I got this email today, figured I’d post it because people like lists and love answering questions about themselves. I know this is true because when I worked in advertising, a company wanted users to fill out a survey. "But you need to give them an incentive to give you that information," I pleaded. I was wrong. Remarkably, people love to talk about themselves. Hence the birth of my blog.
Welcome to the new 2006 edition of getting to know your friends. What you are supposed to do is copy (not forward) this entire e-mail and paste it onto a new e-mail that you’ll send. Change all the answers so they apply to you, and then send this to a whole bunch of people including the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little things about your friends.
1. What time did you get up this morning?
When The Suitor did. I wanted to stay asleep, but when he left, he also left all the lights on. 7:43 a.m.
2. Diamonds or pearls?
Either, as long as they’re big and real.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
King Kong (and I couldn’t get over the resemblance of King Kong to Ted Danson. I’m totally serious.)
4. What is your favorite TV show?
Weeds
5. What did you have for breakfast?
Grande, skim, no whip, sugar-free hazelnut latte, four fat-free olestra-lovin’ Pringles, and string beans in homemade tomato sauce.
6. What is your middle name?
Tara
7. What is your favorite food?
Well done French fries, Sushi of Gari’s Spicy Tuna Roll, anything with melted or powdered cheese, except for a tuna melt.
8. What foods do you dislike?
Any type of protein item that comes from a can. Tuna fish is a big offender. Organs. I don’t like to eat organs, snouts, or feet. Sometimes feet are okay, but they cannot look like feet. Pickled meats. Anything having to do with aspic. Veal head. I won’t eat a jellied veal head, either.
9. Your favorite Potato chip?
Anything from a kettle that makes people turn when they hear how loud it crunches, even with your mouth closed. I don’t know how anyone could prefer Lay’s or Ruffles when there are Kettle chips in life. Pringles are a good time, though. See #5.
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment?
I have no idea. I do nothing beyond self-help these days.
11. What kind of car do you drive?
A Mercedes. It’s not mine.
14 Favorite drink?
Wine. Shiraz or Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand, Australia, or Africa.
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would it be?
Vietnam or Cape Town
16.What color is your bathroom?
Ugly
17. Favorite brand of clothing?
Nanette Lepore, True Religion, and Foley & Corrina
18.Where would you retire?
Somewhere with a view of the ocean. Perhaps abroad, but I want to be buried in America.
19 Favorite time of day?
When I first hear his voice when he walks through the door at the end of his day.
21. Favorite sport to watch?
Iron Chef. That’s as close as I get to watching sports. QVC doesn’t count. If I have to pick something real, I’d choose Tennis, but only if it’s live at the US OPEN. Otherwise, basketball.
22. Who do you least expect to send this back?
Lea
23. Person you expect to send it back first?
Jen H. if she’s online
24. What laundry detergent do you use?
Extra
25. Coke or Pepsi?
Fresca. It’s back, ya know. Otherwise, Coke.
26. Are you a morning person or night owl?
Night Prowl
27. What size shoe do you wear?
8.5
28. Do you have pets?
The Lineman
29. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share with your friends?
I’m thinking of moving to Austin, TX.
30. What (who) did you want to be when you were little?
Annie
31. Favorite Candy Bar?
Twix
33. What are the different jobs you have had in your life?
Chimney sweeper sales associate, worked at Kitchen Cabaret selling pies at a huge discount, banana republic sales associate, web designer, marketing manager in advertising, art director, photographer, writer
34. Favorite season?
Autumn
35. Nicknames you’ve had?
Moose
36. Piercings:
Three. I have two in my left ear, one in my right.
37. Eye color:
Brown
38. Ever been to Africa?
No
39. Ever been toilet papering?
No
40. Love someone so much it made you cry?
Ever loved anyone so much I didn’t cry. Much better question.
41. Been in a car accident?
No
42. What’s a question no one has ever asked you? (I added this since #42 was missing)
What have you learned about yourself through having a blog?
43. Favorite day of the week?
Thursday. Good night to go out.
44. Favorite restaurant?
I’ve got to think this over. It’s not a question I can just answer willy nilly.
45. Favorite flower?
Peonies
46. Favorite ice cream?
Baskin’ Robbins Rocky Road
47. Disney or Warner Brothers?
Disney
48. Favorite fast food restaurant?
Burger King. Great chicken sandwich and the best fries.
49. What color is your bedroom carpet?
It’s a beautiful French Aubusson area rug.
