inwintersolitude

[inwintersolitude]

- February 28th 2024 -

What were you doing one hour ago? Looking around online for house painting businesses. I want the crown moulding on the kitchen cabinets in the new house painted white to match the rest of the cabinets.

Where were your parents born? My mom was born in Delaware, and my dad was born in New Jersey.

Have you ever used public transportation to get to work? Yep, back when I was in college and working at the university airport, I took the bus there for the first year-ish that I worked there, until I bought my first car.

What do you miss the most from before Covid times? Not having to worry about catching it lol. Unfortunately I'm not able to get any further Covid vaccines because 2 out of the 4 boosters I've had so far gave me heart problems, and the most recent one gave me a full-on heart rhythm disorder that I need to take medication for long-term. It's been over a year since that last booster and I'm still not better. I'm very pro-vaccine, I'm just one of the very very few unlucky people to have a serious complication from it.  But thankfully I've never had Covid, I'm really hoping I simply have some sort of natural immunity to it.

What has been the best thing to happen to you in the past year? Traveling to Ireland last September/October with my husband, parents, brother, and sister-in-law.  And also my husband and I are currently buying a house which is super exciting.

Who do you have listed as emergency contacts in your phone? My husband, my brother, and my parents.

Are you prone to jealousy? Nope.

How did you get through the lowest point in your life? Loads of self-care, and the support of my husband.

Have you ever been someone's first love? Yep, my husband and I are each other's first loves.

Have you ever played frisbee golf? I played it once in gym class my freshman year of high school.  There was a huge park across the street from the school, and it had a frisbee golf course.

What is your favorite silly, feel-good movie? The Barbie movie lol.

How old were you when you got your first gaming console, and what kind was it? Around 8.  Nintendo 64.

Who in your family has the coolest job? My husband is an airline pilot, and as a former commercial pilot myself (non airline) of course I think that's cool. I also have a second cousin who's a boat captain up on Cape Cod. Oh and my brother's job is pretty neat too, he does anti-fraud investigation in the banking industry.

Is cereal technically a soup? Haha I suppose you could see it that way.

Have you found your first gray hairs yet Nope.

What is something that drains your energy really quickly? Socializing with anyone other than close family.  I'm a hardcore introvert, that shit wears me out so fast.

Did you parents teach you how to make a budget before you moved out on your own? Yep.  My parents are very financially savvy and they made sure to teach me all of that.

What is your favorite food to put gravy on? Roast turkey and stuffing.

Do you know anyone from Canada? Yep, one of my friends from flight school was from Canada. And my Great Grandy and Nana lived in Montréal for many years, but they weren't originally from there.

What's your opinion on astrology? It's unscientific rubbish.

Do you use TikTok? Nope.

What do you have going on the rest of the day? Hardly anything.  I'm going to have dinner soon, and then I need to wash my hair because I'm meeting my realtor and home inspector at the new house tomorrow and I don't want to look like a greasy hobo.

#survey #surveys #random questions #personal blog

[inwintersolitude]

- February 26th 2024 -

How long ago did you wake up? About 2 hours ago.

With a fried egg, do you prefer the yolk runny or set? Runny.

Would you ever want to visit Thailand? Maybe.  It's not near the top of my list of places I'd like to visit.

Do you like Marvel movies? Do you have a favourite? There are a few that I thought were alright, but overall I'm not really into them.

Have you ever planned a wedding? Yep.

How far away from home is the place you work or study? (or spend the most amount of time outside of home) Hard to say where I spend the most time away from home.  It's probably my brother/sister-in-law's house (5 minutes away), my favorite local hiking trail (10 minutes away), or the grocery store I shop at most often (12-ish minutes away).

Do you have any pimples right now? Nope.

What member of your family are you most similar to? In which ways? My husband, he and I have almost identical interests/hobbies/passions.  I'm also a lot like my brother, we're both very calm and analytical and we both have a quirky/goofy sense of humor.

How do you listen to music? Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube, something else? Apple Music, and occasionally Youtube Music.

Do you think everyone should vote, even if it's not mandatory? I don't really have a strong opinion either way.  I see voting as part of being an engaged citizen, but I also understand why people wouldn't be politically-opinionated enough to do it if they don't want to.

Have you ever painted a rock? Yep, when I was around 6 or 7 I painted a rock for my dad for Father's Day for him to use as a paperweight on his desk, and I wrote "#1 Dad" on it.  He actually still has it on his desk to this day haha.

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you have? Budgies are the only animals I'd want as pets and I already have two.  I love all kinds of parrots but I don't think I could handle having larger birds.

Do you ever shop at Aldi? Do you even have one nearby? There's one in town, but I've only been there a few times.

How old were you at your first concert? I've never been to one.  Well, not like a rock/pop concert.  I've been to see the Cleveland Orchestra multiple times, and the first time was for my 16th birthday.

What are some of your favourite snacks? Hummus with pita chips and veggies, chips and queso, cheese and crackers.

Are you religious or spiritual in any way? I'm an atheist, but I still have a few beliefs that could be vaguely spiritual.  I believe that we have souls and that our consciousness lives on after bodily death, in some other plane of existence.  However I believe that his (along with everything else in existence) can be explained by science - even if it's an area of science that has not been discovered yet.

Do you know how to change the oil in a car? Yep, my husband and I used to do our own oil changes.  We don't bother with doing it ourselves now, though.  We just take the cars to the dealership - way easier.

Has it rained or snowed today? Nope.  There's rain and snow in the forecast for later this week, though.

Did you go to school with anyone named Levi? If so, what were they like? Nope.

What's on your shopping list at the moment? Not much at the moment.  Just cucumbers, spaghetti sauce, and milk.

#survey #surveys #random questions #personal blog

[inwintersolitude]

- February 1st 2024 -

Do people hang up flyers around your neighbourhood? Not often. I'll occasionally see a flyer for a lost dog/cat, but that's all.

What's an interesting museum or special exhibition you've been to? I'd say my two all-time favorites are the Udvar-Hazy Center at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and the Museum of London.

Have you ever been on a glass bottom boat? Nope but I've always thought that would be really neat, especially in tropical places where the water is super clear.

Do you ever sneak your own food and drinks into the cinema? Nope.

Would you know how to change a flat tyre? I learned how to do it years ago shortly after I got my license, but thankfully I've never had to change one.

Does it get really hot (over 40C/104F) where you live? No, the hottest I can remember it getting here is 101F, I remember that was in 2012 and I was working outdoors at the airport that day and thinking how insane it was that it got that hot! But usual summer temperatures here are not that bad, around 75-80F. Anything above 85F is really hot for here.

What do you usually eat for breakfast? Toast with butter/jam, eggs, cereal, muesli.

Do you have any mugs with cute or funny designs on them? Ahaha yes. Back when I got an Apple Pencil I was playing around with it on the iPad and I made super goofy drawings of my two birds. Then for Christmas later that year, my husband gave me a mug that he had custom made with the drawings on it.

Have you ever taken a Greyhound bus? Nope.

Do you stick to the rules or are you more of a rule-breaker? I'm mostly a rule-follower. With some exceptions, in certain circumstances.

Are you an aunt/uncle? Would you like to be? Yep. I have two nephews, ages 2 and 5.

Is there any alcohol you cannot stand? Is there a reason why you hate it so much? I am not a fan of rum. It tastes like some sort of nasty deadly chemical that you really should NOT be drinking, like how I'd imagine paint thinner or lighter fluid would taste lol.

Do you have raccoons where you live? Yep.

When did you first get a smartphone? I remember it was around the time I started my 3rd year of college. So that would have been late 2010?

Would you say you're easy to get along with? Yeah I'd say so. I take a little while to warm up to new people, though. Like I'm not the type of person who can instantly make friends.

Who was the last person who slept over at your place? We haven't had any overnight guests in this house now that we live near family again, but at our previous house in Virginia, the last people to stay over were my in-laws.

Do you ever keep fresh flowers in the house? Only occasionally.

Have you ever made graffiti? Nope.

Do you like off-colour, offensive humour? Sometimes. It depends.

Are you expecting much to happen in the next hour or so? Not much. I'll probably get a call from my husband once he lands in like 20 minutes, but maybe not because both his flights today are delayed for maintenance so he might not have time to call til the end of his workday.

#survey #surveys #random questions #personal blog

[inwintersolitude]

- January 11th 2024 -

Do you know anyone who has a hearing deficit? I have mild hearing loss, but it's not bad enough to need hearing aids.

What is the average number of customers that stop by where you work? I'm not working now.

