Hooray for you, Mari Sasano.

Two names you go by:
1. Mari
2. Pauline

Two parts of your heritage:
1. Japanese
2. Canadian

Two things that scare you:
1. heights
2. emotional vulnerability

Two of your everyday essentials:
1. sleep
2. food

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. cashmere sweater
2. sweatshirt

Two of your favorite bands or musical artists:
1. Prince
2. Le Tigre

Two things you want in a relationship:
1. comfort
2. adventure

Two truths:
1. humanity is flawed
2. humanity is perfect

Two things you want really badly:
1. to write a novel and to have it be really, really good
2. to make my parents proud

Two places you want to go on vacation:
1. a beachy, brainless resort
2. busy, noisy cities

Two things you want to do before you die:
1. write my book
2. have a strong, nourishing, lifelong relationship

Two ways that you are stereotyped:
1. I am shy
2. I am wildly exciting

Two things you are thinking about now:
1. my family
2. the weather

Two stores you shop at:
1. Paddy’s Cheese
2. T&T Supermarket

Two people you haven’t talked to in a while:
1. Matt Vest
2. Janice Williamson

Two favorite sports:
1. horse riding
2. hockey

Two people who will fill this out:
1. well, we’ll have to see if anyone READS it.
2. total strangers

Two things you did last night:
1. party for a one-year-old
2. party for thirty-something year olds

Two television shows you like to watch:
1. American’s Next Top Model
2. CBC News at Six/Canada Now

Two places you like to go:
1. Toronto
2. any zoo

Two favorite subjects in school:
1. biology
2. English

Two favorite alcoholic drinks:
1. wine
2. fruity, girly cocktails

Two things you like about yourself (physical):
1. fingernails
2. teeth

Two people you last talked to:
1. Paul
2. Naomi/Jason

Two things you’re doing tomorrow:
1. writing
2. watching movies

1. The phone rings. Who do you want it to be?
Paul, any one of my awesome friends, my siblings, my parents.

2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart?
of course!

3. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener?
I’m talky around people I know well, otherwise shy.

4. Do you take compliments well?
not at all, but I’m learning.

5. Do you like to ride horses?
yes, but it’s too expensive

6. What was your favorite game as a kid?
Sorry!

7. Are you judgmental?
completely. But I’m trying to use it for the powers of good. reeeally trying.

8. Do you like to pursue or be pursued?
Pursue. I prefer being in charge.

9. Can you speak another language?
French, ish.

10. If you had to choose, would you rather be deaf or blind?
deaf.

11. Do you know how to shoot a gun?
once I got fired from a job and went to the WEM shooting range to cool off. I’m pretty good at it, as it turns out.

12. If your house was on fire, what would be the first thing you grabbed?
anything living, then my laptop. I gotta be able to work!

13. How often do you read books?
once every couple months

14. Do you think more about the past, present or future?
future

15. What is your favorite children’s book?
the one with Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare. Or the Giving Tree.

17. Last person you talked to?
Paul

18. Have you ever taken pictures in a photo booth?
yes. I love them!

19. Where was the furthest place you traveled today?
doctor’s office.

20. Do you like mustard?
sometimes

21. Do you prefer to sleep or eat?
sleep! but it’s a real close call.

22. Do you look like your mom or dad?
my dad.

23. Can you do splits?
I used to. Maybe I still can?

24. Do you put lotion on your dog or cats?
This sounds like a stupid question, but it’s not. I do, an anti-allergenic solution.

25. What do you want to do for New Year’s?
house party

26. What are you drinking?
nothing

27. Was your mom a cheerleader?
no.

28. What’s the last letter of your middle name?
I don’t have one

29. Who did you vote for on American Idol?
I don’t vote for them, but I’m happy for Taylor Hicks. Go, big weirdo, go!

30. Do you know how to play poker?
no.

31. Anything big ever happen in your hometown?
The playoffs were pretty freakin’ exciting.

32. Do you like funny or serious people better?
serious people ARE funny.

33. Ever been to LA?
yes, when I was around 3, with my grandparents. I’m not sure why.

34. Do you use cuss words in other languages?
no, and I’m trying to cut down in English.

35. What do you and your parents fight about the most?
usually it’s just misunderstandings.

…and now, another Survey!

