Why not take a break from COVID-19 and learn about each other… Hat tip to all the people who’ve filled it out on Facebook and I shamelessly stole it because I had nothin’ for today.
1. Who are you named after?
My name was originally supposed to be Amanda Jane, and my parents were going to call me “AJ.” Then, my mother was sitting in a church service and the organist was listed in the bulletin as “Leslie Diane.” The rest, as they say, is history.
2. Last time you cried?
Two weeks ago, when I attended church through Zoom at Bridgeport UCC in Portland, Oregon (link is to the service, 10:30 AM Pacific). I saw some of my oldest friends in the world, and heard their voices. It was magnificent, and I was crying because I was filled with grief at my mother dying, and how long it had taken me to get back to the place where I was comfortable going to church again. For the first time in three years, I have now gone to church two weeks in a row.
3. Do you like your handwriting?
Absolutely not- it is a carpal tunnel pile of garbage that keeps getting worse. I use Evernote/Microsoft OneNote to keep track of my thoughts because if I write them down in a notebook, I can’t read them later.
4. What is your favorite lunch meat?
It used to be the disastrously unpopular olive loaf, and now it is the plant-based version of honey-baked ham (made into sandwiches on bread infused with maple syrup with Swiss “cheez” and margarine). I’m not sure olive loaf is even made anymore, but when it was, the grocery store never ran out…………………
5. Longest relationship?
I’m sure my dad wins this one, but if you mean romantically, seven years and change.
6. Do you still have your tonsils?
Yes, but I’ve had tonsillitis enough that they probably should come out to avoid recurrence. It is so unpleasant. It’s a good thing antibiotics work fast.
7. Would you bungee jump?
It depends. I probably wouldn’t do it on my own, but I’d never turn down a dare.
8. What is your favorite kind cereal?
The brown puffed rice at Whole Foods with real chocolate.
9. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Mostly yes, because I wear Converse All-Stars high tops more than anything else.
10. Do you think you’re strong willed?
It depends on who you ask. I don’t think I’m particularly obstinate unless I’m standing up for someone else. My friends think I’m stronger than I do.
11. Favorite ice cream?
Every flavor of ice cream I’ve had with plant-based milk is my new favorite. Almond milk with almonds and chocolate is probably at the top of the list right now.
12. What is the first thing you notice about a person?
Whether they like small talk or not. I’m not attracted to the small questions.
13. Football or baseball?
If these are my only choices, it’s Baltimore Orioles baseball. My real favorite is soccer of any kind. Doesn’t matter the gender or the league. I collect national team jerseys, and interestingly enough, I don’t have the United States. Oh, and I have one MLS jersey… DC United, of course. 🙂
14. What color pants are you wearing?
Uniqlo Extra Warm leggings and lounge pants made of grey t-shirt material.
15. Last thing you ate?
A Nutella and strawberry jelly sandwich.
16. What are you listening to?
- Miles Davis
- Lots of podcasts- too many to list, but if you want recommendations, leave a comment.
17. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Dark grey or Cornflower, the colors I use the most often in HTML. The grey is #333333, and the blue is #336699.
18. What is your favorite smell?
I have two- tea tree oil and lavender anything…. although I had to take a break from lavender while reading the Outlander series. It turned my stomach for a while.
19. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
My sister, Lindsay. She’s cooler than you are.
20. Married?
I used to be, and it would take an act of God for me to do it again.
21. Hair color?
Brown, with a little grey and white mixed in…. which is such a blessing because it stops me from looking like a ten-year-old.
22. Eye Color?
Espresso… well, brown, but I’m being, ummm….. creative.
23. Favorite food to eat?
Anything I’ve cooked myself. I’m good at it, and I get immense satisfaction with that kind of accomplishment.
24. Scary movies or happy ending?
Why choose? My favorite scary movie is “Get Out.”
25. Last movie you watched in a theater?
This is one of the funniest things that has happened to me in a while. I went with my friend Jaime to see “Jojo Rabbit,” and since I’d already seen it, I went about halfway through the movie before I got ridiculously thirsty. I leaned over to Jaime and said, “I’m getting a Coke. Do you want one?” She nodded and I left. So I come back and it is the most heart-wrenching part of the film and here I am stumbling in the dark to my seat while the rest of the row would have murdered me if it wasn’t illegal.
26. What color shirt are you wearing?
White. It’s not my color, but it’s warm.
27. Favorite holiday?
Any that involve a three-day weekend.
28. Beer or Wine?
Not much of a drinker, but I love anything Belgian.
29. Night owl or morning person?
It depends. I have a lot of energy at both ends of the spectrum. I also enjoy when I can’t sleep, watching the sun come up when I’m normally “not there” to see it.
30. Favorite day of the week?
None right now- they all blend together.
31. Favorite animal?
I am absolutely over the top crazy about Fiona the hippo. When it’s nice outside, I like taking my tablet and Bluetooth keyboard to the zoo and sitting in front of the giraffe enclosure.
32. Do you have any pets?
None of my own, but there are several dogs that live in my house. It’s the best of both worlds- puppy love and no responsibility.
33. Where would you like to travel?
I am consumed by the Middle East, both in terms of “walking the Bible,” and seeing things in movies I’d like to experience for real, like the Blue Mosque in Iran, the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon, and the mountains of Afghanistan. My mom and dad went when I was very small, because it was safe to travel there for tourists (at least to Israel, Jordan, and Egypt). I’m not holding my breath in terms of my lifetime.
Stories That Are All True 