Birthday and the Usual Nonsense

So, it's my birthday.  Don't ask how old I am; I stopped counting after 1000 years and 5 re-generations (and it isn't easily translatable on your Earth calendars...).

I have to work today (teaching a class), but I also get to see an old friend (who just moved back to the U.S. from Australia, who I've not seen in a few years), so that should be fun.  Otherwise, aside from a lot of Facebook greetings, I'm not sure this will be a particularly celebratory day.

I've found lately that birthdays are kind of bittersweet.  My favorite ones are those I can spend with one or a few good friends.  Last year I had dinner with my parents, which was nice, but it was a bit too much like DINNER WITH MY PARENTS (if you have parents anything like mine, and you know who you are, you'll understand).  

Anyway, so as not to disappoint the readers of this journal who enjoy my usual nonsense, here you go:

1. What do you do if you can’t sleep at night?

Um, I'M DOING IT RIGHT NOW.

2. If you could live in any home on a television series, what would it be?

Two words: Batcave TARDIS.

3. Would you rather have an ant farm with no ants or a box of crayons with broken points?

First, WHO WRITES THESE QUESTIONS???  

Second, given those options, neither of which is even remotely appealing, I will, as usual, reject your reality and replace it with my own, and say I'll take a crayon farm and a box of ants (and yes, I want BOTH).

4. Who's your favourite Muppet?

Donald Trump (Think about it; it's the only plausible explanation...).

5. What's the best bargain you've ever found at a garage sale or thrift store?

I saw one of the best books ever, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, on sale for $2.  I felt a moral obligation to buy it so I could give it to one of my students, who I knew would give it a good home.

6. What's your favourite Barry Manilow song?

Such a thing does not exist on any planet (or dwarf planet, or moon, or asteroid, or comet) in any galaxy in any universe or in any parallel dimension or alternate timeline.

7. Describe something that's happened to you for which you have no explanation.

How anyone could possibly think I would have a favorite Barry Manilow song.

8. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?

I'm on a never-ending quest to find another word for "thesaurus."

9. What's your favourite commercial?

I don't normally like commercials.  But when I do, they include the Most Interesting Man in the World.

Stay thirsty, my friends...

10. What's your favourite form of exercise?

I've been following the White Queen workout (you know, imagining six impossible things before breakfast).