1. What is your Boyfriend/girlfriends name?
Paul

2. What color underwear are you wearing now?
I’m wearing pyjamas.

3. What are you listening to right now?
traffic going by.

4. What are the last 4 digits in your phone number?
I’m not saying! It’s bad enough that I publish a blog. Next thing you know, I’m running for office and they have all this dirt on me…

5. What was the last thing you ate?
ice cream sandwich

6. If you were a crayon what color would you be?
I’m NOT a crayon

7. How is the weather right now?
it’s a nice fall night

8. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
some publicist dude

9. The first thing you notice about the opposite/preferred sex?
attitude

10. Favorite type of Food?
all of it, except bananas

11. Do you drink?
no, I’ve quit

12. Do you smoke?
no

13. Ever get so drunk you don’t remember what you did?
no.

14. Hair color?
black

15. What is your eye color?
brown

16. Do you wear contacts?
yes

17. Favorite holiday?
I’m loving Japanese New Year’s lately

18. Favorite Month?
the warm ones, and possibly September

19. Have you ever cried for no reason?
yes.

22. Are u too shy to ask someone out?
never

23.If you can say something to someone right now what would it be?
what to whom?

24. Hugs or Kisses?
it’s context dependent

25. Chocolate or Vanilla?
chocolate

26. Who is least likely to respond?
no one ever does

27. Who is most likely to respond?
NO ONE.

28. Who do you want to respond?
shut up.

29. What books are you reading?
The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon, The Autograph Man by Zadie Smith

30. Piercings?
Ears.

31. Favorite Movie?
oh geez. how much time have you got?

32. Favorite football team?
I don’t like football

33.What were you doing before this?
yoga

34. Any pets?
a cat, Fraser.

35.Screen name?
I don’t have anything so newfangled as that

34. Butter popcorn, plain, or salted?
buttered

37. Dogs or cats?
either, if well behaved

38. Favorite flower?
roses, lilacs

where did 39 go?

40. Are you taken or single?
people aren’t posessions, blah blah blah, but yes, taken

41. Have you ever loved someone?
yes

42. Who would you like to see right now?
I’m alone, and it’s OK

43. Are you still friends with your exes?
Fortunately or unfortunately, no.

44. Have you ever fired a gun?
Yes, we’ve been over this

45. Do you like to travel by plane?
no

46. Right-handed or Left-handed?
right.

48. How many pillows do you sleep with?
2, but Paul usually gives me one too.

50. Do you have a Tattoo?
No needles! No!

The phone rings. I answer.

M: Hello?

A: Hello, my name is Ashley and I’m calling from the Edmonton Journal and I’m calling to offer you seven day delivery for the price of a weekend subscription.

M: I think you should give it to me for free.

A: It is free, four days for free for the price of a weekend subscription.

M:Yes. I get a electronic subscription for the weekdays, and a weekend paper subscription, because I don’t want a big pile of paper at the end of the week. Trying to save trees, you know. But I think you should give me the paper for free because I freelance for the Journal. I actually help to make it.

A: Sorry about that, I will give them your feedback. But I can give you a seven day subscription.

M:I asked once if they could give me some kind of a deal, for having an electronic subscription plus a weekend paper subscription. But right now, I’m actually paying more than a seven day subscription for that. Not that I mind, what’s good for the company is good for me, right? But could you let someone know about this?

A: OK, I’ll let them know.

M: OK, thanks.

Poor Ashley. But I love these calls.

01. Last Cigarette: when Paul used to smoke, I used to take his lit cigarettes from him and say, “You’re killing me!” He eventually quit.

02. Last Kiss: This morning. Awww!

03. Last Cry:Embarrassing, but watching Oprah yesterday.

04. Last Library Book Checked Out: I can’t remember.

05. Last Movie Seen In a Theater: The Science of Sleep

06. Last Book Read: Douglas Coupland’s jPod.

07. Last Cuss Word Uttered: I think I called Fraser, “One tough motherfucking cat” last night when he beat up the mean black cat.

08. Last Beverage Drank: water

09. Last Food Consumed: natto and rice.

11. Last TV Show Watched: Regis and Kelly, over breakfast

12. Last Time Showered: this morning

13. Last Shoes Worn: Hm. Black flats?

14. Last CD played: CD? The latest Great Aunt Ida, I think.

15. Last Soda Drank: Orangina on Sunday

16. Last Thing Written: a review of Shortbus (it’s good)

17. Last Words Spoken: Ow. Fraser! My foot!

18. Last Annoyance: I should probably be interviewing a Czech chamber ensemble.

19. Last Time Scolded Someone: Fraser. He’s my cat, if you haven’t guessed.

20. Last Web Site Visited: Wikipedia, for info on Czech classical composers

B – O – D – Y

01. Piercings: ears

02. Tattoos: no

03. Height: 154 cm

04. Shoe size: 6

L A S T . . .

