1. what's your favorite fruit?
figs on a plate with cheese...
or oranges on a plate with cheese...
or papaya on a plate with cheese...
or....smoked gouda. That's my final answer.
2. how do you feel about adrenaline-inducing activities?
I would never ever jump out of a perfectly functional plane without good reason. I've got no problem with roller coasters, jet skiing, white water rafting, etc... just don't get me up in the air.
3. describe a favorite sentimental possession.
hmmm...I'd have to say various decorations and furniture in the home. The ex got the house in the divorce. I realized I liked not having a place with a formal living room or a "dining room" that no one ever dines in but once a year for a holiday meal. I realized that in my new place, I could actually put in color and everything didn't need to be boringly monochromatic.
The first item purchased was a large area rug that my middle kid found from an import store - blues and oranges among stripes of various earth tones. Then a good friend was with me when I bought a large mirror with a thick coppery frame.
When my aunt and I were on speaking terms, she gave me a surreal painting of a tree near the beach that her son did - he is a listed artist known in the San Diego area for impressionistic landscapes, so this isn't representative of his usual work. She gave it to me because of the blue/orange color scheme in the living room.
My other large painting is an abstract of some jazz musicians that my oldest picked out.
In my kitchen is a corner cabinet that I bought at thrift store. My youngest and I cleaned it up, took out the farmhouse curtains and painted it white with a vibrant blue trim. It goes great in my nautical kitchen. Yes. I have fishnets on the wall...and a plastic lobster.
All of these things are just that - things, but I am sentimental about them because each one comes with a story involving family and/or friends - even the lobster.
4. describe what you'd consider a "near perfect day" spent with someone else, such as a friend or significant other.
a date would be fun...something with a light meal, some wine maybe...a little dancing. My ear does not get bitten...
5. in school, who was your favorite teacher and what did they teach? why were they your favorite?
My high school Spanish teacher, Ms. W. She was super strict. When something was due, she'd announce, "!pasenme los papeles, por favor!" and then she would make one circle around the room, collecting our papers. If we were still rummaging through our Trapper Keepers to find the homework assignment after she passed, it was late and we got half credit. She forced me to have some semblance of organization, for which I will always be grateful. She and my band teacher were my inspirations for going into teaching. Coincidentally, my first full year teaching assignment was at a school where her best friend taught french. Ms. W had passed away from cancer that summer, and I think her best friend enjoyed hearing some of my stories of her from the student side.