50. How many times did you fail your driver’s test?
Zero
51. Before this one, from whom did you get your last e-mail?
Mark Mocarski
52. Which store would you choose to Max out your Credit Card?
Bergdorf’s
53. What do you do most often when you are bored?
Eat, pick fights, pluck
54. Bedtime:
I don’t have one. Usually up until 1:00 a.m.
56. Last person you went to dinner with?
Smelly, Amy, Jen, and Dr. Kim at Pravda
57. Ford or Chevy?
Um, Ford?
58. What are you listening to right now?
The Suitor eating Jax cheese balls (incidentally, not nearly as good as old-school Jax. A good doodle needs to be soft for the sucking)… Pardon The Interruption on ESPN
59. What is your favorite color?
I haven’t had a favorite color since second grade. Maybe fourth. And then it was green.
60. Lake, Ocean or River?
River, despite wanted a view of the ocean. I love river-rafting, and rivers seem cleaner. Like where water comes from.
61. How many tattoos do you have?
None
62. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Chicken Egg Salad
63. How many people are you sending this email to?
The world
64. Favorite Cocktail?
Saketini
65. Red or White wine?
I’m in a red phase right now, plummy jammy reds
66. Where would you go for a girls or boys weekend get-a-way?
Surf camp
67. What do you want to be?
A mother
68. Republican or Democrat?
Democrat
69. Favorite Family Vacation?
Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic.
COMMENTS:
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Wow. Very interesting. I actually learned quite a bit about you. Usually when I read these things (in email form, of course) I know all the answers. It's refreshing to read one and NOT know the answers. Thanks.
Very interesting tidbits on ya!
"I don't like to eat organs, snouts, or feet."
(HA!!!) That was hysterical. No, I totally agree with you. The only thing that I do kinda like is chicken liver- (organ)…
Let me know if you ever wanna go grab some sushi in NY! :)
C'mon! Doesn't fois gras count as an organ?
Re.#5: Ever hijacked a wifi connection after finishing your Pringles? God, the fun you could have with a Pringles can in a city full of skyscrapers like New York. ;)
What is toilet papering?
You're thinking of moving to Austin, TX?? OH MY!!
As someone who moved to Austin 5 months ago, I highly recommend the city to someone looking to move. It has a certain energy and flair, a quirkiness and a style you won't find anywhere else. Forget Dallas and Houston, its all about Austin. Keep Austin Weird!
Totally go to Cape Town. Immediately. The weather, the food, the people, and the laid-back, enjoy-life atmosphere. It's lovely, especially when you venture off the beaten path. And you get to swim with penguins.
Austin, TX. If you move there, others will, so don't.
go to vietnam. most awe-insipiring, life changing trip I ever took.
Fresca is my chaser! (See "mistletoe moment.")
MLP rocks! And so does Weeds and Steph.
"Weeds" is great. How good is Mary-Louise Parker?
1. 9:43am
2. Pearls. No war involved.
3. King Kong. Too much friggin skull island.
4. Bill O'Reilly–the world's most dastardly entertainment genius. You all may think he sucks, but he closes his show with a segment called "The most ridiculous item of the day." Friggin' genius.
5. 2 eggs over easy, whole wheat toast. I'm a maniac about yolk spill.
6. Can't tell.
7. I've been bistro-crazed lately. The weather I guess. But normally you own me if you have lox, bagel, and cream cheese. Even the word "cream cheese" is more delicious than most foods actually tastes.
8. Cooked carrots are watery mush. Tripe is gross.
9. Pringles. I know they're not real. I don't care. Whatever they are, i need them. They fit one into other, all fit into me.
10. Frank Sinatra–Only the Lonely. Stop fcuking around and go buy the real deal.
11. Anything automatic. I'm a big homo.
14. Johnny Walker Black, neat.
15. Prauge (Prague?) The city looks like a wedding cake. That plus Kafka is from there.
16. Black and white.
17. I'm a recent Polo convert. Told you I'm gay as hell. Plus, I saw Ralph Lauren recently. Shorter and FATTER than me. So damn psyched.
18. A porch. All life comes down to swinging on a hanging porchseat.
19. 6am, Manhattan, The day before the day, Especially in summer. When you know it's going to be hot, but it's still bearable and no one's out yet.
21.Boxing. It;s like math–I can't believe anyone does it.
22. I aint sending.
23. no sendo.
24. Whatever doesn't make colors bleed. Because I'm a guy and I can't be trusted with laundry.
25. Diet–Pesi. Non-diet–Coke.
26. Definitley morning. Boners, hunger, coffee, crosswords, clean slate.
27. 9. I'm not even a man, goddamn it. Just a small-footed little twirp.
