2008 Loose Ends
Per promises made in my post 9-JAN-08, I have provided responses to an old meme.
Cornelius, look for your questions under the comments to that post of the same date.
Nathan, yours is as follows:
In case you've forgotten the rules:
Guidelines:
1. Leave me a casual comment of no particular significance, like a lyric to your current favorite song, your favorite kind of sandwich, or maybe your favorite game. Any remark, meaningless or not.
2. I will respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better.
3. Update your LJ with the answers to the questions.
4. Include this explanation and offer to ask someone else in your own post.
5. When others respond with a desultory comment, you will ask them five questions.
(Feel free to hit me up for a round if you so desire, even if I've given you a set of five before. I don't mind.)
Questions from ndkid 25-OCT-07
1. Would you rather males or females see you use the bathroom, and is that a function of sex or gender?
I didn't respond to the survey--and took an unreasonably long time to answer these questions--because I want to avoid anyone seeing me use the bathroom, even hypothetically. I can't look at this objectively. I'm "pee shy." It extends to not being able to go if I think someone can hear me from outside the bathroom. I think it happens with women and straight men around because of an unreasonable phobia of being compared to other women and not making the cut for "normal". Therefore, I only want to share a bathroom with homosexual men who have never been straight, never had sisters and never shared quarters with a woman for a statistically significant time period as an adult. Gender is moot because my subconscience makes anatomy-based comparisons. Therefore, I'm cool with a drag queen walking in on me as long as the prior conditions are met.
That was written from the same perspective I would have written a year ago. Now, I'm married, so I'm learning to get over it. Not just married, but married to someone whose life experiences have made him able to go in front of anyone (former Marine).
2. What sorts of male homoerotica do you find arousing (that was an informal poll I did a year or two ago... well, actually, that poll was "do you find male homoerotica arousing", but I already know your answer to that.)
I just like to see two boys kiss. Beyond that, it doesn't actually do anything. The thrill is in the implication of attraction: touching, holding hands, being close. Have you ever seen a horror movie and thought it was good up until they give you a good look at the monster? When you actually see the monster, its usually disappointing. So it is with me watching male homoerotica.
3. What are the top three things you want most out of a romantic Relationship?
There is no way I could know what I would have said a year ago. It's too hard teasing apart what I need from what I've gotten in the past. When you're not getting something you want out of a relationship, it's easy to blow that out of proportion.
What I want most are Chemistry, Pragmatism, and a Partner.
4. Where, other than southwest Virginia, can you foresee yourself living?
There is no other place for me. I thought Radford was too far north. I couldn't have forseen Salem, much less anywhere else. If someone blew up SWVA while I was away, I'd move to some place that has mountains.
5. Do you think you'll ever get tired enough of your current vocation to go do something completely different?
I can see getting burnt out, but then I weigh that against how burnt out I was when I left Tech. I could see myself working for the Extension Service or another State agency that utilizes my background and experience.
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Now, for a night of trying to not catch flu from my husband, unless he's miraculously cured, in which case we shall make the trek to Maryland. Happy New Year!
Cornelius, look for your questions under the comments to that post of the same date.
Nathan, yours is as follows:
In case you've forgotten the rules:
Guidelines:
1. Leave me a casual comment of no particular significance, like a lyric to your current favorite song, your favorite kind of sandwich, or maybe your favorite game. Any remark, meaningless or not.
2. I will respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better.
3. Update your LJ with the answers to the questions.
4. Include this explanation and offer to ask someone else in your own post.
5. When others respond with a desultory comment, you will ask them five questions.
(Feel free to hit me up for a round if you so desire, even if I've given you a set of five before. I don't mind.)
Questions from ndkid 25-OCT-07
1. Would you rather males or females see you use the bathroom, and is that a function of sex or gender?
I didn't respond to the survey--and took an unreasonably long time to answer these questions--because I want to avoid anyone seeing me use the bathroom, even hypothetically. I can't look at this objectively. I'm "pee shy." It extends to not being able to go if I think someone can hear me from outside the bathroom. I think it happens with women and straight men around because of an unreasonable phobia of being compared to other women and not making the cut for "normal". Therefore, I only want to share a bathroom with homosexual men who have never been straight, never had sisters and never shared quarters with a woman for a statistically significant time period as an adult. Gender is moot because my subconscience makes anatomy-based comparisons. Therefore, I'm cool with a drag queen walking in on me as long as the prior conditions are met.
That was written from the same perspective I would have written a year ago. Now, I'm married, so I'm learning to get over it. Not just married, but married to someone whose life experiences have made him able to go in front of anyone (former Marine).
2. What sorts of male homoerotica do you find arousing (that was an informal poll I did a year or two ago... well, actually, that poll was "do you find male homoerotica arousing", but I already know your answer to that.)
I just like to see two boys kiss. Beyond that, it doesn't actually do anything. The thrill is in the implication of attraction: touching, holding hands, being close. Have you ever seen a horror movie and thought it was good up until they give you a good look at the monster? When you actually see the monster, its usually disappointing. So it is with me watching male homoerotica.
3. What are the top three things you want most out of a romantic Relationship?
There is no way I could know what I would have said a year ago. It's too hard teasing apart what I need from what I've gotten in the past. When you're not getting something you want out of a relationship, it's easy to blow that out of proportion.
What I want most are Chemistry, Pragmatism, and a Partner.
4. Where, other than southwest Virginia, can you foresee yourself living?
There is no other place for me. I thought Radford was too far north. I couldn't have forseen Salem, much less anywhere else. If someone blew up SWVA while I was away, I'd move to some place that has mountains.
5. Do you think you'll ever get tired enough of your current vocation to go do something completely different?
I can see getting burnt out, but then I weigh that against how burnt out I was when I left Tech. I could see myself working for the Extension Service or another State agency that utilizes my background and experience.
------------------
Now, for a night of trying to not catch flu from my husband, unless he's miraculously cured, in which case we shall make the trek to Maryland. Happy New Year!