When you are having a bath, do you have the water low, medium, or high? I don't really like baths and it's been years since I last took one. I don't remember what my preferred water level was.

Do you know exactly what a physician is? Would you ever want to be one? Yes of course I know what a physician is haha. I would not want to be one. I think the medical sciences are fascinating, but I would never want any sort of patient-facing role because I'm not a people-person. Working in medical research would be neat, though.

Does your phone have a stopwatch? How often do you use it, and what for? Yes. I don't use it often. I use the timer function much more often.

What is your surname? If you could change it, what would you want it to be? I don't share my surname on here.

Do you know anyone who pronounces 'ketchup' with 'catsup'? Not that I know of.

Speaking of cats, what is your favorite colours for a cat? No favorite.

What are you methods to remind yourself of something important? The TickTick app on my phone, or post-it notes. It depends on what it is that I want to remind myself of.

What are your opinions on fake sugar? Do you use it? Why or why not? Like stevia? I don't use it often. I'd rather just reduce the amount of sugar, than use a sugar substitute with a weird taste.

Would you ever want to study sociology? Why or why not? Not formally, like enrolling in a sociology course at a university. I do love to read about it on my own, though.

If you had to have a porch for your house, what colour would it be? My house already has a porch. It's white.

What makes a person physically beautiful to you? Good fitness, a nice smile, kind eyes.

Would you rather have a hospital become a church, or vice versa? Vice versa. Healthcare is more beneficial to society than religion.

Would you miss winter if it never came back? Why or why not? YES of course. I love winter and snowy weather.

Do you notice a pattern with people who were born as the middle child? I don't know many middle children, but of the ones I do know, I suppose I could suss out some sort of "middle child syndrome" pattern.

Did you ever play around a hydrant when you were younger? No, the neighborhood I grew up in was on the very edge of town and surrounded by woods and marshes, we didn't have the fire hydrant system go out that far. There was a pumping station at the nearby lake, though.

Does bad weather ruin your day? Why or why not? Only if I had plans to do something outside. Hiking, beach day, etc.

What is one thing stopping you from becoming a veterinarian? I'd never want to be a regular dog/cat veterinarian because I don't have much patience for poorly-behaved dogs and their lazy owners who don't bother to train them, plus I'm mildly allergic to cats. I'd much rather be a small animal vet dealing with rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. Or an avian vet because I'm really passionate about birds (I have two of my own). But I still don't think I could handle being an avian vet because of the stressful situations, treating birds that aren't being properly cared for but there's nothing you can do to save them from neglect, and having to deal with euthanasia situations. My heart couldn't handle it.

When you read 'bass' just now, was it read like the fish or the instrument? The instrument.

If you wear them, what is the average length of skirts you wear? Long maxi skirts.

Do you spell it like 'cheque' or 'check'? Also, do you even use them? Check. I use them occasionally.

If you had to live your life carrying a shield, what would its design be? Meh, no idea.

#survey #surveys #random questions #personal blog

[inwintersolitude]

- December 11th 2023 -

What's the closest supermarket to your house? Giant Eagle.

How many states/territories/provinces/etc have you visited within your own country? 33 states, if I remember correctly.

Do you like your name? Yeah.

What languages did you learn in school? I took two years of French classes in middle school, and two years of Latin classes in high school.

Can you imitate any accents well? No, not really.

Would you ever get a face tattoo? No way.

Have you ever ridden in a police car for any reason? No.

Do you like Christmas movies? What's your favourite one? I like certain ones. My favorites are Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (the classic 1964 one), and Home Alone.

Are you home alone right now? LOL speaking of Home Alone. Yep. My husband left for his flights earlier today.

Is it cold where you live today? Yeah, it's a bit below freezing.

What was the last alcoholic drink you had? Oh it was sooo weird. My husband and I were babysitting our nephews this past weekend while my brother and sister-in-law went to a Christmas masquerade ball, and when they got home we were hanging out and we had some beers. One of the beers was a peanut butter milk stout. It wasn't bad, it was just strange.

What's your alcoholic drink of choice? Gin and tonic.

How often do you wear a face mask? I wear an N95 mask on flights and whenever I'm in a crowded indoor place.

Do you hang up on telemarketers? I never even answer. My phone has really good call screening and I almost always know before answering if it's a telemarketer.

What is something you've been looking forward to? My Granny coming to visit in a few weeks.

Have you ever done an internship? What did it involve? Not a full legit internship, just a short mini one. I shadowed an engineer at NASA's Glenn Research Center.

Do you live in a part of the world that has very little sunlight hours? In the wintertime, yes. Not only do we only get 9-ish hours between sunrise and sunset, we also have extremely cloudy/gloomy weather at this time of year. I have to keep my indoor lights on all throughout the day.

What do you usually eat for breakfast? Toast with jam/butter, avocado toast, eggs, oatmeal, or cereal.

What sort of milk do you drink? 2 percent, or sometimes whole milk.

Can you smell anything right now? Not really.

Do you have a TV in your bedroom? No.

When was the last time you slept with a sleeping bag? I don't think I've slept in one since I last went camping, which was in 2008.

Do you know any of your second cousins? Yep.

Are you good at remembering names? Yes, I remember names incredibly well. I don't remember faces, though.

Have you ever done something really embarrassing on a date? I've done plenty of goofy/silly things while on dates with my husband, but I don't recall ever being embarrassed in front of him.

What's a weird or irrational fear you had as a kid? Air vents freaked me out, like the big ones in public bathrooms or hotel bathrooms. I actually still get a little bit of an uneasy feeling from them if they're really big or if they have a fan inside them and make noise.

Do you have sensitive teeth? Not really.

What's your favourite flower? Hydrangeas or stephanotis.

What colours are you wearing today? Black, navy blue, and white.

Superman or Spiderman? Eh, no preference. I'm not really into superhero stuff.

#survey #surveys #random questions #personal blog

[inwintersolitude]

- October 31st 2023 -

Currently…

What all are you wearing? A green plaid flannel shirt, and dark gray lounge pants.

Are you fingernails or toenails painted? What color/s? I don't paint my nails.

What is your hair like? It's straightened, and in a low ponytail.

Are you eating anything? Nope.

Drinking anything? Yes, some water.

Are you doing anything besides this survey? No.

Does anything hurt or feel uncomfortable on you? My ears feel a little stuffy because of my TMJ issues and muscle tension.

What has been making you sad/angry/upset recently? The fact that this upcoming Thanksgiving will be the first Thanksgiving without my Granddad here with us.

What has been making you happy/excited recently? We're currently getting our very first snow of the winter. So far it's just a dusting, but we're forecasted to get about 2 inches overnight.

What time is it? 11:44 p.m.

Where are you? I'm sitting at my desk, in my study.

What device are you using? MacBook Pro.

What do you think your parents are doing? They're probably already asleep.

What do you think your siblings are doing? He's probably reading, gaming, watching TV, or doing stuff around the house. He stays up quite late after his kids go to bed.

What do you think your significant other/crush is doing? He already went to sleep because he has an early-ish flight tomorrow.

Are you wearing any makeup? What kinds? Nope.

Are you feeling okay overall? Mostly, yes.

Is anyone in the room with you? No, I'm home alone, my husband is on a 4-day trip.

What is your current favorite song/s or album/s? I don't really have any current favorites.

What TV show/s are you in the middle of? I recently started rewatching Gilmore Girls.

What book/s are you in the middle of? None at the moment.

Who is your celebrity crush? I don't have one.

What food have you been enjoying recently? Greek salads.

Are you tired? No.

Are you in love? Yes.

Is your room messy? A little bit. I always make a huge mess when unpacking from a vacation, and I still haven't cleaned it all up LOL.

What's the weather like outside? It's snowing.

How old are you? 33.

And lastly, what day of the week is it? Tuesday.

#survey #surveys #random questions #personal blog

[inwintersolitude]

- October 25th 2023 -

Do you take a walk every day? Not quite every day, but I do go on walks often.

Who was your favourite musical artist when you were 15? Do you still listen to them? I don't remember exactly, but I'm guessing it was either Metallica, AC/DC, Coldplay, or Queen. I still listen to Metallica, Coldplay, and Queen but I'm not really into AC/DC anymore.

What's your preferred way of getting the news? Online, from various sources that don't have any political leanings. I also like Apple News and Google News.

If you go to flightradar24 dot com to see the radar, are there any planes or helicopters in your area right now? Yep there's a Cessna 172 nearby, the same type of plane I did a lot of my flight training in. I actually use the FlightRadar24 app a lot to track my husband's flights, and also just to browse around and see if I can find any interesting/rare aircraft types.