28. They have ME.
29. Going to Barbados tomorrow with a chick I'm really into.
30. The briefest phase of astronaut-envy. I didn't want to go to school, join the military, learn to fly, fly, take orders. I simply wnted to float in space. I think it still could happen.
31. Do they still make the whatchamacallit?
33. Worse job was a NYC messenger. I think I was the only Jew to ever use something called a handtruck.
34. Autumn. I own it.
35. Can't say.
36. Regulation Long Island high school lobe junk.
37. Grey. One of the cooler things about me. Is it gr(a)y?
38. No, but I love black people. They're funny, brilliant, self-effacing, and cool. The quintessential Americans.
39. Strangely, I think yes. I'm not sure what it means but I did cover the side of a hotel in Charmin once.
40. I love. And I cry. I don;t know that one provokes the other. Though I don't know that it doesn't.
41. Minor.
42. Have you ever come face to face with somone who got you?
43. Sunday. Love it. News shows, NY Times. We;re all bums on Sundays. Even playing field.
44. Can't say. Incrimanating.
45. Orchid. Vagina-like. gorgeous. strange seductive symetry.
47. Disney was a neo-nazi. Warner Bros were Jews, I think. I'll take the latter. My life has gotten so friggin complicated.
48. BK. That's the first easy question here.
49. Failed Oriental.
50. Once, but in another state. I was trying to get it early because I'm spoiled.
51. Really don;t remember. I think a Broadway ticket offer.
53. Barney's. Told you I'm a big homo.
54. Whenev.
56. My new girlfriend and her stepfather. I was so touched by her genuine affection for him, Made me want to tell her I love her.
57. Chevy, I guess. Corvettes and all.
58. Sinatra–Only the Lonely. Stop fcuking around and get the real deal.
59. More a color scheme. Green, grey, an pink. Together. Kind of British and immortal.
60. Lake. A lake is yours. You develop a friendship with a lake. You could do the same with a river, but not if you're Jewish. Oceans kill.
61. please.
62. Goddamn it, I'm stumped.
63. Ain't gonna happen.
64. Johnny Walker Black–neat.
65. Always red.
66. Somewhere with a masseuse on staff.
67. Never EVER bored.
68. American.
69. DC. It, shockingly, all worked out.
Move to Austin; it's friendlier, cheaper and warmer. I'll show you around.
Jellied anything (aside from jelly) is SO far beyond wrong.
Hey! Neat blog! I'm wondering what is your favourite book? Who is your favourite author? I read your blog everyday it's like the best thing to do at work besides lunch time! You’re so pretty!
Madox23
these things just zip around the world. I had the same email yesterday in london.
Austin's a great city to live! You would love it!
Though I love Austin, having moved from there to DC, it is not New York City. And you will have to have a car because public transportation is limited. But the nightlife is superb, as is the music scene. And it operates at about half speed compared to NYC.
As for #15, you'd love Capetown! I was just there and it's a terrific city. Especially for food, a very interesting restaurant scene, mixes of African, Malaysian, Dutch, you name it. Great wine area not far away. Interesting art scene as well, and the photographic potential is endless. I shot 2600 digital photos and half were from a safari, the rest were mostly Capetown and surroundings. Haven't had the chance to do Vietnam yet, but it's on my wish list.
Kitchen Cabaret? In Roslyn, Long Island? Are you from there? Don't tell me! I love you Stephanie!
forever your girl
Steph-
I too would love to take a girls trip to surf camp. I was in LaJolla, CA, a couple weeks ago, and went to the little school and shop of same name Surf Diva, in LaJolla Shores. So cool!
A couple years ago my sister-in-law took her kids to Disney and one morning early around 6am, before Typhoon Lagoon opened, we went with Craig Carroll's surf school and learned to surf in the wave pool. It was amazing, I highly recommend it.
Austin has the best vibe of any place I've ever been – creative, quirky and intellectual. And the music. There is no other place on earth that offers a better range of musical options – every night of the week. A very good friend of mine is one of Austin's best-known (and best-looking) guitar players so I have been lucky enough to spend a considerable amount of time hanging out in the Austin music scene – it is amazing.
I would have moved there years ago but…it's unbelievably humid. People always talk about the heat, but it's really the humidity that's the problem in Austin. If humidity doesn't bother you then I say don't even hesitate – move as soon as you can.
