While we’re talking about young people, here’s another MySpace survey that was kinda fun.
How long have you lived in your current home?
Not quite six years. 24 more years and it’s paid for!
Look above your computer screen, what do you see?
On the left monitor are The Buddha of the Laptop (I’m sure it’s from Archie McPhee, but apparently they don’t sell it any more) and Randall Boggs from Monsters, Inc.
Your profile picture, where was it taken?
At Jerry’s Bait Shop in Lenexa, by my friend Shenon.
What are your birthday plans?
I plan on having a birthday. Other than that, nothing. Four times out of seven my birthday occurs on the Labor Day weekend. But this year it’s a Wednesday. Which is good—I’m not crazy about playing gigs on my birthday.
What is your favorite workout?
Yoga. Sadly neglected the last few months.
Have you ever planted a tree?
Wow, I had forgotten. When we were growing up, each of us four kids had our “own” tree in the back yard. Mine was an apricot.
When it comes to politics, do you do your own research?
If you mean, do I read a lot about politics, certainly. Outrage has sort of become my hobby over the last few years, as anyone who reads this blog probably already knows.
Do you still inhale helium from balloons?
I’m not around balloons much. Not since I ran away from the circus.
Do you always use your blinkers?
Religiously. It’s communicating your intentions, you know?
When was the last time you played in the rain?
This phrase has a different meaning to musicians playing gigs outside. The last time I was rained out was a pool party a couple years ago. We had just started playing the third song of the evening when—bam! a thunderstorm came out of nowhere. Winds gusting to 60 miles an hour as we held up tarps, trying to protect the equipment as best we could. One of the guitarists’ pedal boards was in four inches of water, and that was the end of that. Fortunately drums are relatively impervious to water.
Do you enjoy taking pictures?
Very much, though I haven’t been doing it as much as I used to.
Do you save cards that are given to you?
Sometimes, if they are from someone special, or particularly funny.
How is your memory when it comes to people you have previously met?
Terrible. I meet a lot of people at gigs, and my mind is on music rather than socializing.
If you can cook, what is you favorite dish to make?
I do like to cook, but since I’ve been living alone I mostly eat just to not be hungry. Bad plan. Anyway, for Thanksgiving I usually make Garlic & Rosemary Turkey. It’s really good!
What is your favorite holiday movie?
I suppose The Nightmare Before Christmas. I’m not really into holiday movies per se.
What is your favorite picture that you own?
I don’t really have a favorite. On the fireplace mantel are two photos of my mom and stepdad (both deceased now). And a giant print of one of my grandfathers and his brother as very small children, which had to have been taken in the 1890s.
What makes up your heritage?
Czech (Bohemian), English, French, Irish.
What color is your couch?
Kind of a maroon leather. With many cat scratches. Every time I see the scratchs I think: Damn. $1300 for a scratching post.
What kind of sleeper are you? Stomach? Side? Back?
Well, I go to sleep and wake up on my side. Who knows what happens in between?
What’s your poison?
Most often vodka. Straight out of the freezer, sometimes with ice. But I’ve been told I make a mean martini, and in the summer I like to make gin & tonic.
How many cameras do you own?
If you count my phone, two. The Canon is six years old, beat up from bouncing around in a briefcase to gigs and meetings, and only 2 megapixels. I really want to get a new one, but it’s pretty far down the list of priorities.
Do you look at the keyboard when you type?
No, almost never. Only when I’m using two fingers to carefully type a password.
Do you change yourself when starting a new relationship or do you stay as yourself?
It’s a really bad idea to try to be someone else when you start a relationship. That said, every relationship changes you.
How many serious relationships have you had?
Two. I was with Sharon for eight years and Elise over 10.
Did you graduate from high school?
Uh huh. And college, and grad school.
What should you be doing right now?
Cleaning up cat litter, taking a shower, calling my brother, emailing my sister, going over the Hidden Pictures songs for the gig tonight, trying to finish some website designs—but fuck it. I want to waste some time for a little bit.
Look down and to the right, what do you see?
My beat-up slippers. I’m barefoot now, but it was cool this morning.
Are your parents still together?
My father passed away while I was in college. My mom and stepfather were together up until he passed away in 2005, and she followed him three months later.
Ever had the chicken pox?
Twice, actually. The first time was mild; when I caught it again I was very, very sick and missed about a month of school. I remember a stack of books by the couch where I laid during the day—I read and read. Of course, I did that when I wasn’t sick, too.
How many MySpace friends do you have?
90 at the moment. I haven’t been very aggressive about networking with other musicians and bands. I should do more.
Do vegetarians eat animal crackers?
That’s so funny I forgot to laugh!
What is the single most important thing in your life?
Music, I suppose.
What are you doing tomorrow?
First, cleaning and a half hour on the treadmill; then, checking in with a client on his email problem; calling another client about a Flash problem and what he wants to do about some new stuff on his website; trying a different graphic compression scheme for a Flash project for another client; emailing a local audio engineer about a question he had; trying to finish designs for another website project; checking in with another client about her website design to see if we’re ready to start building; picking up saline syringes for one of my cats; and then going to dinner at Ponak’s with my friend Reek. whom I have not seen for nearly two months because we’re both so busy. Incidentally, I’ll be very surprised if I get half that stuff done. I’m way behind, as usual.