In which our hero appears to conform to the standards of Content-Free Friday, but actually doesn't.

[featherynscale]

Not that I don't love reading about when you all threw up last, and whatnot, but we seem to spend a vast amount of our journaling time answering lists of questions that were probably written by 15-year-olds. I'm personally inclined to harness that tendency to appease my curiosity. Therefore, I present:
10 Questions, the Answers to Which I Will Genuinely Find Interesting:

1. If a magical wish-granting genie offered you a shoe-box and told you that whatever you wanted most that would fit inside that box would be what you'd find upon opening the lid, what would be in your box?

2. Who did you want to be when you were a kid? Who do you want to be now?

3. If you could ask your friends, family, partner(s), co-workers, or even other people on the street to change the way they interacted with you in one respect in order to make your life better, what would you ask them to change?

4. If you were to make the one change in your habits, behaviour, or lifestyle that be most likely to make your life better, what would you change?

5. What stops you from getting what you want out of life?

6. What's the one thing that has happened to you that has done the most towards making you stronger, better, and more capable?

7. What skill or talent do you most wish that you had?

8. Do you have any skills or talents that seemed useless or silly to you at first, but you now are glad that you have? What are they?

9. What one thing in the world are you most in love with right now?

10. If your life were a movie, what genre would it be in? Would you prefer to live a life that would make a different type of film?


Since I was sort of hoping this would reach meme-level, here's what I'd like to see: answer the questions, here in the comments thread, or in your own journal. You don't have to answer them all. To perpetuate the meme, you could either re-post my questions in your journal and ask your friends-list, or, if you don't like my questions, you could make a post including these instructions and replacing some or all of my 10 questions with questions that you're really interested in seeing people answer.

Comments

[brandy22kc.livejournal.com]

1. If a magical wish-granting genie offered you a shoe-box and told you that whatever you wanted most that would fit inside that box would be what you'd find upon opening the lid, what would be in your box? keys to a house 4 stories high with play rooms and an elvitor and slide

2. Who did you want to be when you were a kid? Who do you want to be now? an teacher, an now an esl teacher

3. If you could ask your friends, family, partner(s), co-workers, or even other people on the street to change the way they interacted with you in one respect in order to make your life better, what would you ask them to change? more hugs cause you can never have enough hugs

4. If you were to make the one change in your habits, behaviour, or lifestyle that be most likely to make your life better, what would you change? stop procrastanating so much just get on the ball and get it done

5. What stops you from getting what you want out of life?
really i've got most of what i want things done matter much its the people that i care for

6. What's the one thing that has happened to you that has done the most towards making you stronger, better, and more capable? loosing my aptment shown me what little you can live on and what really matters in life

7. What skill or talent do you most wish that you had? I wish i could make money come out my nose

8. Do you have any skills or talents that seemed useless or silly to you at first, but you now are glad that you have? What are they? talking i can talk to anyone and get just about anyone to open up, sometimes really gets on peoples nevers but also helps to help out on a bad day

9. What one thing in the world are you most in love with right now? my kids

10. If your life were a movie, what genre would it be in? Would you prefer to live a life that would make a different type of film? dramtic comady i'd say. some ways i wish i could be more optimistic take out the drama part

[greektoomey.livejournal.com]

1. Can the shoebox contents be a placeholder for something larger, like a bank statement, or property deed? Phoo. This is a tough one. I guess I'll go with a boxful of flawless, cut diamonds. I've seen this question before somewhere, only the box was larger.

2a. Batman.
2b. A (lucratively-employed) computer tech.

3. Don't telephone me. Use text. Email and text-messaging are vastly preferable to voice calls.

4. I would see things as they ought to be, rather than as they are.

5. Inertia.

6. Stronger, better, and more capable than what? Are these adjectives supposed to apply to everybody?

7. I wish I could see myself the way that others see me.

8. The "useless or silly" part of this question is really throwing me off. Spatial perceptions, sense of direction, and an ability to tightly and narrowly focus my attention on a given subject have all varied in their usefulness from time to time.