When was the last time you ate at a food court and what did you get? A few weeks ago. My husband and I got breakfast from a food court area in the Dublin airport, before our flight back to the U.S. I got a breakfast burrito.

Would you consider yourself traditional/old-fashioned? Only in a few specific ways. Mainly when it comes to etiquette/manners stuff.

How do you like your eggs cooked? Over easy or poached.

Have you ever taken a ride in a yellow car that wasn't a taxi? I don't think I have.

What was the last thing you had to return to a store and why? I think it was the curved gaming monitor we bought for the desktop. The screen was faulty, it flickered in the upper left corner.

Do you need to get groceries right now? No, I just went grocery shopping yesterday.

What's your favourite place to go on vacation? My favorite regular vacation spot is Hilton Head Island, but some other favorite vacations I've been on were to London, Bermuda, and Vermont.

What state/territory did you grow up in? Do you still live there? Mostly Ohio. My parents and I moved here when I was 3. Then my husband and I moved away from Ohio, to Virginia, when I was 23. And then when I was 31 we moved back here.

What colour were the last socks you wore? White.

Do you mark your emails as read even if you didn't open them, or do you let them just sit there? I just let them sit there. My inbox is a crowded mess but oh well LOL.

Do you have a LinkedIn profile? Nope.

Have you ever done your own compost? No.

Do you have any plans for tomorrow? If no, what about the day or two after that? I think my husband and I are just going to have a chill day at home tomorrow. Not yet sure about Friday. And then on Saturday we're going to go hiking along the coast, and I'm going to take my camera and drone for some photography.

Would you ever get a tattoo on your hand or foot? Nope.

Do you open your doors and windows on warm days? Yep.

Are the blinds/curtains in the room open or closed right now? Closed.

Who was the last person you said "I love you" to? My husband.

Does your town have a bar or pub? It has a few.

Were you mean to anyone in high school? No.

What's one of your favourite features of your phone? I recently switched back to an Android phone (Google Pixel) after having iPhones for over 5 years, and I had forgotten just how highly customizable Android phones are. I've been having a ton of fun tinkering with it and customizing it just how I want it. But I think what I like even more than the customizability is the amazing camera. It also uses AI to edit photos, like if you take a picture of a landscape and there's a person in the photo, you can select them and the software will use AI to automatically edit out that person.

Have you ever accidentally started a fire? Nope.

Do you ever wonder where everyone's going when you're driving around? Haha yes, sometimes.

Do you forget things as quickly as you think of them? That mostly only happens when I'm really tired.

What is the last note you edited in your phone's notes app? My note where I write down Christmas gift ideas.

Who is your favourite coworker? You can tell me about one from your past if you don't have one right now. The little bit of work I do now is on my own, but at my last job, my favorite coworker was either Stephanie or the older semi-retired guy who worked there just for fun, I can't remember his name anymore.

Can you hear birds chirping right now? Nope, it's nighttime. I put my birds to bed about an hour and a half ago. And all the wild birds outside are asleep, too.

Have you ever learned a language on your own, as in, not attending classes or lessons? I've attempted to learn German on Duolingo, but I had a really hard time, I kept reverting back to French because that was the first foreign language I learned.

Do you know anyone who's adopted a child? No, I don't think so.

Are you good at parallel parking? Yep.

What scent is your body wash? Sort of a nutty vanilla smell.

Do you tend to wear your clothes more than one day before washing them? I oftentimes do. It extends the life of the clothes. But it really depends on the clothing item, like I obviously won't wear workout/hiking clothes more than once.

What was the last video game or board game you purchased? I can't remember.

Pulp or no pulp in your orange juice? No pulp.

Is your middle name common? Not at all, it's my maiden surname which is very uncommon.

What's your favourite Robin Williams movie? I don't really have a favorite. I don't think I've seen very many of his movies. I thought he was a great voice actor in Aladdin, though. Can't think of a better actor to voice the Genie haha.

Do you decorate your house for Halloween? I usually decorate the front porch with a few pumpkins, but that's more like general autumn decor. I don't do any decorations that are super specific to Halloween.

#survey #surveys #random questions #personal blog

[inwintersolitude]

- October 24th 2023 -

Do a lot of people tell you that you are funny? A few people do. The closer I am with someone, the more they'll see my funny/goofy side.

Have you gone to a tanning bed lately? Nope, I've never been in a tanning bed, ever.

What did you do on the Fourth of July? I didn't do anything to celebrate it. I think my husband was gone flying that day, and I just relaxed at home. I did happen to see the town's fireworks display on my way home from the store that evening, though.

Do you ever watch Hannah Montana? No, I've never watched it.

Do you think Miley Cyrus is a good role model? I have no idea. I don't know much about her.

Do you have nice legs? Sure.

Are you good at decorating? I'm alright at it. It's one of the few artsy/creative things I'm not terrible at, haha.

Have you ever been to Ohio? I live in Ohio, actually. Lived here from 1993-2013, and again from 2021-present.

Do you like southern accents? It depends on the exact type of Southern accent. Most of them are meh, but I do like the ''classy Southern Belle'' type of accent. Can't think of a better way to describe it LOL.

Do you watch Big Brother? No.

How old is the oldest person who has ever liked you? My husband is 36. But he was 22 when we started dating.

Do you get intimidated easily? Not really.

Do you get a shower every day? No, sometimes I skip a day.

Do you like mountain biking? I used to when I was younger. I'm much more wary of sports/activities with a high risk of injury nowadays. I had a really bad wrist injury from slipping on ice when I was 26, it took forever to heal and it affected my mental health. When I was younger, I brushed off injuries like they were nothing, but ever since that wrist injury, I just don't mentally deal with injuries well at all.

What is something you like to do for fun? Nature photography and drone photography.

Do you remember a lot of things from whenever you were a child? Yep, I can recall the vast majority of my childhood.

What was something good that happened to you this week? My husband and I went over to my parent's house for dinner this past Friday, along with my brother and sister-in-law and their kids. We all had a really great time.

Have you ever been to Ireland? Yes, I was just in Ireland a few weeks ago!

Do you have a lot of shoes? Maybe like 10 pairs.

Would you rather go out to eat or make dinner yourself? It depends on what sort of food I'm in the mood for, and whether or not I feel like cooking.

Do you like The Goonies? I've never watched it.

Would you ever consider being a photographer? I'm an amateur photographer. I've been into photography off-and-on for almost 20 years.

What is something that you aren't good at? I'm awful at any sort of creative writing.

What is something you really regret? Not leaving my former job when I first started to think of leaving. I stayed, pushed myself only to end up even more stressed out, and then a coworker caused an accident that gave me permanent hearing damage.

Do you think you have a lot of friends? No, I don't have many friends at all. But I like it this way. I'm not a very social person.

Do you like to answer questions in detail? Usually.

Who are the texts in your inbox from? My husband, my brother, my sister-in-law, my mom, my dad, my friend Cory, and my realtor.

What is something you wear everyday? My glasses.

What clothing store do you really like? Ralph Lauren and L.L. Bean are my two favorites.

Do you have a lot of chores? Well yeah, I'm an adult with my own household.

#survey #surveys #random questions #personal blog

[inwintersolitude]

- October 19th 2023 -

What's for dinner tonight? I'm going to make veggie burgers, BBQ baked beans, and roasted broccoli.

Do you prefer cold or room temperature drinking water? Room temperature.

How many different things have you had to drink today? Three - water, Irish breakfast tea, and a turmeric shot.

When you read a book, do you use a bookmark or simply dog ear/fold the top of the page? I use a bookmark.

What's the nearest city to you with a population of at least one million? If you're counting just the population in the city proper, then it would be Toronto. But if you're counting the entire metropolitan area (suburbs, surrounding towns, etc.), then it would be Cleveland. But the City of Cleveland itself only has like ~370,000 people. I wouldn't really call it a major city.

During the pandemic, did you use reusable or disposable masks? A bit of both. I had a few gray washable masks that I bought from Target, and also some disposable surgical masks and N95 masks. I still have some, actually.

What is your favourite local restaurant? Maybe the little cafe across from the town square. Or the farm-to-table restaurant.

Have you ever been harassed while minding your own business walking down the street? Nope. I've never experienced catcalling or anything like that.

Do you own a gun? Have you ever thought about getting one? Nope. I used to have one when I was into shooting sports years ago, but I've absolutely zero interest in that stuff now. Looking back I'm actually quite horrified by how easy it was to buy it. There should be way more oversight and regulations than there currently are.

