In lieu of doing any of the things I need to do

[travspence]

from omphalos

1. What were you in your previous (hypothetical) lifetime?
   
   Years ago I bought this little book in the check-out line of the supermarket that gives instructions on how to do your own past life regression. I've only tried it once. The exercise I did involved finding out how I knew someone from this life in a past life. I chose mandylyn and I had a vision that she and I were married in some Baltic country just before they were annexed by the Soviet Union. I saw myself taking her to a train station, saying goodbye, and returning to my house. The big surprise was that my middle sister was part of our household.
   
   I've never tried it again and I'd be interested in doing an actual regression sometime. I've always suspected that in some lifetime I did something very, very bad. Like, bad on a national level.
   
   
2. What would you like to be in your next (hypothetical) lifetime?
   
   My only real request is that my next body be 90% less hirsute.
   
   
3. What did you want to be when you grew up?
   
   At one point I wanted to be a comic book writer. That later gave way to just "writer." I really don't write anything at this point. The whole idea of not being who I wanted to be has been on my mind a lot lately.
   
   
4. Would you still do what you do for a living, if you didn’t have to?
   
   No. It's not an awful career but I feel it picked me instead of me picking it.
   
   
5. What do you like to do when you get to choose?
   
   Lately I like to do absolutely nothing when I have the time. I feel I have too many obligations on me with school and work and that's not a good state for me. It wears me out and I need a lot of time to recharge.
   
   
6. Which is more important to you, your career/job or your family/friends?
   
   Family/friends. This job could implode tomorrow and I wouldn't care.
   
   
7. Do you believe in a god/gods, higher order, or a meaning of life?
   
   I go back and forth on this. Lately, I've been having trouble seeing in the dark, so to speak.
   
   
8. Which matters most, physical appearance or personality?
   
   It depends on what we're talking about but in general personality.
   
   
9. Which is your next goal in life?
   
   Finish library school and then decide what's next.
   
   
10. What was the most memorable event during your childhood or adolescence?
    
    Personally or globally? Globally, when the space shuttle blew up when I was in 9th grade. Personally, probably something involving my wiener.
    
    
11. Did you like school?
    
    God, no. I liked learning things but I fucking hated all the bullshit that went with it. Still do.
    
    
12. Have you ever been bullied?
    
    Yes. It lessened over the years but there were a few years in elementary school that were just pure hell. I still don't like to talk about it.
    
    
13. Have you ever bullied anyone?
    
    Somewhat. Mostly it was me being mean because other kids were being mean to me. There was a very clear pecking order in third grade and I was third from the bottom.
    
    
14. Do you like to have a lot of friends, or just a few really close ones?
    
    A few. I don't have the time or the emotional energy to keep up with a large group.
    
    
15. How many, if any, of your childhood friends are you still in touch with?
    
    I sporadically hear from a few. There are a couple who I wish I was still in contact with, Monte and Marvitos.
    
    
16. Are you still friends with your ex-lovers?
    
    I'm still on speaking terms with some people I've slept with and one is a good friend but we were never what I'd call lovers. I'm not in touch with anyone I ever dated. I do hear from Marc about twice a year but we aren't friends.
    
    
17. Do you have children? If not, would you like to?
    
    No and probably not. I don't think I'd be a good parent, frankly. For one thing, that kind of responsibility terrifies me. I can barely keep cactus going, much less a child.
    
    
18. Did you ever torture insects when you were a child?
    
    I was the kid telling other kids to stop doing that.
    
    
19. What kind of pet do you/would you like to have?
    
    None. See above answer about children.
    
    
20. What is the next big invention you would like to see realized?
    
    Cheap, fast, reliable global travel system.
    
    
21. Are you a morning or evening person?
    
    Evening.
    
    
22. What is the most boring thing you know?
    
    Golf, NASCAR, work.
    
    
23. What do you find most difficult to handle in others?
    
    When people seem incapable of seeing any perspective but their own.