01. Movie you rented: X3

02. Movie you bought: LOgan’s Run

03. Song you listened to: Hm. I Can’t Go For That was my doctor’s “on hold” music.

04. Song that was stuck in your head: “Nooo, no can do!”

05. CD you bought: I don’t buy CDs anymore

06. Person you were thinking of: oh, look! the mailman!

07. Friend you made: I make friends so sloooowly.

D O . . .

01. You have a crush on someone: crush? I don’t have crushes!

02. You wish you could live somewhere else: No.

04. You believe in online dating: not at all.

05. Do you want more peircings: no

06. You drink: not anymore

07. You do drugs: no

08. You smoke: no

09. You like cleaning: no

10. You like roller coasters: no

11. You write in cursive or print: I type. but cursive, when I’m forced to pen something.

F O R — O R — A G A I N S T . . .

01. Long distance relationship: against

02. Teenage smoking: Against.

03. Doing drugs: for, under certain circumstances

04. Driving drunk: against!

05. Soap operas: it depends on which.

06. Someone uses someone for their goodies: goodies?

H A V E Y O U . . .

01. Ever cried over a female/male: yes. and everything in between. I cry easily.

02. Ever lied to someone: yes. but I’m terrible at it, so I stopped.

03. Ever faked an orgasm: no

04. Ever been in a fistfight: no. I wish! no one will fight me.

05. Ever been arrested: no.

W H A T . . .

01. Shoes do you wear: I do have more than one pair, you know.

02. Are you scared of: risk.

03. Is your favorite flower: roses, lilacs

N U M B E R . . .

01. Of times you have been in love?: geez. 2? 3? 4?

02. Of times you have had your heart broken? I’ve lost count.

03. Of hearts you have broken?: 4, that I know of.

04. Of drugs taken?: this is on the internet, right? like, public for all time?

05. Of people you consider your enemies?: none.

06. Of scars on your body?: lots, but fading.

07. Of things in your past that you regret? nothing. everything that happens has a lesson, and learning is good as long as you don’t repeat your mistakes.

1. Someone knocks on your door at 2 a.m., who do you want it to be?
Ugh. It better be important, because I like to be sleeping by then, and sleep is sacred.

2. Your boss tells you he/she will give you a $20 raise if you’ll do
I already do a lot of my work naked, when it’s warm enough. And $20 is nothing. NOTHING.

3. Put yourself in a nutshell:
I won’t fit!

4. Ever seen a ghost?
I’ve definitely been in the same room with one. But ghosts are invisible, silly!

5. Happy with your body?
It’s better than ever.

6. A reason you would move to Iceland:
Ponies! Art! Rotted shark!

7. A place you’ve lived that you miss:
I used to miss the coast, but that was before I realized how awesome it was here!

8. A job you would never do, no matter how much you were paid:
I would do anything, for the right people.

9. A band/group you thought was cool when you were 13:
Crowded House, and they still are.

10. You have a nightmare, who’s the first person you think to call?
Paul, because he’d be all, “It’s just a dream. Now let me sleep.”

11. Wanna have kids before you’re 30?
It’s too late for that.

12. You in love?
Yes.

13. Ever had a crush on one of your friend’s parents?
Only in jest.

14. Naughtiest thing you’ve done at work:
Used to drink Baby Duck at the Princess.

15. Do you look more like your mom, or your dad?
My dad.

16. Something you’ve always wanted to learn how to do:
relax

17. Still friends with your exes?
No. And I realize that’s a failing, but still.

18. Where you’d like to be in 10 years:
Not more, just better.

19. Something you learned about yourself this year:
When I get stressed out, I get sick.

20. What do you want for your birthday?
Nothing, just a nice party with friends.

21. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR TOENAILS?
Gold, but chippy.