Do you know anyone who owns a gun? My friend Cory hunts deer and elk as his main source of meat, so I'm assuming he has one, but he's never mentioned anything about it.

What year is/what your 10 year high school reunion? Will you (or did you) attend? It was in 2018, but I didn't go because I lived a 7-hour drive away from my hometown at the time.

Do you cut your sandwiches into triangles or rectangles? I cut grilled cheese sandwiches into triangles, but that's the only type of sandwich that I ever cut.

Have you ever seen a panda in real life? Where was it? Maybe while visiting the zoo as a kid? I can't remember.

Are there any postcards hanging around the house? If so, where are they from? I don't think so.

Does it snow where you live? Oh yeah, winters here are quite snowy.

When was the last time you took a flight? Where did you go? Nearly 2 weeks ago. My husband and I were flying from Dublin to Washington DC.

Is there a flight path over your house? Yep, Cleveland-Hopkins has an RNAV (GPS) approach for traffic arriving from the south, which has a waypoint over our house. I never flew it when I was a pilot but my husband occasionally flies over our house on that approach if his last flight home is from the Southeast US.

Does your neighbourhood have a lot of hills? Nope.

Have you ever had covid? What was your experience like? No. At least, not that I know of. I've been sick only once since 2018, but my Covid test was negative. I guess it's possible I've had it but I would have been completely asymptomatic if I did.

Do you have any alcohol in your house right now? Yep, some Guinness.

Do you tend to keep alcohol around the house for when you might want it? No, I don't usually have any in the house. My husband and I bought the Guinness after we got back home from Ireland so we could compare it to the draught Guinness they have in Ireland. The Guinness in Ireland tastes much better than the bottled/canned Guinness here in the US.

Has a romantic partner ever given you a pet as a gift? Nope, he wouldn't do that and I wouldn't want him to. Getting a new pet is a decision we'd make together.

Do you ever talk on the phone with friends? Sometimes with Cory.

What was the last thing someone said to you in person? "Have a nice night" or something like that, from the cashier at the grocery store yesterday evening. I haven't spoken to anyone in person since then - my husband's away for work and I haven't gone anywhere yet today.

Are you hungry right now? What would you like to eat? Nope.

How far away are your parents right now? About 27 or 28 miles away. 45-ish minute drive.

Do you believe in aliens? Yep. Considering there are hundreds of billions (maybe even trillions) of galaxies in the universe, and each of those galaxies has billions of planets, it's pretty much statistically impossible that Earth is the ONLY planet in the entire universe that has life on it.

Have you ever been bitten by a spider? Nope.

Do you own any clothing made from animal products like leather or fur? Not clothing, no. I do have a few leather handbags, though.

What's the best vacation you've ever been on? The trip to London that my husband and I went on for our 6th wedding anniversary.

#survey #surveys #random questions #personal blog

[inwintersolitude]

- September 7th 2023 -

Have you stayed up past 3 in the morning this week? Yep.

What was on the last sandwich you had? Cucumber slices, and I made a spread with a mixture of cream cheese, a tiny bit of kewpie mayo, fresh dill, and fresh chives.

What does the soap you use smell like? All the hand soaps in the house are super gentle fragrance-free kinds because I'm prone to getting eczema on my hands if I use harsher scented soaps.

Do you prefer to wrap gifts or use gift bags? It depends on the shape and size of the gift.

The last person you spoke to, do you know their eye color? Yes, he has blue eyes.

Does anyone you know have their hair bleached? I can't think of anyone.

When you're on the phone, do you doodle? No.

Is there anyone you know by the name of Frank? Not that I can think of right now. I know someone with that as a surname, though - he's one of my husband's copilots and also a friend of my dad.

Do you own a trenchcoat? Nope.

Name the hardiest piece of technology you own? Probably my old Thinkpad gaming laptop.

Have you ever written with a pen that had pink ink? I'm sure I have at some point.

Do you remember the last thing you took a picture of? I just checked my camera roll, apparently it was a photo of the Greek salad I made last night haha.

From where you're sitting, can you turn the lights off? Yes, because they're smart lights and all I'd have to do is tell Google/Siri to turn them off, or turn them off using my phone.

When was the last time you accidentally slept in? Yesterday. I didn't have any plans or anything, I just slept way later than I thought I would.

Tell me the last thing you searched on the internet? Ralph Lauren handbags.

The last argument you had, who started it? I don't even know who I last argued with.

Do you wear a ring on your left hand middle finger? No.

Are you currently in a smoking environment? No. No smoking allowed in my house!

Can you remember the title of the song you last sang aloud? No.

If a stranger smiles at you, do you smile back? Usually. Unless it's obvious they're being a creep, but that pretty much never happens.

Tell me the current time? 6:27 p.m.

Are you currently listening to music through earphones? No, I don't use headphones, earbuds, etc. because of my hearing disorder.

What color shirt are you wearing? Is it your favorite color? Black. It's one of my favorite colors to wear, but not my favorite color in general.

Do you own a pair of rubber boots? No, but I'm thinking of getting a pair for our trip to Ireland in a few weeks.

Have you ever owned a tire swing? No.

Does anyone you know own a bird that can talk? No. I have parrots, but they don't mimic human speech.

What make-up are you wearing currently, if any? None.

Name one thing you are glad you accomplished today? I haven't accomplished much of anything today hahahaha. I'm having a lazy Thursday at home.

Name one thing you wished you accomplished today but didn't? Eh, I don't know. I don't need to accomplish things every single day.

Have you ever been afraid to call someone, even if you knew them well? Yes, I felt that way the first time I called my Granny after my Granddad passed away, because there was absolutely nothing I could say to her that would have helped her feel better, or me feel better. I knew that it would be one of the saddest phone conversations I've ever had (and it was).

Do you ever not speak to someone because you're afraid you'll annoy them? No.

Is there any drama going on in your circle of friends? I don't really have a circle of friends. Nearly everyone I socialize with is family.

Have you ever known a guy who caused a lot of drama? Probably? I can't think of anyone off the top of my head, though.

Is there anyone you know who wears their hair in pigtails regularly? No lol.

Personally, do you think you have a nice smile? Sure.

Do you have a nervous twitch? No.

Have you ever taken care of a drunk friend? Nope, I've never had to.

How about a hungover friend? Nope. Again, never had to.

Does the idea of snowpeaked mountains and a large lake sound appealing? Of course.

Pick any number that has personal significance to you? 6.

Have you ever lost your luggage at an airport? Nope. I always travel with just a carry-on. I haven't checked luggage since my honeymoon in 2012 lol - I even went to England for like 9 days with just a carry-on bag! However, I'll be checking a bag when we go to Ireland. I plan on putting my AirTag inside, juuuust in case.

What's your opinion on people who go hunting for sport? If it's only for sport, like trophy hunting, I think that's horrible. But I'm fine with people hunting for food.

Have you ever been on a rollercoaster that actually scared you? No. Magnum at Cedar Point did give me a horrible headache, though.

Do you know anyone who can fluently speak more than two languages? I'm not sure. Maybe?

The last person who texted you, have you ever fought with them? No.

How many windows are open on your computer right now? Just one.

Do you have a fairly fast or slow internet connection? It's fairly fast, around 300 mbps.

Have you ever gone in a sauna? No.

Out of these colors, which appeals most to you: orange, blue, or green? Blue.

Have you celebrated your birthday yet this year? Yes, my birthday is only 6 days after New Years.

Is there anything you're saving up for? Not anymore, we've already surpassed our savings goals for a house and the trip to Ireland. Well actually we are still saving/investing for retirement, that's what the majority of our money goes towards now.

Has anyone ever been prejudiced towards you? Yes, because of my gender.

Are you taller than most of your friends? No.

Know anyone with a really annoying laugh? Yes, one of my husband's aunts has an inexcusably loud laugh, the kind of explosive noise that makes your ears hurt. It's really quite rude of her.

Have you ever punched someone and broke their nose? No.

What is the longest time you have gone without sleep? Maybe like 40 hours when I was in college. I remember one weekend where I was working airport ops during the air show and was very very busy.

Have you ever been someplace tropical? Yep. I've been to the Caribbean a few times.

If given the opportunity, would you act in a commercial? No.

You see an ant on the ground, do you squish it? No.

Have you ever baked a pie? Of course.

What is your favorite social networking site? Ehhhh. Maybe Instagram.

Who was the last person to call you? My husband.

Does anyone in your family tell funny stories? Sure.

Do you believe in finders keepers in most situations? It depends.

Is there a war memorial where you live? Yes, in the park on the town square.

