. Sorry.

5) Tell me something silly one of your students did this semester. :-)

Hmmm... my students at SU haven't given me as many interesting stories as my UMBC students did. I'm working with Korean twins and they swap paper ideas. I can' tell them apart, but if one starts talking about a paper topic that I spoke to her sister about the day before, well, it gets a little weird.

I had a student from Sudan who wanted me to explain sexual harrassment. He had issues with it because he figured women acted too freely here anyway.

I mentioned to one Asian female student that I was on a diet. She looked at me and said, "Oh, but you're not fat. You're just a little, you know, overweight."

Last semester, I had one student bring in a Biology paper. In it, she talked about homogonizing a chicken. I asked her how she did this, and she said, "Oh, I put it in a blender."

So, yeah, it keeps me entertained.