This year spiffikins at Dreamwidth put together daily questions for the year 😀
1. What’s the Coolest Thing You’ve Ever Seen in Nature?
There’s quite a few cool things in nature and I can’t say which is the coolest above all others… but snowflakes are right up there among the very coolest!
2. Could You Stop Shopping for an Entire Year?
I assume this means non-essentials and that things like bras and skin care (makes my skin better but no doctor’s orders to use these products) are counted as essential?
If so, then I think yes I could. I don’t buy a lot of stuff in addition to essentials, due not having money and due to not really being into shopping and never have been. I only buy most things (clothes, electronics etc.) when I need new ones because they’re breaking, worn through, or are getting old enough that my programs don’t run well anymore. The only things I buy for the fun of it are fountains pens and fountain pen inks, fountain pen friendly notebooks and stickers. I only buy stickers when I’m running out so about once a year if that, but I could stop buying fountain pens and related stuff for a year, if I wanted to. Especially as currently I’m quite happy with the fountain pens I have and don’t feel a huge need for a new one! It’s ink which might be more difficult – I love trying out new inks! And I have enough fountain pen friendly notebooks to last me a few years (unless I start to journal or writing stories a lot more than up until now) so I wouldn’t need a new notebook either for a year. So, yes I could stop shopping these sorts of things for a year.
Now, if that means that I can’t buy candy, chocolate and Frezza cold coffees which aren’t necessary for survival… that’s a whole other ball game! I could reduce the amount I buy, but I couldn’t stop entirely there. And it’d be hard for me mentally to do it.
3. What National or International Events That You Lived Through Do You Remember Best?
Well, obviously COVID-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But also, the Estonia sinking, 9/11… those I think I remember the best.
Also, having the left leaning Antti Rinne/Sanna Marin’s government in power 2019-2023. It was the first time in my adult life when I felt hopeful about a government. And I was/am so relieved that it was Marin’s government in power particularly through COVID-19. It horrified me to think how things would have gone during COVID-19 if the far-right current government had been in power then, or even just a government headed by Kokoomus (a right wing party).
4. Are Your Eating Habits Healthy?
No, but they are better than they used to be until about 6 years ago!
5. How Do You Fight the Winter Blues?
What winter blues? I LOVE winter; it’s my second favorite season right after fall.
6. Does Technology Make Us More Alone?
Not technology, but social media does.
7. What Are the Most Important Changes, in Your Life and in the World, in the Last Decade?
My life: got the Crohn’s Disease diagnosis. Got Crohn’s Disease symptoms under much better control in the last 3 years. Chronic migraine is now better than it was 10 years ago, even though it’s still bad.
World: Social media. Rise of right wing and far right wing politics, increase in hate speech.
8. How Do You Greet Your Friends and Family?
Um, I think usually with a smile and saying “Moi!” or “Hei!” (Hi!). We don’t usually hug when greeting, if it happens it’s usually during the visit or when saying goodbyes.
9. Would You Want to Be a Space Tourist?
Yes!
10. Do You Trust Your Government?
The current far right-wing governemt? Not for a red hot second! Or rather I trust them to do all the things that are bad for immigrants, the poor, the sick, the unemployed, the regular worker, the regular joe. I trust them to hand over all the moneys and all the power to the owning class, the rich, the employers. I DO NOT trust them to look after the best interests of the nation and country as a whole.
11. How Much Do You Think About Your Weight?
A little. Not too much.
12. How Much Do You Trust Online Reviews?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Depends on how real they feel.
13. How Do You Feel About Zoos?
Not any particular way. They can be fun places to visit but I don’t think of them beyond that.
14. What Could You Not Live Without? What Could You Live Without?
Not without: Housing. You can’t survive in Finnish winters without a roof over your head. Books. Your spirit needs nutrition too!
Without: Social media.
15. What Are Your Experiences With Severe Weather?
I’m not sure what counts as severe weather? The only weather that I’ve personally experiences and would call severe are the heat wave days of summer, when outside temperature get to 25 degrees Celcius and higher, especially if it lasts for weeks like it didn’t a few summers ago when it lasted for 3 months without a break. Hot weather I can’t handle, I hate it.
I’m good with hard rain, and freezing temperatures. This week we’ve been having around -18 degrees Celcius (with “feels like” degree of around -28) and it’s no big deal. I actually think it’s been a lovely, “real” winter week. You just dress appropriately!
16. How Close Are/Were You to Your Parents?
My Dad died in 1989 when I was 14; we were close as a family. We did a lot of things together and liked being together. I’m still very close to my Mom even though I don’t get to see her as often as I’d like due my illnesses and my Mom’s and her SO’s illnesses and getting on in age.
17. What Are Your Favorite Commercials?
I don’t watch commercials, haven’t for at least 18 years. In the 80s or 90s there was this one commercial for jeans that I liked because I loved the song played. I’ve never found it online.
18. How Well Do You Sleep?
Not well. I have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, and the sleep isn’t refreshing. I always wake up almost as tired as when I went to bed. I used to suffer badly from insomnia a few years ago for several years; the longest I couldn’t sleep once was 4 days. It’s not as bad as that anymore, but it’s not great.
19. What Would You Create if You Had Funding?
Something that would fund research for migraines and chronic migraines, probably.
20. What Movies, Shows or Books Do You Wish Had Sequels, Spinoffs or New Episodes?
I wished they’d made the SGA movie that was in the plans when the show ended. I wanted to see Atlantis returned to Pegasus galaxy!
21. Do You Like Scary Movies and Books?
Yes and yes!
22. What Are the Best Things You’ve Acquired Secondhand?
Comics and books.
23. Do You Believe That Everything Happens for a Reason?
Not sure. If they do, the Reason, whatever it is, seems to suck!
24. Do You Believe in Intelligent Alien Life?
Yes.
25. Have You Ever Felt Pressured by Family or Others in Making an Important Decision About Your Future?
Not really. Maybe very light pressure, for short while, in a not dead serious way?
26. Would You Like to Ride in a Car That Drives Itself?
Not right now I wouldn’t. But if the technology is proved safe in the future, unhackable and fool proof, sure.
27. Do Your Television Viewing Habits Include ‘Binge-Watching’?
Absolutely, and since I was a kid in 1980s so long before it the term was coined.
28. What’s Your Sunday Routine?
Sunday’s just another day, no special routine. The only routine is the same as other days – taking certain meds at certain hours.
29. Have You Ever Interacted With the Police?
Sure.
30. Should Prostitution Be Legal?
I don’t know.
31. Do You Worry A Lot About Germs?
Nope.