Has anyone in your family fought in any of the wars? I had ancestors in the American Revolution, but I don't have any family members who fought in any wars more recent than that one.

Would you make any changes to your current bedroom? I'd paint the walls light beige, but that's all. The walls are very pale blue-ish gray, and it makes the room feel a little cold.

Has a stray dog ever tried to bite you? No, I don't think I've ever encountered a stray dog.

When riding a bus, do you prefer to sit up front, down back or the middle? Whatever.

Have you ever been on a cross-country train ride? No, the longest train ride I've been on was only between Wilmington and Baltimore.

Are you normally a person to tell people off? I can be, yes. I won't tell a person off over something minor, but if they're pushing boundaries or behaving rudely towards me, I definitely won't be a doormat, I will tell them to stop.

Name an object that most would consider odd that's special to you? A tie with an embroidered pattern on it in the shape of Hilton Head Island. It belonged to my Granddad. Him and my Granny used to have a vacation house on the island, and some of my favorite childhood memories are of going to visit them there.

What animal have you always wanted as a pet but couldn't have? There aren't any animals I want as a pet yet can't have.

Do you currently have any bugbites? Yep, I got a few mosquito bites at the cookout last weekend.

Is where you live on a boulevard, road, street, or avenue? Technically our address is on a Drive, but the private part of the street (where our house is), is a Circle, and it shows up as ''**** Circle'' on Google Maps and Apple Maps.

Is there currently any caffeine in your system? Yep, I just had a cup of Irish breakfast tea.

Look around, are things organized? Kind of lol.

Is there any TV show that ended that you wish hadn't? Firefly is the standard answer to this question haha. Such a shame they canceled it. OH and I also wish they continued on with The Expanse. They ended the show way before the story from the books comes to an end.

Know what you're planning to do after this? I have a few packages on the front porch that I need to bring inside. I also need to load/run the dishwasher, do some laundry, and text my brother about farmer's market/shopping/lunch plans for Saturday.

#survey #surveys #random questions #personal blog

[inwintersolitude]

- August 23rd 2023 -

Do you know what the most common bird is in your area? Robins, cardinals, blackbirds, finches, sparrows. Those are the ones I see most often at our bird feeders, at least.

What last made you feel ecstatic? Hearing that the airline my husband flies for has just earmarked nearly a billion dollars for pilot backpay checks as part of the new contract, and we'll be getting the money in about a month. Not sure what we'll do with it yet, but we might use it to increase our home-buying budget, and/or buy an RV.

What would make you feel happiest right now? A cure for hyperacusis. Or even just an effective treatment.

How many teeth have you had extracted? I had to get one pulled before I got braces as a kid. I was born without one of my upper adult canine teeth, so my bite was completely uneven, and I had to get the other one pulled to make everything symmetrical.

Do you ever read magazines? I like to read AOPA Pilot, Scientific American, and occasionally magazines on cooking and interior design.

What is something you've been reflecting on? Family, and how what one's family looks like evolves over a lifetime. When you're a kid, you have your parents, siblings, grandparents, etc, and you don't even think about how someday your parents and grandparents won't be there anymore, and how people you will someday call family haven't even been born yet. But as you get older, you gradually lose the older generations of your family, and new generations are born (whether that be your own kids, or nieces/nephews, and then eventually grandkids and grand-nieces/grand-nephews). I've been thinking about this lately, with the loss of my Granddad. He was such a cornerstone in my life that it feels like my family isn't complete anymore without him here with us. The makeup of my family is forever changed.

What's something you like and dislike about the town you live in? I love so much about my town! It's a cute little Midwestern town with beautiful Victorian-era buildings in the middle of town - lots of cozy shops and restaurants. And in the very middle of town is the town square, a small park with a gazebo and lots of trees. There are a lot of community events held there, like the farmer's market, art shows, concerts, and holiday festivals. This town also has a ton of great parks and hike/bike trails, and nice neighborhoods. As for what I dislike… honestly, not much. I guess I just wish we had a wider variety of restaurants.

What's a Halloween movie that you enjoy? I can't think of any that I like that much.

Would you say you're more confident now than you were 5 years ago? Maybe a bit.

Have you ever or would you try carrot bacon? I'd definitely try it.

What's the last thing you purchased that was frozen? Watermelon popsicles.

Would you ever walk a runway if given the opportunity? Meh, I'm not particularly interested.

When did you last do something that scared you? I can't remember.

What is something that you're curious about? New discoveries in physics/astrophysics. There is still SO much that we don't understand about the universe.

What time do you usually eat breakfast? Shortly after waking up. That could be 8 a.m., that could be 1 p.m. LOL

What is something you done as a child that you would never do now? Horseback riding. I did it as a teenager. I'd never do it now, there are too many ways to get injured doing equestrian sports. Plus it's more difficult to recover from injuries in your mid 30s compared to your teens haha.

What's been your favorite memory of 2022? Maybe the lakeside cottage vacation that my husband and I went on.

When were you last inside a tall building? Haha I have no idea. I don't spend much time in cities. The last few cities I've been to were London, Baltimore, and NYC, but I don't recall being in any tall buildings while there.

Is it currently quiet in the room you're in? It would be quiet in here if it weren't for all the thunder/wind/rain outside.

Is there someone you can honestly say you hate or have hated? Probably?

What's currently on your mind? I'm wondering how I should structure the rest of my day. I need to get groceries (but I don't want to go out til this crazy storm passes), and I need to do some housework, and I'll probably also need a nap at some point because I didn't sleep that well last night.

Would you consider yourself to be a messy person? Not super messy. I try really hard to be tidy, but it takes a lot of work because it doesn't come naturally to me.

What makes you most anxious? When my hearing disorder flares up.

When did it last rain where you live? It's raining right now. A LOT.

Do you prefer multi colored lights or white lights? For Christmas string lights? I prefer white lights, they look more classic, which is totally my style.

What's something you'd change about the world if given the chance? I'd make billionaires pay their fair share towards bettering society and helping those in poverty.

Would those closest to you say you talk too much or not much at all? They'd say I'm in between.

Do you consider yourself to be more basic or complex? In what ways are you like that? I can be either. There are things about me that are uncomplicated and straightforward, but there are also things about me that are complex and intricate and difficult for others to fully understand.

Where is somewhere you've been wanting to go but haven't had the chance? New Zealand. Well, I've technically had chances to go there, but I haven't because it takes literally 24-30 hours of travel time to get there from here. That's really daunting.

Do you have a song you cannot listen to anymore due to a bad memory? Potentially, but I can't think of any right now.

Have you ever had a candlelit dinner? Yep.

What was the last shot you've taken? The Covid booster, last December.

Do you need to apologize for something or are you waiting on an apology? Neither.

What's something you strongly believe in? Just how vital education is to society. You cannot have a society that functions well if people aren't educated, especially in the areas of science and humanities/civics.

Do you have a dream that is close to being accomplished? Hopefully! My husband and I are house-hunting and I hope the perfect house pops up soon.

Would you say you're in a good place mentally? Yes.

What type of jokes are most funny to you? It depends.

Would you or have you ever had a pet rat or mouse? I've never had either. Not super interested in having either as a pet, though. Birds and guinea pigs are the only pets I'm interested in having. Currently I just have birds.

Are you currently trying to make a decision on something? Just a minor decision, but yeah.

When did you first start feeling more grown up? I started to feel like a real adult when I was around 19. I got my first ''adult'' job in airport operations, I got my pilots license, and I had been living alone for a year by that point.

What kind of chapstick do you use? I don't use that exact brand of lip balm. I actually don't usually use lip balm at all - I've found that Cetaphil cream works way better because it actually hydrates rather than being sticky and waxy and sitting on top of the skin. The only lip balm I use is a Japanese one with SPF, it's the only one I've found that's not waxy.

How many pillows do you prefer to sleep with? None. I use a folded up quilt instead of a pillow, it gives much better support. Pillows give me horrible neck pain because they squish down into nothing as soon as I put my head on them.

What is something you've kept bottled up for a long time that you now have released? I can't think of anything.

Have you ever broken a cell phone charger? No.

What's a popular candy that you do not like? I think Airheads and Jolly Ranchers are super nasty. Oh and Hershey's chocolate, it has a chalky texture and an aftertaste that vaguely reminds me of vomit.

What scent is most prominent in your home? I don't use any heavily scented stuff like candles or scented cleaning products. I have pet birds, and birds have very sensitive respiratory systems, and strongly scented stuff can be harmful to them. The only time my house gets a strong scent is when I'm cooking or baking.

