Question Fun-Bloke

Saucy Questions & Spicy Answers

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The Chocolate Box – 18 Questions – This is from A Guy Called Bloke, better known as the guy who loves to ask questions.

The Once Every 6 Weeks Saucy and Spicy, Sugary Sweet and Sour Game
Game 2 – Season 1 (Does this sound like it’s all about either food or sex? That’s what attracted me to play this game!)
February 2021

What is your reaction and interpretation to ……….. “Oooh l say that’s a big one!”
Usually a fish – like a record-breaking muskie. (I spent all the summers of my youth in northern Wisconsin. That’s what people do up there – they fish and hope to break the latest record.)

Are you more introverted, extroverted or ambiverted or if you prefer ‘lean more towards’ ambiversion?
I like that word – ambiverted. That does describe me.

Do you think you honestly know ‘hand upon heart’ what members of the opposite sex actually think?
I don’t think men are so different than women in what they think, in terms of love or relationships.. However, they do tend to think about different things than women if my husband is typical of the average male, which I think he is. Part of it is cultural conditioning too, so that men tend to prefer sports or tinkering with their cars, etc. Also when they are together, they don’t go into their personal lives as much as women. And they don’t always think about the way women think about casual sexual overtures. (I’m thinking of Andrew Cuomo, who is now facing sexual harassment charges, which he denies. He didn’t think of it as harassment, apparently.)

Which is more appealing of these two attributes only – brawn or brains?
Definitely brains, although physical appearance is undeniably important especially for initial attraction. I mean, people who are not physically attractive have to work harder to get the opposite sex to get interested in them.

What are some of your strangest quirks?
I make weird noises just for the hell of it, or to drive my cat crazy. She’s on to me already, however, so I don’t faze her anymore. But my husband shakes his head and mumbles something about the eccentric woman he married. Anyway, I’m pretty good at making strange noises – I’ve got quite a repertoire! I can also imitate animal noises so well that I really do freak out any domestic animal (cats or dogs mostly) that happens to be around.

What or when is the dirtiest you have ever been [your interpretation]?
I was trying to write a novel for NaNoWriMo, expanding on a short story I’d written years ago. My daughter and I took a “writing weekend” by ourselves at a hotel, and stayed in separate rooms to work on our novels. I wrote for HOURS. I got to the point of writing a sex scene, which turned out to be quite, um, graphic. Actually, there were several sex scenes that happened one after another, but one of them in particular was really detailed. After I wrote it, I was sort of embarrassed but I know there are authors who write this kind of stuff a lot – but I don’t read it. And to this day, I can’t read that scene I wrote without feeling kind of shocked.

By the way, I never finished the novel. (There didn’t seem to be a good way to proceed after that to continue to hold readers’ attention…)

Do you prefer to give, receive or take away?
I like them all, but lately giving stuff away is much more a part of my life. I am at that stage of life where I’m downsizing and letting go of lots of things I’ve accumulated that I considered so important at some point in my life. The easiest thing to do is to give them to others who will appreciate and make use of them.

Have you ever eating edible clothing?
No, what do you have in mind?? If it’s chocolate, I’ll be right over!!

Do you like it saucy or just enjoy a good sauce?
Depending on what “it” is. If it’s food, I prefer sauce.

Have you ever performed the naughty or nauighties in the car, your car, a car, any car?
Sort of, yes – I was 18 working at my first summer job, and my boyfriend was visiting. I was staying at our family’s summer home in northern Wisconsin and I had been driving my grandmother’s car for the summer. We drove down some back roads that wind around the lakes and countryside and stopped in a small clearing, and after the, well, what we did in the car, we couldn’t find the key! Worse is that it had gotten dark by then! We were groping around for it on the ground and since it was just a single key with no key ring or anything attached, it was like finding a needle in a haystack. We were saved by a quirk that some cars had at that time: there were cars you could start without a key – the ignition stuck out a little, and if you could turn it, the engine would start. That’s what I did, so we got back home. (There were no cellphones in those days to call for help, of course.) But I did have to tell my mother about the lost key and my boyfriend’s face turned so red when I made up a lame excuse about what happened. I’m pretty sure my mom figured out what we had been up to!