22. Last person you talked with on the phone?
Sook-Yin Lee.

23. DO YOU OWN ANYTHING WITH A SKULL ON IT?
No.

24. HAVE YOU TRAVELED TO EUROPE?
Yes.

25. NAME THREE PEOPLE YOU TRUST?
My mom, Pauline, Paul

26. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
X-3

27. WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU HAD YOUR FIRST KISS?
On the front step!

29. LAST BOARD GAME YOU PLAYED?
Trivial Pursuit, which I won

30. LEATHER OR LACE?
Lace.

31. EVER HAD A BLACK EYE?
Yes, in an incident with a soccer ball and a swingset.

32. WHERE DO YOU RENT YOUR MOVIES
Sneak Preview, Rogers, The Movie Studio

33. HAVE YOU EVER WORN FISH NET STOCKINGS?
Yes. I suck.

I love the new concept for Litfest, which is creative nonfiction. And I loved going to this discussion. Totally worth getting up in the morning on a Saturday, thinking about ideas. When do we stop to think of ideas?

Especially when it’s JRS and Todd. They’re both funny and smart, in different ways. They’re contrasts: Todd sitting bolt upright with his hands on his knees, JRS draped over chair and side table (is he colour-blind? you should’ve seen his outfit…).

They talked about free speech, democracy, education. What really piqued my interest was the idea that specialization and intellectual territorialism makes an education rather useless to society; someone who is part of such a system is part of an industry rather than providing a public serivce.

It made me wonder if I’m doing OK, using what I know to be a good, engaged citizen. I certainly have an education I don’t deserve, but I’m grateful that I have a base (however little I understood or retained from grad school), but I’m always concerned that what I do is shallow, or that my brain is shrinking or getting out of date. I do try to read. My daily circuit is pretty wide: the Journal, the Globe and Mail, Salon, the NY Times, CBC.ca, feministing, Perez Hilton. A little of everything. But am I doing OK?

[.1 0 F A V O R I T I E S.]

Tv show: America’s Next Top Model

Flower: roses, lilacs

Alcohol:no thank you. can’t do it anymore

Color: red, purple, brown

Sport: running, I guess

Phrase: Hello?

Mall: Kingsway

Music genre: all of them

Food: anything fresh and well-prepared

[.1 0 F A C T S.]

Height: 154 cm

Hair color: black

Hair length: medium

Hair style: long layers

Eye color: brown

Shoe Size: 5.5 to 6

Personality: sensitive

Style: calculated nonchalance

[.1 0 L I F E.]

How’s life?: excellent

Whats your mood right now?: happy and lazy

What are you doing as we speak?: watching Jaws

What are you doing over the weekend? Litfest, brunch, shopping, wedding, napping, a little work

What do you want to do with your life?: make things better

What color is your life?: all of them, I hope

Where are you right now?: living room couch, AKA my second office

[.1 0 L O V E L I F E.]

Have you ever been in love: yes

Do you believe in love?: there are different kinds, and they all exist

Why did your last relationship fail?: we had no business being together in the first place

Have you ever had your heart broken?: yes

Have you ever broken someones heart?: yes. sorry.

Have you ever fallen for one of your best friends of the opposite sex?: gross! No!

Are you planning on getting married?: you can plan for it?

Are you afraid of committment: of course. it’s terrifying. but I’m very brave…

Are you in a relationship now?: yes

[.1 0 R A N D O M S.]

One thing sitting next to you: magazines

Funny story: once I found a fly in my soup. “Waiter, there’s a fly in my soup,” I said. So he brings me another spoon.

Do you like the color purple? yes, though the book is a little sentimental.

How many cds do you own? dozens.

Longest phone conversation?: hours and hours.

What is your most prized possession?: I’m not really all that attached to my things. I appreciate them and need them, but they’re all replaceable.

Whos your closest relative? my sisters

If you could go anywhere, where would it be? right now? I’m actually pretty happy here.

[.1 0 T H I S O R T H A T S.]

Pepsi or coke?: soda=death

CD or Radio?: both, plus iPod

Tommy boy or blacksheep?: I don’t understand this one

Saturday or Sunday?: Saturday

Single or taken?: I take offense at the idea that I’m a posession.

Colored or black and white?: everything!

Phone or in person: interviews on the phone. friends in person.

[.1 0 H A V E Y O U E V E R S.]

Have you ever been caught sneaking out?: where?

Have you ever fought someone?: only with words. hurtful, terrible, words.

Have you ever skinny dipped?: surprisingly, no. naked so many other places, but never in the water.

Have you ever bungee jumped?: no

Have you ever been on a house boat? no

Have you ever finished an entire jaw breaker? yes, and never once did I bite it.

Have you ever wanted someone so badly it hurts?: no. I’m a sour grapes kind of a person.