It's question time

I like these kinds of things, both doing them (it feeds my egotistical desire to feel like I'm important enough to be "interviewed") but also reading other's responses. Lynn did these so I guess I will too:

Q: If something is forbidden, do you want it less or more?
A: Generally, less. I've had a number of instances in my life where, for example, a guy I kind of like-liked and was curious about showed up with what looked like a girlfriend, and my interest immediately waned. Because I don't bird-dog. Though then again, "forbidden" things that don't seem to have a moral aspect tied to them, like the whole "No soft drinks with sugar larger than 16 ounces" law that's coming in in NYC: I tend to think that kind of thing is just stupid. It wouldn't necessarily make me want it more, but it annoys me to be told I can't have something "just because we think it's good for you not to."

Q: Is there an area of your life where you feel out of control? Especially in control?
A: My time, a lot of the time. I feel like there are too many demands on it. And that I tend to do things like hang out on the Internet when I'm avoiding something I really "should" be doing. I don't know that I ever feel "especially" in control, but I think my sense of responsibility and ability to meet responsibilities is better than some people's.

Q: If you unexpectedly had a completely free afternoon, what would you do with that time?
A: Whatever sewing or knitting project interested me the most at that moment would get worked on.

Q: Are you comfortable or uncomfortable in a disorderly environment?
A: Depends. I can totally work in a disorderly office because it's not "part of me." (so much so that I got written up for "Housekeeping" this spring). But my house, I do twitch when it's a mess, because I see it as more an extension of me.

Q: How much time do you spend looking for things you can’t find?
A: Lots of time if I've just cleaned my  office. I'm a piler-filer: I remember where stuff is by where I put it last. But if I have to move too many piles in a short span of time, all bets are off. I will say in most cases in my life, something that I need that I really can't find? Calling on St. Anthony seems to work.

Q: Are you motivated by competition?
A:No; I hate comparing my efforts to those of other people, because I'll always see the best points in theirs and the worst in mine.

Q: Do you find it easier to do things for other people than to do things for yourself?
A: Sometimes. I will cook more elaborate or nicer food to take someplace than what I'll fix for myself a lot of the time.

Q: Do you work constantly? or think you should be working?
A: Yeah, even when I'm "relaxing" I'm working on something. Although if you define "work" as "that for which you get paid," no, I don't work constantly. Though I am good at getting done what needs to get done.

Q: Do you embrace rules or flout rules?
A:Rule-following of a Twilight Sparkle level. Though I will note I get annoyed by rules I see as "stupid" or that are put in place to allow people to abrogate their own responsibility in matters. And I get annoyed when I'm told to do something I'm already doing: that happens on campus a lot because apparently there are a few people who can't live up to their responsibilities, so we all get told off for it. I suppose that's so the few slackers won't feel bad, though they really SHOULD.

Q: Do you work well under pressure?
A: Mild to moderate pressure, yes. Extreme pressure, no.

Q: What would your perfect day look like?
A:Getting stuff done and having it go well. It doesn't matter if it's a day of teaching or a day of research or a day of knitting or even a day of cleaning house.Though my most-perfect days would probably involve time with family, and time spent working on knitting or quilting, and some time spent outdoors in NICE (not 105 degree) weather.

Q: How much TV do you watch in a week (include computer time spent watching videos, movies, YouTube)?
A: Again, it depends widely. I might watch an hour a day some days, I might watch almost none other days. If there's something on I like I'll watch it but more and more I find I'm NOT doing the "I'll flip around and see if I can find a Law and Order rerun I've not seen yet" - where if there isn't something interesting on I'll put on music or go sew instead.

Q: Are you a morning person or a night person?
A: Morning person. Partly by desire but partly by necessity. If I had my druthers I would not get up at 4:30 am to work out but I would get up around 6 or so.

Q: What’s more satisfying to you: saving time or saving money?
A: Time, because I never have enough of it. I'll pay people to do things I could probably do myself but I know would take me a lot longer.

Q: Do you like to be in the spotlight?
A: Yeah, I would. But not the creepy stalker spotlight like some movie stars get where it's a giant scandal if you're seen eating pancakes in a restaurant somewhere.

Q: Is your life “on hold” in any aspect? Until you finish your thesis, get married, lose weight?
A. Heh. If I waited until weight loss or marriage to do anything I'd have an awfully boring life. No, I really don't believe in things being "on hold" other than minor things like: "Wow, I have a lot of work to do this week, better stay in this weekend and finish that manuscript, then next weekend I can go play"

Q: What would you do if you had more energy?
A: I assume more time comes with the energy? I'd play the piano more. I'd keep up my garden better than I have been. I'd have a perfectly organized fabric-storage closet.

Q: If you suddenly had an extra room in your house, what would you do with it?
A: A library. (I already have a sewing room). I'd love to have one room where I could just line the walls with bookshelves and have ALLLLL my books there. And then I'd put in a nice big comfortable armchair and a reading lamp....and maybe, if I'm dreaming? Have a small counter with a sink and tiny refrigerator so I could keep the makings for tea on hand (lemons and milk go in the refrigerator).

Q: What people and activities energize you? Make you feel depleted?
A: Teaching, if it goes well, energizes me. Working on craft projects when they are going well energizes me. If I'm in the right mood, even cleaning house can energize me. For people that make me feel depleted? I will refer you to one of my posts from back in May. In general, people who refuse to be happy no matter what, for whom EVERYTHING is miserable and nothing you can do will improve their outlooks, make me feel depleted.

So do long meetings.

Q: Is it hard for you to get rid of things that you no longer need or want?
A: Not especially.

Q: Do you get frustrated easily?
A: Ugh, yes. I'm getting better at not being so (either it's maturity or something) but I still have times where I get so fed up with stuff I start crying. I hate that; I wish it were easier for me to stomp around and cuss when I got frustrated but no, I cry.

Q: On a typical night, what time do you go to bed? How many hours of sleep do you get?
A: I try to go to bed around 9 and I usually get up between 4:30 and 5. So what is that? seven and a half to eight hours? Except I never sleep solidly through the night; stuff wakes me up.

Q: If at the end of the year, you had accomplished one thing, what is the one accomplishment that would make the biggest difference to your happiness?
A: Getting a manuscript published.

Q: And here’s another question for you. What questions would you add to this list, to help other people know themselves better? It’s so important, and so elusive.
A: If you could do something different with your life - not the career you currently have - what would it be? For me, I daydream about stuff like having an alpaca ranch or raising organic culinary herbs or some other kind of specialty-farming thing. I couldn't do it in real life because I need that regular paycheck and sense of security (and also affordable health insurance) but it's nice to daydream about.