Ah, Winter. It seems like the late October early November weather is finally here. It is a bit late, but here for the moment. I hope that it sticks around for a bit, because well, my sinuses hate the autumnal weather, and it has been autumnal weather since August of 06 (sounds more impressive that way, doesn’t it?) Ergo, today’s topic being “winter.” Just as an FYI, it looks like next week’s topic will be “winter” as well. Anyway, thanks this week go to Bomber, Lsig, Belsum, ZingerZapper, and JA Coppinger.
On to the questions:
1. Have you ever stuck your tongue to frozen metal, a la "A Christmas Story?" I know you grew up in 'Bama, so maybe this isn't relevant. I did it once - on the monkey bars at recess - painful!!!
Nope, I have never stuck my tongue to a metal object. I have, however, touched wet fingers to frozen door handle. I lost a little bit of skin that way.
2. So many of my questions are related to food, but what food do you crave, that comforts you when it's cold outside?
There are a couple of cold weather foods that I love during the wintertime. Cinnamon Rolls are near the top of the list. I love me some cinnamon rolls. That is where my mind wanders for sweet cravings, but for savory, a winter only treat are the meatballs found in this book (pg 72).
3. Do you suffer from seasonal affective disorder here in grey Ohio? If so, fret not, there's help: http://www.sada.org.uk/
Nope, I do just fine during the grey winters here in Ohio. I come from a stock of people who are quite used to grey autumns, followed by grey winters, followed by grey springs, that transition into gray summers.
4. Let's say you won an all-expense paid wintertime trip to somewhere fabulous - where would you and Wifey go to beat the winter blues?
I am not sure where we would end up going to “get away” from winter. We are not really beach people, So I would have to say… Australia. Start in Sydney or Melbourne and see where whimsy takes us.
5. Do you like the Tori Amos song titled “Winter?”
I do like the song. Tori Amos has an amazing ability to sing a melody that is incongruous with the music she is playing on the piano. That and the lyrics of the song are beautiful. Using the lyrical hook or “When ya gonna make up your mind” is brilliant.
6. "Winter"? Have we reached the bottom of the 20 questions barrel or something?
Yes, I am scraping the barrel. If anyone out there has any ideas for 20 questions topics, please let me know. I am dying here. Another thing that influenced this topic of winter is that I did not think of asking people for questions until after lunch on Monday.
7. Is there something "wintery" from your childhood that Little Man will miss out on because of living in a different state/climate?
Aside from abject fear of snow and all things snowy, nope. Alabama is not really known for its wintry composition.
8. Ohio is pretty dismal in the winter. Anything good to say about it?
Not this year. I have been stuck in my autumnal sinus hell for far too long to complain about winter. I need it to be cold and dry for my aching head.
9. Which is worse, extreme cold or lots of snow?
Actually the combo of the 2. If I had to choose between the two, I would choose extreme cold over lots of snow. Lot’s of snow has a higher potential for loss of power due to downed lines. Extreme cold is just plain annoying.
10. Snowflake sweaters and other winter “themed” clothing is surely a sign of the devil, right?
The devil or a second grade teacher.
11. What’s your favorite line from the Empire scenes set on Hoth?
Not much interesting is said on Hoth, but here it goes:
Mr. Freeze baby! He is cold and detached. Definitely the comic version as well. Movie Freeze sucked.
13. What’s your drink of choice after a day of sledding?
Land-o-Lakes Hot White Chocolate. Wow, is this stuff good.
14. Hockey is clearly superior to football, basketball, and baseball; why does it not have the same following?
Unlike football and baseball, hockey is a very fluid and evolving game. Americans don’t tend to like fluid games. They like build up, action, then reaction. Basketball, which is a fluid game, is tolerated because it is relatively high scoring.
15. Why is it that snow makes “normal and sensible” people into complete morons when driving?
One is assuming that prior to snow people were not moronic. There is the fallacy in your logic.
16. Do you prefer the beginning of winter (late Fall weather) or the end (beginning of Spring)?
Of the two, I prefer the end of winter, because it is not the Fall.
17. Skis or a snowboard?
Never done either, so I do not have a preference.
18. Do you shovel or snowblow? Does Wifey help?
I am a shoveler. We do not get enough snow, nor have a big enough walk to use a snowblower. I am the sole shoveler of the household, pretty much for anything that needs shoveled, snow or otherwise.
19. Favorite drink after clearing the walk?
Oddly enough the very same Land-O-Lakes White Chocolate. Mmmmm….. I wish I could find a link for it.
20. What was the biggest snow-fort you ever built?
As I have stated before, I grew up in Alabama. We never got enough snow to make a “snow-fort” although I heard fanciful tales of their construction.
To recap:
Maybe my sinuses will calm down for a bit
I might replace Australia with New Zealand in Question 4
Problem is: we would want to stay
I am sore today from last night’s workout
I ache a whole bunch
Not sure what is for dinner tonight
Wifey needs to get rid of her gall-bladder
And fast!
Little Man has learned some passive resistance techniques from somewhere
I am more whiney than resistant
Wifey and her friends are the non-violent people that I know
So, I put the blame squarely on them
On to the questions:
1. Have you ever stuck your tongue to frozen metal, a la "A Christmas Story?" I know you grew up in 'Bama, so maybe this isn't relevant. I did it once - on the monkey bars at recess - painful!!!
