Interview meme: I'm glad to answer five questions

[jesse_the_k]

Comment below and I'll ask you five questions. Drop me a link to your answers in your own journal. Offer to give the first five commenters their own sets of questions, and let the cycle continue!

Thanks for these great questions, boxofdelights

I've been thinking a lot about the idea of "best friends". Do you have a best friend? Did you, as a child? What do you think about the concept?

When I was young I internalized the ubiquitous "best friend" propaganda from kids books, but mostly managed one friend at a time. By definition "the best" but I don’t know if it was reciprocal. But now one BFF seems unlikely. Hell, even one life partner won’t match on all the grooves, so I’m happy to have friends in different spheres with various interests. I’m thankful that I have more than 5 people on my "911 call" list.

Tell me about one of your best memories of WisCon.

I can’t choose just one; here’s three on a disability theme:

• Chip Delany interviewing Joanna Russ at WisCon 30, via telephone. Russ was too disabled to travel — this event encouraged me to join the concom to work on access.
• "A Very Special Disability Panel" at WisCon 36, all-disabled panelists talked about anything except access (inspired by the Not Another Fucking Race Panel juggernaut).
• The Disability Safer Space at WisCon 43 was a community-building event I’d never thought of (reassuring me that Access was thriving long after I stepped away)

Do you play games? If so, what is a game that you like?

When I had access to my installed arithmetic and memory skills, I enjoyed playing trick-taking card games — Euchre, Sheepshead, Bid Whist, Hearts, Spades. I haven’t played Scrabble in too long. Nowadays I color digital Mandalas on my iPad.

Tell me about your first dog.

Like Bella, an American black dog mixed-breed from the shelter. Shiny, small (maybe 30 lbs), and despite naming him Normal Norman, he was neurotic as all get out. It didn’t help that my definitely ex-partner used to blow pot smoke in Norman’s face. I had to leave Norm behind in the break-up, and I was sad about that.

When you are stressed, how do you like to make yourself comfortable again?

Physical activity has been my reliable soother since I can remember. So if possible, walking or swimming. As I’ve answered this meme I’ve learned that reviewing my life via my 27-year email archive is very soothing. Past-me kindly saved the emails where I was helpful or clever.

Comments

[cosmolinguist]

I'd love some questions!

I'm sad dogs have to go with only one person in a breakup.

And yeah, I also use walking to lessen my stress.

[redbird]

Some questions would be nice.

[luzula]

When I had access to my installed arithmetic and memory skills, I enjoyed playing trick-taking card games — Euchre, Sheepshead, Bid Whist, Hearts, Spades.
I recently did a little research on the trick-taking 17th-18th century card game Ombre for a fic. Have you played that? Apparently it was immensely popular, and had the successor Quadrille. I thought it looked fiendishly complicated!

I have already got questions.

[j00j]

I'll take some questions.

And gosh, I so agree on the friends thing. I have some people who are in the family of choice category at this point, but it doesn't necessarily mean I get to spend a lot of time with them (children, physical distance) or that we have the most in common. Your emergency call concept is solid; I am glad I have a goodly number of people I can ask for help.

[boxofdelights]

Well done, past-you! I would love five questions from you.

[horse_spirit]

I’d be curious to see what your questions might be for me :)

[walgesang]

Great answers! This reminds me why I save every work email because there are a couple that I will likely check out when I'm needing a little pick-me-up.

I also love the disability panel talking about anything except access!

If you have any questions for me, feel free!