Have you been having odd dreams recently? Yes but odd dreams are the norm for me.

Do you frequently forget appointments? No.

What is currently sitting on top of your refrigerator? The Vitamix blender.

How many orange objects can you see from where you're at? Just one.

Would you rather have extremely long hair or a very short hair cut? Ehhh… I think I'd dislike them both the same.

When did you last use lotion? A few hours ago.

Do you currently have any prescription medications you need to pick up? Nope, not for a few months.

What's your favorite kind of chips/crisps? Tortilla chips. I don't like potato chips that much.

How do you like your coffee or tea? I like my tea with a splash of milk. And I rarely drink coffee, but the only way I like it is if it's iced.

#survey #surveys #random questions #personal blog

[inwintersolitude]

- July 25th 2023 -

Do you have any plans for tomorrow? Not much. My husband gets home from his last flight around 1 p.m., then we're going to go to the nearby garden center to buy more plants, and I'm probably going to make Tuscan chicken for dinner. But that's all I have planned.

What's the longest movie you've ever seen? The extended edition of The Return of the King. It's a little over 4 hours long.

What movies did you watch a lot as a kid? The ones I remember watching the most were The Lion King, The Land Before Time, and Cinderella.

How many rooms are in your home? 11.

Do you ever experience imposter syndrome? Nope, I can't think of a time where I have.

What was the last place you rode to in a car? As a passenger? Just into town to run errands with my husband, I think.

Do you have a PayPal account? If so, how often do you use it? Yep, I set one up because I make a monthly donation to my state's abortion fund and PayPal is the easiest way to do it. I think I've also used it for a few online shopping orders, too.

Are you cold right now? Nope.

How old will you be at your next birthday? 34.

Before this one, when was the last time you took a survey? A few days ago.

Can you skip rope? I haven't used a jump rope since I was a kid, but I'm sure I'd still remember how.

Have you ever participated in a charity fundraising event? Yep, numerous times. Maybe like 10?

What is your hair like at the moment? It's in a ponytail.

Do you like cucumber? Yes I love cucumber.

What do you like and dislike about your job? (or your last job) I like that I hardly work LOL. It takes me only a few hours a week to check my stock positions, look for potential stocks to buy, etc. And I like that I can work whenever I want, and I can take huge chunks of time off of work. And some things I dislike about it is that it's kind of monotonous, and it takes a little longer to do my taxes and makes it slightly more complicated.

Have you ever had a dream job? If so, did you give up on it, and why? Or do you happen to have that dream job? Yeah, my first airport operations job was my dream job at the time. I absolutely loved managing ground ops at that little airport, and I had a great boss and coworkers. I didn't give up on it, but I left and got a similar job at a different airport when my husband and I moved to Virginia for his airline career in 2013.

What's the last sitcom you watched? I think it was Parks and Rec.

What car did your parents or guardian drive when you were growing up? They had a bunch over the years. They had two Saab sedans when I was really little, then they got a Chrysler minivan in 1996 and my dad had a company car provided by his employer. They'd update the minivan every few years - they had two or three Honda Odysseys after the Chrysler, and my dad also got a new company car every few years.

Do you have milk in your fridge right now? What kind? Yep. 2 percent.

Are you left or right handed? Right.

If you have your ears pierced, how old were you when you got them done? I was 14.

Do you have any other piercings? Nope.

What was the last thing you wrote down in the notes app on your phone? I have a note that uses a script that I wrote to record when I take my anti-arrhythmia medication (so that I never forget if I did/didn't take it). I use my phone to scan a NFT sticker on the prescription bottle, and then the script records the date/time in the Notes app. As for what I last wrote down in there manually… it was a funny nickname that I randomly thought of for one of my birds, and I didn't want to forget it.

Have you ever been on a winery tour? Yep.

When was the last time you were hungover? I've only been drunk/hungover once. It was in 2012, on my honeymoon. We went to an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean (so, alcohol included), and I was like… hey why not, might as well see what it's like to be drunk. Turns out I hated the feeling of being drunk LOL. Never again.

Do you still have Facebook? If so, how often do you check it? Yep. I go on there maybe once a month.

Are you wearing your favourite colour today? My pants are navy blue, but they're a bit darker than the shade of dark/navy blue that I consider to be my favorite.

Would you ever want to visit South Korea? Eh, possibly. It used to be higher on my list of places I'd want to go, but the more I read about South Korea and the more I learn about their cultural problems with xenophobia and misogyny, the less interested I am in visiting.

How many times in your life have you been in love? Just this once.

Do you like your name? Yep.

#survey #surveys #random questions #personal blog

[inwintersolitude]

- July 20th 2023 -

Do you think you could handle a job in the medical field? Why or why not? I think I would do well in a medical research type of job. But I'd never want any sort of patient-facing role, I'm not a very people-oriented kind of person.

Would you rather edit photos on your phone or computer? I have Lightroom on both my phone and my laptop and I like them both the same.

What is one electronic device you own that you have not used in a long time? My Kindle. I actually kind of forgot I even had it until I was thinking of an answer to this question.

What is one thing you are currently behind on? Housework. My Granddad passed away a few days ago and I've been too heartbroken to really do anything other than mope around. I'm just taking things day by day right now.

When was the last time you wore a dress or a skirt? I wore a skirt last Friday to the birthday party that my brother and sister-in-law threw for my husband.

When was the last time you had a migraine? Thankfully it's been a while. Maybe like a month?

What is your favorite thing about Instagram? I just like the format of the platform. It's great for all sorts of different type of photo-based content. I use it for mostly nature photography and some photos of just day-to-day life, but I also like all the recipe pages, home decor pages, and I follow a ton of parrot-related pages too.

When was the last time you wore a flower in your hair? Maybe as a kid, if ever?

List three words to describe yourself using the first letter of your middle name. Mellow, mathematically-inclined, methodical.

Have you ever had a friend with the same middle name as you? Not my current middle name, because that's my maiden surname which is kind of rare and not even a given name in the first place. But my middle name used to be Elizabeth, and I do think I had a few friends growing up who had the same middle name.

What color was your locker in high school? Blue? I think?

How many framed pictures of you and a family member or friend can you see from where you're sitting right now? Two.

What is the first thing you think of when you see the rainbow emoji? 🌈 Rainbows..?

When was the last time you got a new pair of glasses? A little over a year ago.

Do you prefer to play chess or checkers? Either.

What color was your first cell phone? Light silver.

Do you remember when smartphones were a new thing that had just come out, and only rich people had them? I definitely remember when smartphones were new, but they weren't really a "rich people only" sort of thing. The very first iPhone was $599, you don't need to be wealthy to afford that.

If you could choose to have been born in a different month, which month would you choose to be born in, and why? I'm fine with my January birthday, I just wish it wasn't in the very first week of January. It gets overshadowed by Christmas and New Years.

….and which month were you actually born in? January.

Does your first name rhyme with anything? (If so, what?) Belly. lol

Have you ever met anyone who didn't like the color blue? I'm not sure.

What color was the last pill you took? White.

How often do you use emojis? Every now and then.

When was the last time you took a selfie? According to my cameral roll… a little over a week ago. I've been taking periodic selfies to track how well my new skincare products are working at fading hyperpigmentation.

How many E's are in your full name? 3.

What is the first letter of the name of the street you grew up on? A. Well, that's the street I lived on the longest. I lived there from ages 6-18.

Which decade were you born in? 90s, barely. My due date was on one of the last days of 1989 but apparently I didn't want to come out. 😂

Who was the last friend of yours to have a birthday? My husband (and best friend) just had his birthday a week ago.

Are you looking forward to your next birthday? Why or why not? 🥳 I guess. I don't feel any certain way about it.

When was the last time you blew up a balloon? I don't remember. It's been years.

If you had to go an entire week without using any technology, what do you think you would spend most of your time doing instead? Reading books. Cooking. Hiking. Going out to restaurants. Playing with my birds. Spending time with relatives. All of which I already do.

What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word "mast"? Ships.

Where is the weirdest place you've ever slept? In the cockpit of a small 2-seat airplane, while flying over Indiana/Ohio LOL. My husband (boyfriend at the time) and I were copilots on our university's competitive flying team and we were ferrying one of the planes back from a national-level competition. I needed a short nap so he took the controls for a little while.

Would you rather travel to Asia or France? Well, Asia is the world's largest continent! So it would totally depend on what part of Asia. I've always wanted to go to Bhutan, I'd rather go there than to France. But I'd rather go to France than, say, Myanmar… or Afghanistan… or Bangladesh.