9. San Francisco.

10. Is "Jim Jarmuschian" a genre? That would be my genre, I think. I wouldn't mind living in a surreal comedy movie, like something by the Coen Bros. or Terry Gilliam.

~~~

You ask tough questions! ♥

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Stronger, better, and more capable than you used to be. No, they don't necessarily apply to everyone. I tend to think we improve with experience, but some people don't, at least not immediately. :Z

Jim Jarmuschian is totally a genre. And you probably saw the magic box question before because I think I asked it to you before. I'm always interested in knowing what people want (and knowing whether or not people know what they want).

[greektoomey.livejournal.com]

I'd still like for you to clarify the allowable box contents. If (as some are interpreting) the answer is not actually supposed to be constrained by the size of the box, that would totally change my approach to the question. But if that's your intent, then why specify the size of the box?

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

My intent was to have people give answers that would actually fit in the box. Apparently, some people have desires that will not be bounded by other people's imposed limits. I'm cool with that, too.

[project-becky.livejournal.com]

I read it that the genie could make anything fit, because, you know, magic:)

[feckalyn.livejournal.com]

1. The whole me (that got smashed into bits as a child) all grown up and smiling
2. Encyclopedia Brown/Beyonce
3. ?
4. I'd believe people love me
5. Fear
6. Not sure
7. Mesmerizing dancer
8. Reading, attention to detail
9. My bed
10. Indy drama - some days I'd much rather be a summer blockbuster or a Farelly throw away, but most days I'm ok being with the Coens

Hi! I'm looking for local contacts so I added you. Hope you'll consider the same :)

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

I've added you back -- you seem like my sort of person :) Also, I admire you for coming in on a hard question post and making a solid go of it. :)

[feckalyn.livejournal.com]

I didn't read that first one very closely *L*
I think that the whole grown me is shoe-boxed size and will ride around on the, uh, current me's shoulder (or something)

Thanks for adding me :)

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Also, I <3 Encyclopedia Brown.

[project-becky.livejournal.com]

1. If a magical wish-granting genie offered you a shoe-box and told you that whatever you wanted most that would fit inside that box would be what you'd find upon opening the lid, what would be in your box?

A long happy life for my sons

2. Who did you want to be when you were a kid? Who do you want to be now?

When I was a kid I wanted to be 18. My entire life revolved around surviving my mom's mental illness and be able to move out, when I hit 18 and did that, I was completely lost. There was no after... *shrug* I am who I want to be now. I am a good wife, a good mom, I think I'm a pretty good person. I could stand improvement but overall I'm okay.

3. If you could ask your friends, family, partner(s), co-workers, or even other people on the street to change the way they interacted with you in one respect in order to make your life better, what would you ask them to change?

Jim holds things in until he explodes. He mostly only blows once a year or so, but I wish he'd talk things out when they are happening. I also can't deal with people I love screaming at me, so it's a bigger deal that it sounds.

4. If you were to make the one change in your habits, behaviour, or lifestyle that be most likely to make your life better, what would you change?

I'd stop making excuses about why I don't do things and try harder to do them.

5. What stops you from getting what you want out of life?

The idea that no one could really want me or anything I have to offer. So why try?

6. What's the one thing that has happened to you that has done the most towards making you stronger, better, and more capable?

Having children. It's no longer my world, and that's okay

7. What skill or talent do you most wish that you had?

I've always wanted to be able to sing. I'm tone deaf (though I can tell when other people are off) and out of key, and I love to sing, but I make dogs howl and crows caw in pain.

8. Do you have any skills or talents that seemed useless or silly to you at first, but you now are glad that you have? What are they?

I can't really think of any

9. What one thing in the world are you most in love with right now?

Always Jim and the sons, but with that a given, I'll go with Izzy. She's just wonderful.

10. If your life were a movie, what genre would it be in? Would you prefer to live a life that would make a different type of film?

I'd be one of those weird underground flicks that appeal to artsy people and get one star on netflix. That or slapstick.

I'm a believer in butterfly wings... that if you change one thing than other things change, maybe not for the better. Since my life impacts others, and their life seems okay, I'd probably leave it.

[karinablack.livejournal.com]

Fair enough!

[jtigermoon.livejournal.com]

So where are your answers?

[greektoomey.livejournal.com]

Yeah! C'mon, fess up!

Here you are:

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

1. If a magical wish-granting genie offered you a shoe-box and told you that whatever you wanted most that would fit inside that box would be what you'd find upon opening the lid, what would be in your box?
The resume for a perfect candidate for the finance director position I'm trying to fill, a monte cristo sandwich, $1500 in fifty-dollar bills, and 5 hits of acid. Preferably, each of these things would be adequately packaged to keep them from getting on each other.

