How many keys are on your keychain? Four: house, car, work, PO box.

What curse word do you use the most? Fuck

Do you own an iPod? Yes, 60 gig with video, but I never use the video. Who wants to watch TV on a 2" screen?

What time is your alarm clock set for? 6:00am, most days. Turned off on the weekends. I wake up with the light no matter when the clock is set for.

How many suitcases do you own? None, just an assortment of backpacks, hippy sling bags, messenger bags and a hydration pack

Do you wear flip-flops even when it's cold outside? I can't wear them longer than a few hours. They bug my toes.

Where do you buy your groceries from? Vashon Thriftway. I won't shop at the only other grocery on the island, because it isn't pretentious and doesn't let me pretend I'm better off than I am.

Would you rather take the picture or be in the picture? Take the picture.

What was the last movie you watched? Broken Flowers with Bill Murray. Who knew, in 1975, that he'd be wise, droll, sexy, and one hell of an actor?

Do any of your friends have children? Indeed.

If you won the lottery, what's the first thing you would buy? A house on Vashon Island, in the woods with low-bank waterfront.

Has anyone ever called you lazy? My parents might have, but it's been at least 20 years.

Do you ever take medication to help you fall asleep faster? Not often, and only if there is something happening the next day that is crucial. Otherwise I listen to my body and try to welcome the experience that is the insomnia.

What CD is currently in your CD player? Chess, ELP Works Volume One, and "Mauri's Fill'er up" mix I made for my friend Maurice two years ago.

Do you prefer regular or chocolate milk? Darigold 1% for everything but coffee, which gets half and half.

Has anyone told you a secret this week? Not that I know of. I sure hope not. I hate them. I'm terrible about that kind of thing.

When was the last time someone hit on you? This morning, on my couch! :)

What did you have for dinner? Ling Ling pot stickers from Costco.

Do you wear hoodies often? almost never. Own two, worn them a total of ten or 15 times in 2 years.

Can you whistle? Yup, with my lips, and sometimes with my nose.

Have you ever participated in a protest? Yes, the "Deaf President Now" protest (Seattle version) back when Gallaudet University eventually appointed I. King Jordan.

Who was the last person to call you? The Cajun.

What is your favorite ride at an amusement park? I get violently ill on rides due to an inner ear problem. But I used to love roller coasters!

Do you think people talk about you behind your back? Yes, because it's the nature of the work I do, and the particular culture of my workplace. It's not malicious, but when you live in a small town, it's more just a means of entertainment. Speculation is a full-time sport for some folks here.


What area code are you in right now? 206, westside, represent!

Did you watch cartoons as a child? Yup. Favorites were Speed Racer, the original Jonny Quest, Josie and the Pussycats, The Jetsons, The Flintstones, Scooby Doo, and though not technically a cartoon, Land of the Lost, which was a Saturday morning cheesy live-action show (now available on DVD, for those of you as sick as I am)

How big is your local mall? There is no mall on Vashon. Closest thing is the strip with Thriftway, True Value, the liquor store and Dr. Carlson, the chiropractor.

How many siblings do you have? Two - a sister who will be 37 in April, and a brother who was 35 in August.

Are you shy around the opposite sex? No, until I think they might like me "that way", and then I can be. Depends.

What is your biggest regret? Not pursuing a music performance degree in my twenties.

Have you ever had Jamba Juice? Yes - love that Raspberry lime sublime with immunity boost. I realize it's glorified sherbet, but who cares? It's tasty. I should really just make some at home and save some serious cash.

When was the last time you laughed so hard your sides hurt?
The first time the Cajun gave me a massage. It was provoking, to be sure.

What movie do you know every line to? The Big Chill, Better Off Dead, St. Elmo's Fire, Real Genius, Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Do you own any band t-shirts? used to, they wore out.

When was your last plane ride? March 2005, from Seattle to Spokane. It took .5mg of xanax and a glass of white wine, and I still panicked. Oh well, this is my cross to bear.

