I'm doing this because the silver-haired fox at Exile in Portales asked me to, even after I hollered quite rudely at one of his commenters, and, well, I can't resist such gracious tolerance of my big virtual mouth.
Besides, it's a New Mexican thing.
Nonetheless, a note to future would-be meme-taggers:
I have this page, sometimes called an "About" page, and it's got all kinds of boring facts about myself, and it was kind of a hassle to do once, so I'm not really dying to do it again. See, most of these memes that go 'round essentially invite the blogger to yak about him- or herself ad nauseum and, um, see the part where I said I already did that and don't want to do it again?
So be advised: Future meme-taggers will be pointed to the "About" page (or, if I am feeling lazy, ignored entirely). I do this as a favor to all of you, because it turns out I'm just not that fascinating a person.
End lecture! On with this, my lastest meme:
Four Jobs You Have Had In Your Life
1. "Would you like fries with that?"
2. Patient registration clerk at the Division of Tuberculosis Control of Maricopa County.
3. Administrative assistant at the HIV/AIDS outpatient clinic of [above].
4. Software developer, but this was mostly pretty boring. The McDonald's job was more interesting, if you can believe it.
Four Movies You Would Watch Over and Over
1. Urban Cowboy.
2. Victor/Victoria.
3. Office Space.
4. Trading Places.
Four Places You Have Lived
1. New Jersey.
2. Northern California.
3. Southern California.
4. Arizona.
Four TV Shows You Love to Watch
1. I hate television.
2. Well, except for Food Network.
3. I like Sara Moulton and Rachel Ray, particularly. You Rachel Ray haters, just talk to the hand already.
4. Oh, and almost any program on HGTV is good.
Four Places You Have Been on Vacation
1. Seattle, Washington--this was awesome. I'd go back in a minute.
2. New York.
3. Utah (failed that one).
4. Hot Springs, Arkansas--and this was better than you might think, honestly. I had to change all my Arkansan jokes to Oklahoman ones after that trip.
Four Websites You Visit Daily
1. Here Be Hippogriffs.
2. Everyday Stranger.
3. A Crafty Madness.
4. Insert your web site here! Because otherwise I am just going to get the hurt-feelinged comments from you and, people, I really despise the hurt-feelinged comments. Remember what Gene Kelly said about how to comport oneself: "Dignity; always dignity." Now if only Gene himself had remembered that advice before appearing in this. Do as he said, not as he did.
Four Favorite Foods
1. Anything that can be scooped up with injera, i.e., Ethiopian.
2. Any meal at which baba ghanouj and hummus appear, i.e., Middle Eastern/Greek.
3. TA-MAH-LES that are not from Dallas.
4. A proper slice from a proper NYC pie.
Four Places You Would Rather Be Right Now
1. Hey, I like it here! It's why I moved? Like on purpose?
2. But I guess I wouldn't mind visiting London again.
3. New York is always awesome.
4. And some day I'd like to visit Eastern Europe.
I am not tagging anyone. I am afraid they will only point me to their "About" pages if I do.
Posted by Ilyka at February 4, 2006 12:59 PM in navel gazingI loved Hot Springs, too. Should have bought some of that aqua green quartz they sell on the side of the road every few hundred yards, though. Still regret not getting any of that. Not sure what I would have done with it but that's another matter.
Posted by: Rob at February 4, 2006 04:18 PMIf you come to London you have to see me, as I'm getting you drunk. Reaaaaally drunk.
Oh, and Hot Springs? I too went there many years ago thinking: "Hot Springs is a joke and I will be too ashamed to tell people that I went there and do I need vaccinations before leaving for it?"
And I LOVED it there. It was beautiful and the humble pie, she has been eaten.
Posted by: Helen at February 5, 2006 02:47 AMWe rolled into Hot Springs about 9:30 p.m. our first night.
Every, I mean every, restaurant was closing and/or already closed--even the Denny's, which, where I come from, is open 24 hours no matter what, hello! But no, the only thing open in Hot Springs was the damn Awful House. I mean Waffle House.
That makes the first, last, and only time I've eaten at one. It weren't pretty.
However, you could buy booze at, seemingly, any hour of the day or night--least, compared to Dallas' awful 9:00 p.m.-cutoff laws. And a few whiskeys later, I'd forgotten all about those stale Bisquick 'cakes at the Awful House.
Besides, everyone was so nice even when I was sober. We had only four days there, but they were a nice four days. Nature hikes, bath-house visits, even the silly science museum--oh, yeah, I'd definitely go back. It cost NOTHING and it was totally fun.
Posted by: ilyka at February 5, 2006 04:22 AMWaffle House = Patty Melt Yum! But that's the only thing I've ever eaten there. We don't have them in our neck of the woods.
What's a 'proper NYC pie'? I'm curious.
Posted by: Ith at February 5, 2006 01:00 PMPizza. As in:
Let's grab a pie
And let's hit the park
I'll kiss and I'll hug you
'Til it gets dark
Apologies to anyone who is a little grossed out at the thought of Lou Reed kissing and hugging them. Wait, that's gonna be everyone! Oh, hell.
Posted by: ilyka at February 5, 2006 02:02 PMGee, thanks, Ilyka, now everyone knows I didn't do my homework, re: your "about" page! {big ol' grin}
Thanks for indulging me, and your answers were every bit as entertaining as I imagined they would be! For the record, I will never, ever, tag you again. Promise.
Waffle Houses are most entertaining after 0200, or whenever the local bars close. One doesn't necessarily go there to eat; personally I've always enjoyed watching people who are more or less as drunk as I am. I've seen some great street theatre in Waffle Houses...
Posted by: Buck at February 5, 2006 03:30 PMOh! I was thinking apple, cherry, peach -- that sort of pie :) I never think of pizza as pie (though of course, I have heard it referred to that way) . Must be a regional thing?
Posted by: Ith at February 6, 2006 10:53 AMMust be a regional thing?
Can't say I've heard it anywhere else. If you say "Let's grab a pie" to somebody here, they're gonna head for Village Inn.
Posted by: ilyka at February 7, 2006 03:29 PMI Liked Gene K in Xanadu.
ANd the Sun-Circus of the club opening.
So it's a dirty secret pleasure...
9:00 cut-off in Dallas? Better just stock up.
(I may be getting an offer for a contract in Dallas - as a software developer - for 9-12 months)
Posted by: Craig R. at February 9, 2006 01:38 PM9:00 cut-off in Dallas? Better just stock up.
That's what you have to do. Of course, if I'm out shopping at one in the afternoon I am not necessarily thinking, "Oh yeah, and we need vodka." Not that it matters anyhow, because you can't buy anything stronger than beer or wine in the grocery stores. You gotta go to these nasty little state-sanctioned liquor stores that are inevitably in the worst possible parts of town.
I can't tell you what a trip it was to move here and realize that I could buy vodka IN THE GROCERY STORE, LIKE A NORMAL AMERICAN again. Dallas makes you feel like a criminal for wanting a little hootch and, of course, to the Baptists who live there, you ARE.
(I may be getting an offer for a contract in Dallas - as a software developer - for 9-12 months)
Oh, for all I knock it, I think you'll have a great time if you get that. Do you know what part of Dallas? North, downtown, suburbs . . . ?
There are certainly worse towns to spend 9-12 months in. The cost of living ain't bad and people, other than the frowny-faced Baptists at least, do like to have fun there.
Posted by: ilyka at February 9, 2006 03:49 PM