2. Who did you want to be when you were a kid? Who do you want to be now?
a) A scientist, preferably the sort who got to be an astronaut.
b) Mostly myself, but better looking.

3. If you could ask your friends, family, partner(s), co-workers, or even other people on the street to change the way they interacted with you in one respect in order to make your life better, what would you ask them to change?
Two things: 1) stop fearing the internet, 2) generalize less.

4. If you were to make the one change in your habits, behaviour, or lifestyle that be most likely to make your life better, what would you change?
Probably stopping procrastinating. This would also include not worrying about whether the thing I was working on was going to turn out to be inadequate and just do it. So much of my putting off is about understanding that if I say that I did something at the last minute, people will understand why it's crap, whereas if I started the project when I should have, and it's crap, it would be just because I couldn't do any better a job. And that's okay. I prefer to be good at everything I try, but it doesn't kill me not to be.

5. What stops you from getting what you want out of life?
Not enough hours in the day, not enough Saturdays in the month.

6. What's the one thing that has happened to you that has done the most towards making you stronger, better, and more capable?
Perversely, living with the Bad Ex. I don't worry about money any more, because I know that I can support myself and somebody else out of my paycheck for a very, very long time. I also know that a great many things that I thought surely would kill me if they ever were to occur, actually will not kill me, but merely annoy me.

7. What skill or talent do you most wish that you had?
Drawing well. I draw at the level of "Oooh, is that a pony?", and so many of the things in my brain would be better communicated in pictures than words.

8. Do you have any skills or talents that seemed useless or silly to you at first, but you now are glad that you have? What are they?
Nope. I'm hoping to one day encounter a situation in which my ability to manifest the lyrics to songs I haven't heard in 10 years will be useful, though.

9. What one thing in the world are you most in love with right now?
Spontaneity.

10. If your life were a movie, what genre would it be in? Would you prefer to live a life that would make a different type of film?
I generally suspect it to be British comedy. I'm okay with that.

Here's mine!

[duriyah.livejournal.com]

1. If a magical wish-granting genie offered you a shoe-box and told you that whatever you wanted most that would fit inside that box would be what you'd find upon opening the lid, what would be in your box?
A piece of paper with the name of the career that I would be happy in for the rest of my life. Or better yet an acceptance letter for a job in said career.

2. Who did you want to be when you were a kid? Who do you want to be now?
As a kid I wanted to be a folk singer.
Now I don't know what I want to be. No, that's not true. Now I wish someone would pay me to be a student. I want to study (almost) every undergraduate major, one by one.

3. If you could ask your friends, family, partner(s), co-workers, or even other people on the street to change the way they interacted with you in one respect in order to make your life better, what would you ask them to change?
People treat me pretty well, but I think the world could do with more smiles and laughter in general.

4. If you were to make the one change in your habits, behaviour, or lifestyle that be most likely to make your life better, what would you change?
I need to work on being less irritable and negative.

5. What stops you from getting what you want out of life?
I have most of what I want out of life. But when I'm afraid of trying something new it's usually out of a fear of overcommitting myself and getting burned out.

6. What's the one thing that has happened to you that has done the most towards making you stronger, better, and more capable?
If we're talking happy coincidence, having a distressed aquaintence ask me to go to a meditation class with him. I have been going ever since (6 years so far), and I have truly become a better and happier person as a result.

7. What skill or talent do you most wish that you had?
Being organized.

8. Do you have any skills or talents that seemed useless or silly to you at first, but you now are glad that you have? What are they?
I can't think of any.

9. What one thing in the world are you most in love with right now? rfunk

10. If your life were a movie, what genre would it be in? Would you prefer to live a life that would make a different type of film?
Hmmm....quirky indie movie, I think. No, I like being quirky and indie ;-)

[gamera-spinning.livejournal.com]

1. If a magical wish-granting genie offered you a shoe-box and told you that whatever you wanted most that would fit inside that box would be what you'd find upon opening the lid, what would be in your box?
The deed, cashed complete mortage checks, receipt for taxes, and keys to my dream house.

2.Who did you want to be when you were a kid? Who do you want to be now? A rikishi, a priest, a novelist, a samurai, and Mechagodzilla (no, really).

3. If you could ask your friends, family, partner(s), co-workers, or even other people on the street to change the way they interacted with you in one respect in order to make your life better, what would you ask them to change?
Try to be more patient and kinder to each other. Oh, and more wild animalistic sex.

