On the subject of Questionnaires

When I was on the dating scene, I used to believe that my dates were sometimes more like interviews... with me being Larry King (without the suspenders and age - but rather back when he was cool.)

Anyway, the latest thing in the world of cyberspace and Facebook is these viral 25 random things where you write 25 random things and tag 25 other people to do the same thing. Some people think of them as a pain, while others, like me, embrace the challenge. I posted my 25 in the last blog.

The other day, my friend Brent posted a new one with 48 questions, but went out of his way to say he was not tagging anyone... so that it would be something that, if found interesting, the person reading would not be guilted into following suit.

The strange part of this happened at dinner on Friday night. My family and a couple of family friends went out to dinner and decided that a half hour wait at Red Robin was not going to be fun (there were three hungry kids involved here.) So instead we went to a local pizza place and arrived for their half hour wait. Resigned to the fact we had to eat somewhere, we waited... and waited... and waited. 75 minutes later, we were finally seated. (To their credit, the establishment made up for it with a boat load of free appetizers.)

Expecting it to be a night of silent disgruntled conversation (the wait had made everyone edgy.) It turned into one of the most fun nights my family has had out in a long time. My daughter, who usually does not even like talking to me, had brought a book called "More Coke or Pepsi." It is, in essence, the same kind of question book as my friend had filled out. This one is made for tweens (probably girls) to share facts about themselves. We laughed and were having lots of fun doing the questionnaires.

So maybe these viral things are a way to feel attached. Maybe, people should not be offended when being tagged for such "nonsense." Maybe, it is a friend wanting to engage through cyberspace with you... and isn't communication the foundation of any friendship - in person or in cyberspace...

With that in mind... here are my answers to the 48 Questions. Enjoy, and have fun with comments. If you'd rather see it in Facebook, it's over there as well.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
I was lucky to be names after my father AND mother… how many of you can say that? Jon is from John, my dad. Dru (my middle name) is from my mom, who was Drucie.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
When wasn’t? Actually, I think it was watching the Grey’s Anatomy with the kid who needed the transplant from the serial killer.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
I don’t ever write in cursive. I print all caps and most everything I do write is on a computer.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Ham (Appropriate, don’t you think?)

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Two. A 9 year old son (I will call him Mini-Me,) and an 11 year old daughter.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I think I would want to be more of an athletic type, maybe even one who loves the power tie scene, but I am not sure I could take the egos of the friends that go along with that.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Rarely, and that’s not sarcastic.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yep, and they cost me dearly when I had Mono in 1992. I just got a job at CNN and had to spend my first two weeks at my new job at home.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
No.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Rice Krispies, with a craving for Capt’n Crunch

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Nope.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Haggen Daas Lemon Sorbet or Vanilla

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
If they seem to be a kind person or someone I will have to protect others from.

15. RED OR PINK?
Red (My high school color)

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
The fact that I could have been an athlete, but did not have the tenacity to apply myself.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My Mom and Dad.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST?
I think it is a wonderful exercise in looking into yourself, and sharing nice things with others.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Actually, I’m in my bathrobe and slippers at the breakfast table on a Sunday morning after a late night out… however, this question has a typical answer which is black (pants) and blue (shoes). YES Blue shoes!

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The tapping of a keyboard and my son watching MythBusters. Most of the time, I listen to Capital Radio in London on my computer or iPhone or BBC Radio 1 on XM.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE
Blue

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Summertime rain at my childhood home.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My wife.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Yes I do. One of my new favorite people to be around.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
College football and good soccer.

27. HAIR COLOR?
Brown, going gray

28. EYE COLOR?
Brown

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No, but I have an awesome new pair of red glasses that I love to wear.

30. FAVORITE FOOD
Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding, Brilliant!

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy Endings – can’t stand any movie with gore in it, and I am not talking the global warming movie.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Ironman on DVD, Paul Blart, Mall Cop in the theatres

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Again, bathrobe… but because of work… most of the time it’s purple.

34. Summer or winter?
Summer

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Anyone that knows me knows that I am a big time hugger.

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
My friend Mary Stuart.

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
The people who “think” they are my friends.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Coffee with Groucho by Frank Ferrante

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
I have a Wacom tablet.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Last thing I watched on TV was Friday Night Smackdown… yes – wrestling.

42. FAVORITE SOUND(S).
My daughter and son happy.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Rolling Stones from my high school days. Start me up!

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Maui to the west, Whistler to the north. Munich, Germany to the east, and Miami, Florida to the south.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Being friends to people who can’t stand each other.

46 WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Washington, DC.

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
People who actually enjoy doing this, and don’t think of it as another viral thing.

48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER?
Blind date. Only blind on my part though. She had already seen me on TV.

I hope you enjoyed it.... be well everyone!

Yours truly,
Johnny Blogger