Have you ever skinny dipped or taken part in naked mud wrestling?
Skinny-dipped, yes. It was in the lake at the abovementioned summer home. My mother skinny dipped every morning, so once I went with her. We went down to the lake with our bathing suits on, and took them off in the water. Before we got out, we squirmed into our wet suits.

Are your more of a sweet or a sour person?
I prefer sweet and sour! (Ether the combination is great, or you never know what you’re getting when you come into contact with me.)

Where would you find the Sea of Tranquility?
On the moon – but it’s not much of a sea, since there’s no water on the moon. Perhaps it’s how the Dead Sea will be a few years from now when it dries up completely. (The Dead Sea’s ratio of salt to water increases every year and it is expected to dry up sooner than previously thought, due to climate change.)

What five items could you buy at a supermarket which would make the cashier give you an uncertain if not just weird look?
Contraceptives – i.e. condoms (which is the only kind of contraceptive you can buy in a supermarket), which would probably cause a stir considering I’m not young anymore. Then stocking up on only the most caloric comfort foods they have – big chocolate donuts, a cake with the inscription “Happy Divorce” (especially coupled with the condoms), lots of chocolate sauce (which has multiple uses), and a case of cheap wine. Those young cashiers have no idea how much fun old people are capable of!

Ok, you have been arrested and no one one knows why – what would your friends think you had done?
They wouldn’t be able to figure it out. I’m not sure even I would know what I had done – I’m such a law-abiding citizen!

Oh dear, for some bizarre reason you find yourself in an insane asylum how can you convince those in charge you don’t belong there?
I’m thinking “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” type of place, right? I’m not sure, but I definitely wouldn’t display my weird quirks like making the strange noises I mentioned in a previous question! Maybe I would sing religious hymns to them, and act very pious.

You have two outfits but only one choice – which do you choose to wear for the day of the following …. skin tight flesh coloured body suit OR a very holey oversized long tee shirt?
Probably the skin tight flesh-colored body suit. At least I could exercise in it. But the holey T-shirt? People in my community might not approve.

What is a whack when used in relationship to the term ‘out of whack?’
Whack would be what is normal, whatever the expected function or action or thought might be.

12 Bloggerz August 2020: On the State of Our World, Our Nation and Ourselves

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Rory at A Guy Called Bloke has a monthly 12 question challenge, called 12 Bloggerz August 2020.

Meet the Bloggerz Directory

We live in a questioning world so it’s hardly surprising that there are so many questions that are asked by people every day, week and month is it? This feature will ask you all sorts of questions – but will only ever ask you 12 questions per month. You can answer them in the comments section below or create a post on your own blog should you wish to – that’s your choice.

In many ways this feature will be a no holds barred styled questions arena – covering many topical areas, controversial, opinionated – taboo orientated and just general and light hearted – just questions about people and things from all walks of life!

Additionally should any of the readership wish to pose a question to be featured within 12 Bloggerz in the future episodes – please drop me an email to aguycalledbloke63@gmail.com

Cheers Rory

Your answers to these questions are down to your individual interpretation of each question.

So here goes:

As a society are we really that social anymore – like it used to be?
We are social in a different way – today it’s all about social media, online meetings, Zooming, etc. But I don’t think we are as likely to take a nice leisurely lunch with a friend, for the pleasure of simply chatting. Do we really care about the person we’re socializing with? A lot of social media seem to be a forum for people to tell their own story and hope that other people will read their posts. And I find that it’s easier to just scroll and hit “like” when I feel I should. But I’m not knocking social media – nowadays it’s the way to keep in touch with people I care about but rarely get to see. I’ve blogged about this before, such as here.

If only l was twenty years younger l would … ?
Twenty years ago, when I was in my 40s, I was antsy to find a more meaningful profession. If I were to go back with 20/20 hindsight, I would not have chosen teaching. I was preoccupied (although somewhat justifiably) with the wrong things. I should have been asking, Will I be happy doing this? Can I really be good at it? Do I want it just for salary and benefits (because believe it or not, teaching had better pay and benefits than what I was doing before)? If I could, I would have done more research on professions that would suit me better.