How many chairs are at your dining room table? Two - the oak chair my grandfather used to have at his desk, and a foldable IKEA teak chair from the cafe set on my deck (I need 50's vinyl and aluminum chairs to go with my 50's kitchen table)

What is your favorite salad dressing? Cardini's Original Caesar.

Do you read for fun? Yes. A lot.

Can you speak any languages other than English? I speak a little Norwegian, and I'm conversationally fluent in American Sign Language. I used to be an ASL interpreter, but it's been 7 years.

Do you do your own dishes? Yes, by hand except when there are too many, then some in the mini-dishwasher, some by hand. I live alone, so I wonder who else would do them?

What color is your bedroom painted? off-peach. My landlady doesn't have a good sense of color.

Have you ever cried in public? Yes, sometimes without caring, sometimes with great embarrassment.

Do you have a desktop computer or a laptop? Laptop. Lying on my couch, legs propped on two cushions, watching Discover.

Which do you make, wishes or plans? Plans. I have wishes, but they are simply released into the ether like so many dandelion clocks. Plans make me feel like there is purpose.

Are you always trying to learn new things? Yes. Often. But I'm learning to live with just lying back and experiencing.

Do you shower on a daily basis? Almost every day. Once in a while, it's nice to just roll out of bed, do up the ponytail, grab an Earl Grey at the coffeehouse, and putter up to work.

Are you currently wanting any piercings or tattoos? I am waiting to get my next tattoo until summer 2008, when my sister and I go to northern Norway to meet our people. I am looking for an Alta petroglyph that resonates.

Do you believe that the guy should pay on the first date? I think I should always plan on paying for myself, then give in when he insists on paying.

Can you skip rocks? Yes, when I pick the right rocks.

Have you ever been to Jamaica? No, though my first husband went while we were still dating, and didn't seem to care that I couldn't afford to go. Good thing we're still friends.

What to snack on at the movie theaters? Milk Duds.

Who was your favorite teacher? John Cooke, high-school biology; Jill Ekar, Social Studies/Anthro in 8th grade. She introduced me to archaeology, paleontology, and all curiosity about the past.

Have you ever dated someone out of your race? Does Hawaiian count? I never thought about dating in racial terms.

What is the weather like? Foggy mornings, mild afternoons around 50, ice on the ground if the morning is clear.

Would you ever date someone covered in tattoos? Well, since I have three myself, I guess it wouldn't be the tattoos that would be a dealbreaker.

Do you have an online journal? Um, DUH.

What was your favorite class in high school? Jazz choir. Lots of fun, and nothing to carry.

Do you enjoy traveling via airplanes? I love the idea of it, but my anxiety problems make it a bit challenging. I can do it if I need to, and if the time saved is worth the discomfort I will feel.

What personality trait is a must-have in your preferred gender(s)? wit, love of life, calculated risk taking, tolerance.

Have you ever been attracted to someone physically unattractive? I don't get the question.

When was the last time you slept on the floor? May 2006 when I moved to my Tacoma apartment. As long as I sleep on my back and prop my legs, I can sleep just fine on any hard surface.

What is your favorite alcoholic drink? The occasional Tanqueray and tonic with a squeezed wedge of lime.

Does your closest Starbucks have a drive-thru? No. But I know where the nearest Starbuck drive through is - about two miles from the nearest non-drive-through Starbucks. But since I live on an island, I prefer Café Luna.

Do you like your living arrangement? Yup - I live on the top floor of what used to be a post office and a Mosquito Fleet provision stop. My apartment has a deck that overlooks Puget Sound and the Kitsap Peninsula, and when I look southwest, I see all the weather coming. I can't wait for summer.

What is your mother's hometown? Jersey City, NJ, but she moved to Seattle in 1964 and that was that.

