Empty's Theme Park

(Apparently my tracked tags aren’t working so good as I just discovered that I was tagged by cannibalqueenn)

Rules: Post the rules. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then make 10 new ones. Tag people and link them to your post. Let them know you’ve tagged them.

1. What is one fear you have that is completely irrational?

Public speaking.  I’m not as crippled by it as I have been in the past, but it still causes me a certain amount of anxiety.  I get nervous….my skin flushes, my hands shake, I find it hard to manage my words and my breathing at the same time.   It’s not as bad if I’m really familiar with the material I’m presenting, but even then, it’s a little nerve-wracking.  It’s worse with peers, as opposed to outsiders, strangely enough. 

2. What book has had the greatest influence on you? Why?

That’s a hard question to answer.  I’ve read a lot of great books.  Books that I think were great, anyway…though some might disagree.  As for influence, I’m going to have to go with The Hobbit by Tolkien.  In 9th grade, or my freshman year of high school, for you ‘Mericans, we were able to choose from a selection of books my English teacher had at the front of the class for an Independent study.  Up to that point, most of my reading for pleasure was Hardy Boys or Choose Your Own Adventure and things of that nature.  The Hobbit was the only “fantasy” book up there, and I found myself drawn to it.  Reading it really fired my imagination, and it lead me to become an avid reader of fantasy and science fiction, and may have played a great role in my becoming the “nerd” I am today.  

3. The dinner party question. Which 5 people (alive, dead, fictional, etc.) would you want at your dinner party?

I’m avoiding mentioning anyone on Tumblr, because I couldn’t choose just 5.

Joseph Campbell, Matthew Good, Terrance Malick, Matt Damon and Lisa Ling.

4. What is the most useless emotion? 

Jealousy.

5. If you were forced to watch one TV channel for an entire week which one would you choose? 

I don’t watch much tv these days….but I’d have to say HBO.  Except I don’t get HBO. 

6. Who is one person you’d like to make amends with?

One of the fortunate aspects of my personality is that I get along with pretty much everybody.  There was one time where I sort of had a falling out with a married couple who were co-workers of mine just before they transferred to another office.  I’d never had a super relationship with him, but I’d always had a really good rapport with her.  The falling out was also more of a result of a third party, or a number of third parties, which makes it even more regrettable.  Anyway, they moved away and we never really kept in touch.  About a year later, he died at work.  He was only 26 at the time.  I went out to the funeral, but I never really got to see her and offer my condolences in person due to circumstances beyond my control.

I’d like to make amends with her.

7. What’s your favorite movie score or soundtrack?

Once.

8. Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever had a supernatural experience?

Can’t say that I do or I have.

9. What’s your favorite dessert?

All things being equal, it’s hard to beat a fluffy, cool slice of lemon meringue pie.

10. How is Tumblr different for you now than it was when you first started using it? 

It crashes less?  I also didn’t really know anyone when I started.  I followed a friend over from Twitter and didn’t have much clue what I was using the space for.  I was pretty anonymous and shot from the hip.  Now I follow almost 300 people and I’m a little more careful about what I put out there, as I don’t feel quite as anonymous anymore.

For the Tagees:

1. What is a book, movie or song that has made you cry?  
2. What is your most prized possession?
3. How would you spend your days if money were no object?
4. What are the two foods you love to combine that makes everyone else cringe?
5. Adama or Picard?  Explain.
6. You’re throwing a party in your backyard.  You can have any band or musician, living, dead or disbanded, play all night.  Who do you choose?
7. What item have you lost that completely devastated you?
8. You’re a contestant on the Amazing Race.  What famous person (living only) would you want as your partner?
9. What did you want to be when you were a kid?
10. What gives you peace?