What is something new that you've learned recently, that you didn't know before? I'm sure there are plenty of little info tidbits I've learned recently, but I can't think of anything specific right now.

#survey #surveys #random questions #personal blog

[inwintersolitude]

- July 17th 2023 -

What's on your to-do list for today? Not much. Just some housework - I need to load/run the dishwasher, vacuum, and get caught up on my expense tracking spreadsheet.

Do you ever watch movies or TV in bed? Do you use a laptop or do you have a TV? Nope.

What's your favourite thing to cook for house guests? Creamy Tuscan chicken, or penne pasta with roasted zucchini and tomato sauce.

What sort of music did you grow up listening to? Did your parents have a big influence on your music taste today? My mom is a classical pianist so I grew up listening to mostly classical, and also some jazz because my parents took a liking to it when we lived in the New Orleans area in the early 90s. And my dad likes classic prog rock so I listened to a bit of that as well. Classical and classic prog/psychedelic rock are still some of my favorite genres.

Do you remember your dreams? Usually.

Are you at home right now? Yep. I'm in the downstairs bedroom that we use as a bird room. I have a mini portable/collapsible desk that I set up when I want to bring my laptop in here from my study and chill with my birds.

When was the last time it rained where you live? About 10 minutes ago. A thunderstorm just passed through.

Do you think you have a diverse vocabulary? Yes, I'd say so.

Have you ever eaten pawpaw? I've had papaya (I've read that some parts of the world call that pawpaw, I'm not sure if that's what you meant), but I've never eaten what people in the U.S./Canada call pawpaw, that's a different type of tree fruit that's really obscure and not usually cultivated/eaten.

What was the last art or crafts project you worked on? Macro nature photography.

Do you know anyone who's been bitten by a snake? Nope, not that I know of.

What's a slang word or term that's specific to your neck of the woods? For me, in Australia, I would say "old mate" or "frothing" :D Ope! It's the most Midwestern word ever lol. It's an exclamation of mild surprise, and in some uses it's also kind of politely apologetic. Sort of like a mashup of ''oops'' and ''woah!'' and ''pardon me.'' Like if I accidentally bumped into someone I'd say ''Ope, sorry, I didn't see you there!'' Or if I had misplaced something and then suddenly found it I'd say ''Ope, there it is!''

Do you know how to ice skate? When was the last time you went, if ever? Barely. I think the last time I went was in 2008-ish? I vaguely remember going to my university's ice area with some friends but I can't remember if I joined them in skating or not. If not, then the last time actually skated was at my 10th birthday party.

Dogs or cats? You must pick one! I honestly can't decide! So much of it depends on the individual animal and its temperament. I like well-behaved and calm dogs more than most cats, but I like most cats more than neurotic/needy/high-strung dogs.

Are there any animals or creatures that scare you? Just spiders and centipedes. And scorpions but I've never seen one in real life.

Do you like watermelon? Yes I love watermelon.

Is your backyard or outdoor year tidy or messy? It's tidy, except for the garden hose in the back yard that's just kind of laying there rather than on a reel.

Have you ever played organised team sports, like in a league? Yep, all throughout my childhood. I played soccer from ages 5-10, and softball from ages 5-13.

What are you insecure about? My teeth, sort of. My tooth enamel didn't develop properly, it was a side effect of antibiotics I had to be on as a baby, because of a birth defect that caused frequent kidney/bladder infections. I want to get veneers but I need to get my TMJ issues and slight overbite fixed first. I had orthodontics when I was growing up but the orthodontist failed to address my malocclusion and made it worse.

Okay, what are you secure about then? Who I am. My personality and sense of self.

What's your favourite kind of puzzle? Sudoku puzzles, or nonogram puzzles.

Do you ever use the bathroom with the door open? Yep. I usually only use the en suite bathroom in my bedroom (so that I can keep the downstairs guest bathroom cleaner for longer), so it's no biggie if I keep the door open.

When was the last time you took an elevator, and where were you? A few months ago, at my doctor's office.

What last made you feel sad? Seeing my Granddad deal with dementia. And seeing how it affects my Granny.

Have you ever received a gift hamper? What did it contain? I have, but it's been so long since I got one of those that I don't remember what was in it.

Are you using a phone, laptop, desktop or tablet right now? Maybe something else entirely? Laptop.

What sort of movies do you tend to watch? I don't watch movies super often, but I like science fiction, psychological thrillers, and historical dramas.

What colours are you wearing today? Navy blue, black, and white.

How often do you use your microwave? What did you last put in it? Not very often, maybe like once a week? I think the last thing I put in there were some of the leftovers that I brought back from dinner at my parent's house last Wednesday.

Who's the last person you messaged and what did you say? My husband. I sent ''You're sweet 🥰"

#survey #surveys #random questions #personal blog

[inwintersolitude]

- May 25th 2023 -

What colour are the sheets on your bed? Ivory.

Have you ever had a storage locker? If so, what is/was stored in it? Nope.

Do you have a gas, electric or induction cooktop? Gas.

Are you interested in plants? Somewhat.

How far away is the nearest capital city? The nearest state capital is Columbus, a little over 100 miles away. The nearest national capital is Washington D.C., about 300 miles away.

What was the last movie trailer you watched? I think it was for Oppenheimer.

What's your favourite meal of the day? I love breakfast, just because I love pretty much all breakfast foods. But I also like dinner because of the endless possibilities and I enjoy cooking dinner foods the most.

Do you know your neighbours? A little bit. Not super well though.

Tell me all your plans for the next week or so. I don't have anything going on today. Tomorrow my husband and I are going to go to a nearby garden center to get plants for the front porch. Sunday - a Memorial Day cookout at my aunt-in-law and uncle-in-law's house with all their relatives. Monday - another Memorial Day cookout, at my brother and sister-in-law's house. And I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday.

What can you hear and smell right now? I can hear a Mozart string quartet playing on the local classical radio station, and also my birds chirping and playing with their toys. I can't really smell anything.

Are you expecting anything in the mail? Nothing in particular.

Do you hate cars with loud exhausts? YES, oh my god I cannot overstate just how much I LOATHE that. It's so incredibly obnoxious to subject others to that level of noise. There's technically a state law that limits how many decibels a passenger vehicle can produce, and I wish it was actually enforced.

How many roommates have you had? I've never lived with roommates.

Have you ever broken any bones in your feet or hands? Yep, those are the only types of bones I've broken. One finger, and one toe.

Do you keep your house tidy or is it always pretty cluttered? It's usually tidy-ish, but it gets a little cluttered if I'm busy or stressed.

What's the altitude of your town or city? About 1,000 feet.

Do you like movies with vampires in them? I haven't seen many vampire movies. Can't say I'm super interested.

Have you ever bought groceries online? Yep I did online orders with curbside pickup from the start of Covid until I was vaccinated in May 2021 - both my husband and I were staying super isolated because I couldn't risk getting sick. And I've also had some grocery items that I've bought online via specialty shops and had shipped to my house.

If you have a pet, what is its favourite treat? If you don't have a pet, what's one of your favourite treats? :) They both go bonkers for millet.

Do you own any items of clothing that were originally borrowed from someone else? Yes, if you'd count a few t-shirts, boxers, and sweaters that were originally my husband's. I started borrowing them and they slowly became more mine than his, haha.

What was the last thing you drank other than water, and was it yummy? Carrot/orange/turmeric juice. It was tasty.

How do you usually style your hair? I don't really style it beyond running a straightening brush through it to de-poof it. I'm terrible at trying to do any kind of styling beyond just simple straightening or throwing it up into a ponytail.

What's your favourite kind of soup to make? White bean and vegetable soup, or shoyu ramen.

Do you get distracted easily when you read? Yep. It sucks. I used to be an extremely avid and focused reader when I was a kid/teen, I'd read entire novels in less than a day, but for some reason I just don't have that same level of focus now.

What kind of questions do you generally dislike when it comes to Bzoink surveys? Surveys with only basic questions, like name/age/favorites/this-or-that/etc. I'm also not really into the ones that hyperfocus on health stuff or music, or the “put an X if you agree with this statement” ones.

What will you do after you finish this survey? I'll probably go upstairs to brush my teeth and do my morning skincare routine, and bring some laundry back downstairs and start a load. I also feel like I'll need a nap soon, I'm feeling kind of woozy.

If you play The Sims, which of all the games is your favourite iteration? I've only played it once or twice, like 9-10 years ago. I don't remember which specific version it was.

Do you remember the first house you lived in? Nope, we moved out of that house when I was only 6 months old.