Nope, I have never stuck my tongue to a metal object. I have, however, touched wet fingers to frozen door handle. I lost a little bit of skin that way.
2. So many of my questions are related to food, but what food do you crave, that comforts you when it's cold outside?
There are a couple of cold weather foods that I love during the wintertime. Cinnamon Rolls are near the top of the list. I love me some cinnamon rolls. That is where my mind wanders for sweet cravings, but for savory, a winter only treat are the meatballs found in this book (pg 72).
3. Do you suffer from seasonal affective disorder here in grey Ohio? If so, fret not, there's help: http://www.sada.org.uk/
Nope, I do just fine during the grey winters here in Ohio. I come from a stock of people who are quite used to grey autumns, followed by grey winters, followed by grey springs, that transition into gray summers.
4. Let's say you won an all-expense paid wintertime trip to somewhere fabulous - where would you and Wifey go to beat the winter blues?
I am not sure where we would end up going to “get away” from winter. We are not really beach people, So I would have to say… Australia. Start in Sydney or Melbourne and see where whimsy takes us.
5. Do you like the Tori Amos song titled “Winter?”
I do like the song. Tori Amos has an amazing ability to sing a melody that is incongruous with the music she is playing on the piano. That and the lyrics of the song are beautiful. Using the lyrical hook or “When ya gonna make up your mind” is brilliant.
6. "Winter"? Have we reached the bottom of the 20 questions barrel or something?
Yes, I am scraping the barrel. If anyone out there has any ideas for 20 questions topics, please let me know. I am dying here. Another thing that influenced this topic of winter is that I did not think of asking people for questions until after lunch on Monday.
7. Is there something "wintery" from your childhood that Little Man will miss out on because of living in a different state/climate?
Aside from abject fear of snow and all things snowy, nope. Alabama is not really known for its wintry composition.
8. Ohio is pretty dismal in the winter. Anything good to say about it?
Not this year. I have been stuck in my autumnal sinus hell for far too long to complain about winter. I need it to be cold and dry for my aching head.
9. Which is worse, extreme cold or lots of snow?
Actually the combo of the 2. If I had to choose between the two, I would choose extreme cold over lots of snow. Lot’s of snow has a higher potential for loss of power due to downed lines. Extreme cold is just plain annoying.
10. Snowflake sweaters and other winter “themed” clothing is surely a sign of the devil, right?
The devil or a second grade teacher.
11. What’s your favorite line from the Empire scenes set on Hoth?
Not much interesting is said on Hoth, but here it goes:
Deck Officer: Your Tauntaun'll freeze before you reach the first
marker.
Han Solo: Then I'll see you in hell!
But my favorite Imperial exchange in the movie is:
12. Mr. Freeze (Batman) vs. Iceman (X-Men)? Movie versions or comic versions?Admiral Ozzel: Lord Vader, the fleet has moved out of light-speed,
and we're preparing to... Aaagh!
Vader: You have failed me for the last time, Admiral. Captain Piett.Capt.Piett steps forward, as the admiral moves away, slightly confused,
touching his throat as it begins to constrict painfully.
Capt. Piett: Yes, my lord.
Vader: Make ready to land out troops beyond the energy shield and deploy the fleet so that nothing gets off that system. You are in command now, Admiral Piett.
Admiral Ozzel falls to the deck dead.
Admiral Piett: Thank you, Lord Vader.
Mr. Freeze baby! He is cold and detached. Definitely the comic version as well. Movie Freeze sucked.
13. What’s your drink of choice after a day of sledding?
Land-o-Lakes Hot White Chocolate. Wow, is this stuff good.
14. Hockey is clearly superior to football, basketball, and baseball; why does it not have the same following?
Unlike football and baseball, hockey is a very fluid and evolving game. Americans don’t tend to like fluid games. They like build up, action, then reaction. Basketball, which is a fluid game, is tolerated because it is relatively high scoring.
15. Why is it that snow makes “normal and sensible” people into complete morons when driving?
One is assuming that prior to snow people were not moronic. There is the fallacy in your logic.
16. Do you prefer the beginning of winter (late Fall weather) or the end (beginning of Spring)?
Of the two, I prefer the end of winter, because it is not the Fall.
17. Skis or a snowboard?
Never done either, so I do not have a preference.
18. Do you shovel or snowblow? Does Wifey help?
I am a shoveler. We do not get enough snow, nor have a big enough walk to use a snowblower. I am the sole shoveler of the household, pretty much for anything that needs shoveled, snow or otherwise.
19. Favorite drink after clearing the walk?
Oddly enough the very same Land-O-Lakes White Chocolate. Mmmmm….. I wish I could find a link for it.
20. What was the biggest snow-fort you ever built?
As I have stated before, I grew up in Alabama. We never got enough snow to make a “snow-fort” although I heard fanciful tales of their construction.
To recap:
Maybe my sinuses will calm down for a bit
I might replace Australia with New Zealand in Question 4
Problem is: we would want to stay
I am sore today from last night’s workout
I ache a whole bunch
Not sure what is for dinner tonight
Wifey needs to get rid of her gall-bladder
And fast!
Little Man has learned some passive resistance techniques from somewhere
I am more whiney than resistant
Wifey and her friends are the non-violent people that I know
So, I put the blame squarely on them