Here you go Stephanie:
70. What have you learned about yourself through having a blog?
What? You're not even considering Salt Lake City? C'mon! Our nightlife is…um…well…non-existent. But our skiing is the best on earth. And we are known as the ice cream eating capital of the world. Oh wait – maybe that isn't such a good thing. And difficult access to such scandalous things as wine (gasp) may not make it the perfect place for you. Our loss.
I wish I had gone to Vietnam when I was in South East Asia — but it was my first long trip by myself and I was kind of nervous. I also really regret not going to Angkor Wat.
One more question…if you were a superhero would you fly or be invisible?
There's a whole This American Life show devoted to this question. It's amazing what you learn about your friends when you ask them. Go on, ask them (perferably in a group of three or four), then listen to the show online.
I would fly. Yes.
Can we hear from The Suitor on this one? Seems appropriate since he won you over by sharing his thoughts on your last list about yourself…I'd like to read his answers to this. As you're getting to know him better, shouldn't we be able to as well?
I'd like to hear your reasons for abandoning New York for Texas, personally. I lived in Houston for a year and hated it. Though, that was when I didn't really speak English and got picked on by illegal Mexican immigrants
Ok, I read the comments and Teri and I want to know:
What have you learned about yourself through having a blog?
I really am curious. I think I would feel pressure to constantly try to experience and remember aspects of every day in order to write them down. Not only write them down, but write them in a way that makes for a good read. I wonder though – maybe blogging forces you to live life better? If you are constantly trying to have moments worth writing about – perhaps that enriches your life everyday? On the flip side, maybe it just forces you to become incredibly self absorbed? Why the need to share your every moment with strangers? My only beef with you is that you have this great auidence base, yet you have no desire to do anything good with it. There are no charities that you support or encourage others to get involved with, no issues you are passionate about, no nothing. I just think you have power and why not use that to give back? Does that have nothing to do with the purpose of your blog? Your thoughts?
One more question – do you read all of the comments that people write?
Kitchen Kabaret rocks :)
Get to Cape Town as soon as you can girl. And when you drag yourself away from the beach, go hit the wine country, you'll never want to leave, I'm telling you!
Kitchen Kabaret pie seller? I'd have to say the omelette maker is a much more prestigious job, perhaps even the coffee ladies or the lovely men near the soup pots in the back. What anorexic Roslynites buy/eat pie? Write a book about THAT experience. Put me on the pre-order list.
I went to both Vietnam and South Africa last spring…absolutely beautiful places and I'm sure you would take some amazing photos if you ever go. I agree with Jada's previous comment. The wine country of South Africa is NOT to be missed.
steph dahling, you have such nice taste if i may say so. id say move to dc/norther virginia if you can. you get the metropolitan lifestyle plus the open laid back country atmosphere. shop at georgestown or tysons, eat at a bistro in downtown with some cute congressman next to you, go home to hunt country in ashburn, relax by the lake in annapolis and so on. forget new york.
Nice blog, last week I watched your interview for the italian tv hehehe loved it ;)
I can't believe you took BK over In-N-Out. Sick.
Italian tv????
Which one?
I know that NYC is not for everyone, but unless you're not the NY-type, why would anyone pick Austin over NYC? Admittedly, I'm NYC born and bred, and more than a little biased. But I am also good cognizant of the strengths and weaknesses of other cities. At the end of the day, for all the places I visited, and many of which I liked, there really is no other NYC.
1. People move to Austin to feel young again.
2. Billions and billions of fish spawn in rivers making them noticeably full of semen. Stick to the ocean, it's more diffuse and has waves.
3. Move to Vietnam. I just got back. Every facet of life happens on the street; it's a photographer's nirvana. Check out my friend Long Thanh (www.elephantguide.com/photographer/longthanh.htm) he'll take you out shooting in Nha Trang.
you've inspired me with the mundane…it must be increasingly difficult with your growing celebrity…i read about the blog in the times which a sweet old woman brings to me at Austin Public Library…we are a city with great history and potential for even more, but there is little foresight and a constant battle against "the good ol' boys." Crawford is about an hour and a half away…mmmhhh…but have you visited Austin in August? Imagine the NYC subway in August…oppresive. home can be made anywhere though, good luck and thank you.
I'd have to concur with Joey on the Austin thing. I'm writing from Minneapolis and I would suggest its culturally a step backwards from here much less NYC. Must have something to to with the (Former) Suitor, you know he does not really look like a northern boy now that I think about it..