Is society ruder more now than it used to be back in the day?
Yes, most definitely. People put themselves first. They talk about their “rights” but rarely about the responsibilities that go with those rights. Our current federal government (USA) has encouraged, aided and abetted this attitude. We do not have good role models in leadership roles.

Emperor Trump: Tattoo'd, rude and in an impeachable mood - al.com
Trump: Leader of lies, rudeness and hype

Is our world hyper-focusing progression on the wrong things or in the wrong direction?
If you mean, do I think humanity is trending toward the wrong direction, I would say yes, but not everybody and not everywhere. I think our planet and our ability to continue living on it and respecting other creatures we share it with should be top priority for everyone right now. There are so many other problems connected with climate change – the biggest polluters are not the ones who will suffer most from the results. Greta Thunberg has the right priorities!

Do you think there is any truth what so ever to any current conspiracy theories?
No, and I don’t think it deserves any more of an answer than this.

Are you more confused about the shape of our world today more so than when younger? 
Confused, no – I think I understand our world a whole lot better than I did when I was young(er). Concerned, yes, as everyone should be.

Do we as a society simply have too many labels and too many label hunters?
Yes, but at the same time, sometimes “labels” are helpful – not to stereotype, but to provide help to those who need it. So if a kid is diagnosed with ADHD, don’t just dismiss it by saying, “It’s just a label.” It’s not, and neither are a myriad of other disorders and disabilities. “Being depressed” isn’t just being sad. It’s a very serious, and debilitating mental illness that can lead to addiction or worse.

Are you more or less family orientated?
Yes, I am family oriented, because my family is my greatest blessing. I grew up in a mostly loving home and I love getting together with my siblings’ families. Family is my top priority. I think it is the source of most people’s happiness.

Do you dress up ‘smart’ to go out or is your style more casual all day every day?
I like casual, but I also like to dress up a little. Right now, I lament the fact that I bought a lot of new clothes to wear at our senior community’s dining room and events, and now none of those things are taking place so I’m not wearing all the new clothes I bought.

But in general, I wear what is comfortable and what best hides my aging bulges!

With the current ‘pandemic’ do you miss ‘Yesterday’s way of life or not?
Of course, doesn’t everyone? But I am so angry with selfish people who won’t do what medical professionals are telling us and as a result, the pandemic and its restrictions are dragging on longer than necessary. No one really likes to wear a mask, but if that is what we need to do to protect others as well as ourselves, I am willing to do so. If everyone were willing to be on board with this, we would be able to get back to “yesterday’s” way of life again.

What I miss most is being able to travel.

What do you class as adventurous?
Anything that takes guts or involves taking risks. That said, I am not particularly adventurous, but I do like “adventures” – as in “travel adventures. “

Are you more conventional brick and mortar shopper or online and Internet buyer styled?   
I do both, because it depends on what I’m buying. I won’t buy shoes online, for example – I have to try them on to see if they are comfortable. In one style, I may wear a size 8, whereas in another style, I wear 8 1/2. Shoes are too important to take chances.

But right now, I love buying things online, because then I get packages in the mail – something to look forward to! I’ve been buying a lot of books, getting them cheap on Amazon. Also art supplies, and a variety of other miscellaneous things.

Amazon Smile logo - Ferrum College
Sorry for Amazon plug. That’s a whole other subject for discussion!

GCB-TTT: Lockdown Limbo

/ amoralegria / 2 Comments

A Guy Called Bloke Banner Topical Tropical Trinity JPEG

Topical Tropical Trinity questions are about your interests, your passions, your hobbies and activities and about living your life in general.
Each weekly game will have a fixed ‘subject’ and ask you two basic questions – and one three fold question.

Today’s Questions for Topical Tropical Trinity are based on ..
“Lockdown Limbo”
Q.1
How long have you personally been in lockdown – when was the last times you were out and about and will you automatically return to your life post-lockdown?

My husband and I live in a senior community, which declared lockdown (stay-at-home) the week of March 17. I’m don’t remember if the governor declared it that week or the next week. We have a new routine which took a couple of weeks to adjust to. We get our news from staff and exercise classes on TV – we have 2 close-captioned TV channels here.

