more inane questions

What is the last thing that you do before bed?
Read. I'm loving every word of Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential right now. I read my first David Sedaris book last week, and ohmygod, what took me so long? I'm having good reading luck right now.

What is the last stupid thing that you did?
This afternoon I went to a greenhouse even though it was 96 degrees outside. I was almost vaporized, but I left with my gardenias in the nick of time.

Do you think that money can buy happiness?
This is one of those questions that there's really only one answer to, kind of like, "Do you think racism is bad?" So, no, money doesn't buy happiness. Money buys you things and can make life easier, but it can't make you happy. However, if you're already pretty happy, I bet money could only make you happier, so please send me checks.

Do you believe in soul mates?
I do think that there's a limited amount of people that you could be compatible, happy, and fulfilled with for the next fifty years or so, but I don't think there's only one. But if there is, mine is probably in Egypt or something and I'm screwed.

What extracurricular activities did you do in college?
I had a column in the campus paper, which was basically a blog before blogs were invented. Sometimes they had me write movie reviews, too. I think that was it. I was lazy. It was great.

What extracurricular activities did you do in high school?
I wrote opinion and movie review kinda stuff for the school paper back then, too. I had a radio show on the school station on Thursday nights that was the source of many good times. I edited the lit journal.

What extracurricular activities did you do in junior high?
I played basketball and Nintendo.

What extracurricular activities did you do in elementary school?
Are there extracurricular activities in elementary school? Actually, I started a school paper in the fifth grade, and then I won a little award for it. Hmm, maybe I should've looked at my pattern over the years and decided to get a job working for, oh I don't know, a newspaper?

What are some things that are strange about you?
I eat Ice Breakers mints constantly. I prefer to sit on the floor rather than the couch. I don't type the way you're supposed to; I use the hunt and peck method but I'm ridiculously fast. Seriously, it's like my superhero talent. Who needs to be a brilliant neurosurgeon or a world leader when you can be a really fast typer?

What are your pet peeves?
I don't like when people take calls on their cell phones when they're out with you and then proceed to have a lengthy conversation with the person. "Hi, how are you? I'm at dinner with Red. Can I call you back?" is fine. "Hi, how are you? What's your position on border security?" is not.

What do you like to watch on TV?
The Office, No Reservations, $40 a Day, Sox games, Friends reruns, but not so much the first season episodes because they weren't all that funny.

What do you like on your pizza?
Quattro formaggi, grazie.

What magazines do you like to read?
In Style, Psychology Today, and, well, the Oprah magazine, I admit it. Sometimes Vanity Fair and Time. I had a subscription to Us Weekly for two years and my life is much better without it; now if only VH1 wasn't the television equivalent.

What is in your shower right now?
Silly rabbit. Did you forget who you're asking? Okay, two different kinds of shampoo and conditioner... Philosophy Shear Splendor and Nexxus Therappe. Aveda Carribean Therapy body scrub. Philosophy Senorita Margarita salt scrub. Softsoap Pure Cashmere body wash. Clinique sparkle skin body exfoliator. Biotherm Aquathermale moisturizing body wash. My shower is a very happy place.

What word would you use to describe yourself?
Mischievous.

Do you have a webcam?
Not really; my dad gave me an iSight awhile back because he likes techy toys, but I don't have it hooked up. I actually live in fear that pretty soon everyone will be using web cams and video phones to communicate, and then I'll have to make sure I'm presentable before answering the phone.

If you could be anyone else in the world for a week, who would you be and what would you do?
I'd be Karen Varitek, and I'd send the kids to stay with their grandparents for the week.