Anyhow I've offered some dietary advice to Steph on these pages before but I had no idea what she was eating……ahem… ah seriously you would not need those self help tapes if you ate 100% organic and fresh food.
Junk food nowadays is less food and mostly undigestible fillers and additives. Some of the raw materials would make you sick if you ate them alone and uncooked. You can't eat that shit and not have some sort of physiological response.
my last thoughts on Texas is ….is there anyone here old enuf to remember Hee Haw on the television?
p.s. i took the liberty to insert the word "Former" above so that in the future when someone is reading this blog I will not be speaking in the past tense.
My favourite potato chip was one I bought from E-Bay. It has a picture of the Buddha on it, and I've now had it for five years. I sometimes look longingly at it and my mouth begins to water, but…How could anyone EAT (!!!) the Buddha????
Rocky Road now? It used to be this…
68. My favorite ice cream flavor is Mint Chocolate Chip, BUT it has to be from Baskin Robbins’s or else I don’t like it.
Serious about Austin? Very interesting.
Hello Stephanie and fellow readers and bloggers –
I think blogging in your case is life as a form of art. But many people passing negative comments tend to forget the quality of your writing. It is original, sensitive, perceptive and totally funny. Your use of language is hilarious and dialogues have true literary quality. – See "foreskin" for example. Well and to give some authority and independence to my opinion I have a ph.d in literary studies. Now you miscreants can say that I am bragging too. Not that it matters!
I think your book deal and overall popularity is just fair because of the quality of your writing and people here are not afraid of showing their jealousy so overtly. Hey, you are a WRITER, girl, a modern one. Who would say stuff that you receive to a famous writer who happens to write via the blog media AND the paper media?
Anyway… take care and I know future will be interesting for you. Take care everyone too.
Ann Marie Simard
Hey, I just wrote lost a major posting here about the excellent writerly qualities of your blog that tend to be forgotten by many. Nobody would be reading Greek Tragedy and the book if your blog and book were not so perceptively written and funny. But we are millions! I think there was a forbidden word in that post – concerning myself!! – and it got eaten up or captured by the blog equivalent of a shredder…
I hope you can dig it up Stephanie and read it. Thanks for great reading that extends well beyond sheer entertainment. I read it because of daring writing. Emphasis on the last word. Yes, and great web design and cross-linking. That's art, you know, to build a monument like this site and keep the quality and visual and verbal identity and that of the photos so constant, sober and artistically valid.
Hope you read my mail that was lost here, it was more elaborate. Take care everyone and do not forget that Stephanie Klein is a writer who communicates her autobiographical material by writing and has a great way with words doing that… She deserves our respect like great bloggers and writers.
Take care everyone,
Ann Marie
Dingler,
Why would you say something like that? Use former as if it's doomed. That's not very nice.
I agree with Ms. Klein. That comment wasn't nice. Even if I want people to stay out of Austin, only so I can move back in a year, the city is great and a place where life is affordable. I can't stand when people critique relationships or hope the relationships ends. It's bad karma. As for Minneapolis… I'm sure it's great, remember to bring a coat.
FYI the average life expectancy of a "satsifying" relationship in the USA is 2.4 years.
I'm sorry to have insinuated that your relationship is doomed. That's probaly not what a young, beautiful, woman wants to hear.
About half of first time marriages end in divorce and the rates go to 67% on the 2nd trip through the tit wringer and even higher upon the third. Its depressing to digest those stats, just ask me I've been through two divorces now and view marriage as a mistake.
If you have siginifcant financial resources and are over 30 you would be wise to consider living together for 7 or more years before co-mingling your money etc. The despair a broken marriage causes in ones creative and professional life is even worse.
I think we americans should consider a different model then marriage. Too many people actively look for relationships that might end in marriage (get it end in marriage..over, final, done). My advice to all women is stay independent, never move cross country for your man, do not co-mingle your money and don't get caught up in the emotions of a new relationship. As a society we seem to pin too much on the hope for marraige when the facts show its not the happy camping trip its cracked up to be.
My guess is that your writing career will provide you much more inner peace and satisfaction then any man could ever bring to you.
p.s. I REALLY am concerned about your diet. please consider eating better, your well being and writing career will benefit more then you could ever imagine. Just try it for a month and give us a run down here on the blog of your experience.
re: foie gras
Not only is it an organ, it is the liver of a duck or goose that is forcefully overfed against its will, using a pipe down the bird's throat. Many countries have prohibited this incredibly cruel practice, including Israel, Italy and the UK. California has passed a ban that will go into effect in 2012.