How many hours of sleep do you need to function? seven

Do you eat breakfast daily? yes, because when I don't I wind up eating everything in sight by 10:30

What was the last thing to scare you? Totaling my car and seeing what it looked like. Happy to be alive.

Are your days full and fast-paced? My days are full, for the most part, but I'm learning to NOT fill them and just enjoy them instead.

Did you ever get in trouble for talking in class? Um, HELLO!

What is your favorite fruit? a perfectly ripe Yakima Valley nectarine.

Do you pay attention to calories on the back of packages? Rarely. If I have to check, I already know I should have much of it, or any.

How old will you be turning on your next birthday? Old enough to know better but too young to resist.

Are you picky about spelling and grammar? Yes, though I can overlook it when it doesn't matter. Texting and chatting online seem less crucial to me.

Do you believe in life on other planets? I think there are endless possibilities in an existence this large.

Have you ever been to Six Flags? No. Not my kind of thing. Now, Deal's Gap, there's a ride! (www.dealsgap.com)

Who was the last person to piss you off? A co-worker, and I'm over it now. It was informative to figure out why I was upset, and change my response to the person.

Do you believe that God has a gender? Immaterial. Pun intended.

What was the last thing you ate? Potstickers and a gin and tonic. But those fresh Toll House cookies are calling me...

Do you get along better with the same or opposite sex? Yes.

What did you dress up as for your first Halloween? Barbie, I think.

How did your parents pick your name? My parents saw "Born Free" when my mom was 8 months pregnant, so Elsa I am. It didn't hurt that my father's mother was Else, the Norwegian equivalent.

Do you like mustard? Most kinds, not too much on the honey mustard.

What do you tell yourself when times get hard? I repeat my mother's useless but well-meant aphorism: "It won't be as long as it has been."

Would you ever sky dive? Nope. But thanks. I'll watch.

Do you sleep on your side, tummy, or back? Mostly on my side, but that makes my back hurt. Now I'm experimenting with the exciting world of leg-propping wedges and cushions.

What character from a movie most reminds you of yourself? Well, looks-wise, Ione Skye in "Say Anything", but she's not a super-close match. Maybe Ione Skye morphed with Bjork.

Have you ever bid for something on ebay? No. Too ethereal a way to do business for my comfort.

Do you enjoy giving hugs? I tend to hesitate, but then melt in when the other person clearly wants one.

Would you consider yourself to be fashionable? I immediately heard Patrick Stewart in "Jeffery" saying "Oh, get her!" No, I'm not fashionable.

Do you own a digital camera? Yes.

If someone you had no interest in dating expressed interest in dating you, how would you feel? Confused, unsure of how to respond. I'm not good at that kind of thing, and I'm not used to people wanting to date me, anyway.

What celebrities have you been compared to? Janeane Garofalo.

Who is your favorite Star Wars character? I've known since the eight grade that someday Han Solo will come for me.

Does it annoy you when someone says they'll call but never do? Yes. Because I believed them when they said it!

What books, if any, have made you cry? About half the books I've ever read!

Do you think you're attractive? I think there are people who see me for who I am and who appreciate that. I've been told I'm cute, but I know I'm not a knockout or the kind of woman that our society has decided to portray as beautiful. I am a handy, handsome, woman.

What are you allergic to? Sulfa drugs. I have a weird reaction to nitrous oxide gas - it makes me cry for about three days after I have it, so I don't have it anymore. I just take a xanax if I have to, but I seldom have to.

Are you a jealous person? No, not intellectually. I might feel the first pangs of it, then I remind myself that it was anautomatic reaction, not a thoughtful response.

What's your opinion on sex without emotional commitment? It can be fun, it can be more than fun.

Do you ever feel guilty after eating meat? I used to, but I came to a place of peace about it.

If you were born the opposite sex, what would your name have been? Jon-Erik, after my paternal great-grandfather. But now that's my little brother's name.

Did you ever celebrate "Pi Day" in school? No, I don't know that one. We had fourth grade luau when we studied Hawai'i . . .