4. If you were to make the one change in your habits, behaviour, or lifestyle that be most likely to make your life better, what would you change? Avoid food made with high fructose corn syrup, which is something that I'm actually doing now.

5. What stops you from getting what you want out of life? An evil invisible monkey named Mimblepumbadoodoo who has taken it upon himself to give me a karmic hotfoot and metaphorical stiffarm every chance he gets.
No, seriously, probably my own laziness and distraction.

6. What's the one thing that has happened to you that has done the most towards making you stronger, better, and more capable? Divorce and moving to Kansas City.

7. What skill or talent do you most wish that you had? The ability to sing David Bowie songs in other languages, like Portugues. See "The Life Aquatic" for more info. I would say if superpowers were included, the ability to cause an orgasm just by touch, the same way an electric eel discharges electricity.

8. Do you have any skills or talents that seemed useless or silly to you at first, but you now are glad that you have? What are they?
Thanks to a dilettante membership in the SCA during college, I can not only fence, I can also capably hit people in metal/leather/carpet armor with sticks of rattan. My only victory on the field of battle was over a good natured, middle-aged hippie.

9. What one thing in the world are you most in love with right now? Hmm, one thing. If a thing is be a person, it would be rougewench, but if it's an interest, I suppose it would be the thrill of running and playing in especially fun tabletop games with people whose company I really enjoy.

10. If your life were a movie, what genre would it be in? Would you prefer to live a life that would make a different type of film?
It would be a comedy, because if life has any meaning, it's in laughter. Probably a comedy shown in a theatre with a jumpsuited guy and a couple of robots making wisecracks.
I might say that I would love to live a life that would be a porn film, but frankly, as entertaining as that sort of thing is, you turn it off after a few minutes and are on to a Roger Corman movie.

[lilia-blackbear.livejournal.com]

1. It would totally be empty and the genie would laugh his ass off when I eagerly opened it.
2. An older me. And now, a Dr. Me who makes everyone use my first name instead of my title. There was a time when I wanted to be someone else, but those days were missed in the questions coming after being a kid but before now.
3. To strangers -- admit now that they cannot figure me out. To friends and family -- I like you guys pretty much like the way we interact now.
4. I would change my quick temper. I my not (always) react outwardly, but when I do, it pisses me off. :-)
5. Absolutely nothing. Lots of things try, but nothing's stopped me yet.
6. Going through my difficult divorce; while I left by myself, I had fabulous friends and family supporting me who are still fabulous now that things are better. I learned so much, especially about other people. I re-learned some very important things I had forgotten about myself too. The most important thing I learned is my own worth; most people don't realize how much they are really worth, but livng in a state of worthlessness is a nasty place to live.
7. Read baby minds. But then stop it when they turn 2, because I don't want to be able to know exactly what people are thinking because I need to learn too as well as everyone else in the world.
8. Cross stitching and crocheting -- not that i thought they were silly, it's just that I thought they were incredibly easy. I still do, but I have realized now that being able to do them nicely really is a talent. My mom's work doesn't look like mine although she is really good at also; but I didn't really realize that other people just "don't get it" when I attempted to teach a few people. And they produced, well, sloppy projects that I would have been embarassed to put my name on. And techniques become refined over the years, so I can look back on early work and see all my dreadful mistakes that now I could easily avoid while someone else looks at it and sees beauty. But being able to do this "easy" stuff has paid... quite literally.
9. Thing? Not person? Besides, how could a Gemini pick one? It's all one in its multiplicty.
"The fresh Earth in new leaves dressed,
And the starry night;
Autumn evening, and the morn
When the golden mists are born.

I love snow, and all the forms
Of the radiant frost;
I love waves, and winds, and storms,
Everything almost
Which is Nature's, and may be
Untainted by man's misery.

I love tranquil solitude,
And such society
As is quiet, wise, and good"
-- Percy Bysshe Shelley
10. It would be unclassifiable like a movie based off an Amy Tan novel (without all the Chinese people) or a Cameron Crowe movie that sometimes you find in comedy sections, sometimes drama when they really belong in a 'tween section. Never horror, though. And no, I wouldn't prefer it any other way.

Hmmm

[gr8wolf.livejournal.com]

1- A checkbook to an account that had enough money in it to cover all the expenses I NEED for life...notice I said "need" not "want"
2- No doubt my Dad was my hero then...and he still is now...I want to be like him
3- Dont ever try to play games with me...be honest
4- I would quit smoking
5- My brutally blunt and aggressive "no BS" nature
6- Well, Im on life #9...kinda gets your attention
7- Profitable schmoozing
8- I have thought at one time or other that most of my skills were odd...but I dont think so now, because they have all come into play at one time or other during my life
9- My daughter...the LBF
10- A documentary, and...no