When was the last time you threw up, and do you know why? I can't remember for sure. Maybe like 6-ish years ago? I think I had a mild stomach bug.

Who was the last person you said "I love you" to? My husband.

#survey #surveys #random questions #personal blog

[inwintersolitude]

- May 11th 2023 -

How long has it been since you moved out of the house you grew up in? It's been nearly 15 years.

What color shirt are you wearing? Black.

The last time you ate leftovers, what was it that you were eating? Penne pasta with arrabbiata sauce.

What was the last flavor of ice cream you ate? Strawberry.

Do you regret anything you've done in the last 24 hours, and if so, what? Yep. Staying up way too late last night, when I should be trying to shift my sleep schedule earlier for plans on Friday.

What is your favorite type of soup? White bean and vegetable soup, broccoli cheddar soup, minestrone soup, white chicken chili... I have a lot of favorites haha.

When was the last time you saw a beautiful sunset? A few days ago.

What is your favorite song at the moment? No favorite.

What are 5-10 things you love about being you? I'm self-assured, I'm mentally/emotionally stable, I'm intelligent, I have a positive outlook on life, I have an amazing husband, I have a great relationship with my family, I really like where I live, and I have the financial means to live a leisurely life and spend my time on hobbies and personal projects rather than working.

What is your favorite board that you've made on Pinterest? Eh, I don't know, I haven't been on Pinterest in ages. I don't remember what boards I have on there.

Do you get on Facebook or Instagram more? Instagram.

What color is your favorite sweater? Dark gray.

What are three things people would never guess about you just by looking at the photos you post on social media? The photos I post on Instagram are mostly my nature photography and drone photography, occasionally my pet birds - I don't post anything super personal, so there's quite a lot about me that people would never guess just by looking at that.

What is one thing you have too much of? Medical problems lol. Thankfully most of it is minor, but I do have way more diagnoses than anyone in their 30s should have. Migraines, TMJ disorder, hyperacusis, ADHD, scoliosis, blah blah blah.

What was the last thing you ate or drank that was blue raspberry-flavored? I don't remember.

What are three of your favorite scents? Pine forests, the musky scent the woods in this area get after the leaves have fallen in autumn, and whatever they use to scent the spa that I go to during vacations to Hilton Head Island, I don't know what it is but it's heavenly.

What was the last flavor of tea you drank? English breakfast tea.

When was the last time you wore your hair in a fishtail braid? Never.

What is one annoying thing your computer does? It doesn't do anything annoying.

What type of fruit do you eat the most? Lately, I've been eating a lot of blueberries and raspberries.

How often do you go out to eat? About once a week.

What would your dream wedding dress look like? I'm already married. My dress was a strapless A-line gown with pearls and silver threading embroidered around the bust/midriff and down the train. I wouldn't say I ever had a "dream” wedding dress, though. I was never the type to dream about wedding stuff.

Which fall flavor do you prefer: pumpkin spice or apple cinnamon? It depends on what sort of food the flavor is being used in.

What is the most annoying thing about your life right now? My circadian rhythm is completely dysfunctional. But that's nothing new, I've had a messed up circadian rhythm since I was a young child. It's just been really extra messed up lately.

Which holiday treat do you like better: candy corn or conversation hearts? I don't really like either of those.

What is your favorite apple-flavored treat? Apple crisp.

What are you counting down the days to right now, if anything? Our trip to Ireland.

What was the last book you read about? Landscape photography.

Have you been daydreaming a lot lately about a scenario you wish would happen? No.

What are three of your favorite things about camping? Spending time in nature, cooking over a campfire, and tents are cozy lol.

If you could choose what month to be born in, what month would you have chosen as your birth month, and why? Eh, it doesn't really matter to me.

...and what is your actual birth month? January.

What are three of your favorite things to do on a rainy day? Sleep in, have a cup of tea, watch TV/Netflix/Youtube.

Would you rather eat strawberries or watermelon? Watermelon.

Do you prefer smoothies or milkshakes? I prefer homemade smoothies over milkshakes, but I prefer milkshakes over the overly-sugary types of smoothies you get from restaurants/smoothie shops.

Do you prefer hamburgers or hot dogs? Hamburgers.

When was the last time you felt nauseous? A few weeks ago.

What was the last thing you ate that made you feel nauseous? There aren't any foods that make me feel nauseous.

Do you enjoy going to your local county fair? I did when I was a kid. I haven't been to a county fair since then, though.

How far away do you live from the place where you were born? About a 7-hour drive.

Do you prefer zebra print or cheetah print? I don't like any animal prints. Not my style.

#survey #surveys #random questions #personal blog

[inwintersolitude]

- May 4th 2023 -

Do you plan your meals in any way? Sometimes. I have a meal planning app on my phone, and I use it more when my husband is home from flying which is about 4-5 days a week. But if he's on a trip and I'm home alone for a few days, then I don't bother with planning as much. And my appetite can be finicky sometimes, like I won't know what sounds appetizing until the day of, so that's another reason why I don't always plan ahead.

Have you ever been front row at a concert? Which one(s), and how was the experience? Nope, I've never really had any interest in going to a concert, much less the front row of one. I wouldn't be able to nowadays with my noise-induced ear pain.

What's the strongest earthquake you've ever experienced? I've only ever felt one, in 2007 - I just looked it up and it was a magnitude 3.6. My parents and brother and I were sitting at the dinner table and the whole house shook, and at first I thought it was a sonic boom or an explosion. We were only about 5.5 miles away so we definitely felt it.

Do you know your best friend's middle name? Yep.

If you have a passport, where do you store it for safekeeping? In our safe deposit box at the bank.

What's your favourite kind of juice and when did you last drink some? Either lemonade or cranberry juice. It's been several weeks since I last drank either of those.

Were you in the scouts when you were young? Yep, I was in Girl Scouts from kindergarten through 4th grade, but then I stopped because I was frustrated that we didn't do enough camping/outdoor stuff and too much sitting around doing boring crafts lol. But then I rejoined in 7th and 8th grades because a lot of my friends were in it and we started to do more camping at that age.

How long are your fingernails right now? Very short.

Do you like the Scream movies? I've never seen any.

What sort of music have you been listening to lately? Mostly classical. A little bit of classic rock.

Are there any bills you need to pay? They're all on auto-pay.

Have you ever been told you look like a celebrity? Yes but now I can't remember who it was. Personally, I think I look like Mia Wasikowska when she was younger (we're pretty much the same age, less than 3 months apart, but she looks a little older than her age and I look younger than my age). I think she looked like me the most when she had light brown hair for her roles in Jane Eyre and In Treatment.

How many people could sleep in your home? (Not counting floor space, beds and couches only) Four. We have a queen size bed, a daybed, and a couch.

Are you a fast reader? Kind of, I think? But I'm not sure what's considered average.

Do you own a leather jacket? Nope.

Is there a university campus in your city or town? No. Well, there's a building that's a small satellite campus for a university that's in a city that's about 35 minutes away. But it's just one building off on a country road outside of town. The only reason I even know it's there is I pass it on the way to one of my favorite hiking trails.

Who last called you on the phone? Did you pick up? If so, how long did you talk? My husband, and yes I picked up. He was calling from the airport in Houston before his last flight home, and we talked for about 10 minutes.

What grocery store/supermarket do you shop at most frequently? Buehler's.

Do you know how to play the card game Hearts? Nope.

Are you a more of a light or heavy sleeper? It seems to vary a lot throughout my sleep cycles.

Have you ever done freelance work? What did you do? Nope.

Name four things you can see right now. My desk clock, my old AOPA pilot wings pin, the fence in the back yard, and a framed family tree that my great aunt drew by hand, going back to our first ancestor to come to North America in the 1620s.

Do you charge your phone every day? I charge it every night while I sleep. Sometimes during the day if I've been using it a lot and it's getting low.

Is your washing machine currently running? Nope.

How's your energy levels today? Pretty normal.

Have you ever torn a muscle? Yep, when I was doing lifeguard training and preparing for the test where you retrieve a weight from the bottom of the diving well, simulating rescuing a person who had sunk down to the bottom. I dove down to the bottom, grabbed the weight, and when I pushed off the bottom of the pool I tore/pulled a muscle in my leg.

Do you have any cereal in your house at the moment? Yep, bran flakes.

When was the last time you went out to eat? Where did you go and who with? About a week ago, with my husband. We went to the cafe in town.

Is the street you live on short, long, or somewhere in the middle? It's pretty short.

Should you be in bed right now? Nope, it's only a little after 8 p.m.

#survey #surveys #random questions #personal blog