I’ve only been “out” (off campus) a couple of times since then. It doesn’t seem that long though. The last time I was somewhere other than here was not for a good reason – I found out my son had OD’d on pills due to depression, and had been in the hospital, but was released. We went to his residence and pounded on the door and yelled his name until he answered. We had to find out how he was. He was OK, but this stay-at-home order is making life very difficult for him. He suffers from depression, a diagnosis he’s had for many years, which has made it hard for him to work steadily. He last worked for Uber, but he doesn’t want to do that now and have “random people” in his car. So he’s stuck at home and is getting bored with watching movies. (Things are really bad for him when he says he’s sick of watching movies!)

When this is all over (if ever!), I will resume my former life but it won’t be terribly different. I will start doing meetings with friends live instead of on Zoom, and I’ll go back to my book clubs, church and choir. When we take walks around here, we see some of our friends doing the same, so we stop to chat while standing on opposite sides of the road. (One friend carries a large umbrella – he’s figured out that the length of the umbrella plus the length of his extended arm is the mandated 6 feet!)

Q.2
Are you happy with your progress so far and your ability to stay sane? [Alternative question – When did you pass Go on the Insane journey – how is that going for you?]
Both Dale and I still have our wits about us. Dale spends a lot of his day watching Facebook videos. They are very eclectic musically, and sometimes very humorous. I read, write, blog, draw, do housework (Dale does that too), and try not to snack much – I’ve been able to keep my weight and have actually taken off a few pounds by eating only two normal sized meals a day, plus a reasonably healthy snack. We watch special programs the social directors provide – old movies, lectures, Cirque du Soleil, funny videos. We go out and walk around campus every day. Nature continues its march into spring, so I have a lot to delight me – green grass, flowers, and the mating of our resident swans. In May, I’ll start my garden. Since our community has most things we need – meals, exercise equipment, parties and other activities in “normal” times – we are not finding life so different. And the social directors have contests and games for us too! When the cygnets will be born is one of the contests – I said May 20, but now I think it will be earlier.

20200423_115004

5 swan eggs!

I do miss my church and library friends, however.  And I can’t wait to be able to travel again! Will my reunion in Arizona still take place in June? What about our cruise to the Amazon next November? Right now, I have no idea.

I did get a feeling of dread earlier this week when our governor announced lockdown will continue through May. Our state has had more than 20,000 cases of COVID-19 and the death toll keeps rising, although Chicago isn’t suffering as much as New York. The good thing is that he’s allowing some businesses to open, including golf courses, so that will get Dale out of the house!

20200425_141849The alteration in our routine means never going out without masks, (fortunately I know people who make them), calling in our dinner selections by 2 pm and having it delivered to our door. The most alarming thing is the amount of Styrofoam we’ve accumulated and the amount of time I spend wasting time!

 

Q.3
Have you started a new hobby?
Not a new one, I’m just trying to get back into my artwork (I miss my art classes!). I think about trying to take up the piano again, but keep resisting. Meanwhile, I have projects I’m trying to get done, because I have no excuse not to! I’ve already completed one, which was organizing and labeling the things in our linen/bathroom closet.

20200421_220027

This is my most recent drawing.

Actually, I have started a new hobby – I’ve downloaded a new game onto my phone called Wordstacks, and have quickly gotten addicted. I spend way too much time on games and puzzles on my phone. I also am reading more, because it doesn’t matter really when I go to bed or wake up.

Wordstacks logo

When was the last time you talked to the toilet? [No to the toilet not in the toilet]
I don’t talk to the toilet – I don’t have to because I talk to myself a lot, carrying on full conversations with me, I talk to the cat, to my husband, of course, and to some inanimate objects, but not the toilet. This has always been normal for me.

If you share the house with others – either animal or human – how is the extended home time coming along with loved ones?
Too much togetherness, I guess, but I think in general it’s been more bearable having someone else living with me. I pity the residents here who live alone! Our cat is overjoyed at having us around all the time. She can now beg for scraps from our dinner again, and we aren’t constantly leaving to do activities. Dale is the one who ventures out to stores to buy groceries about once a week. I’m looking forward to him going golfing again because he sometimes becomes demanding! 

I think the change hasn’t been as onerous for us as for others, such as our kids. We are retired so are used to fluidity in our routines and we don’t have a workplace to go to or income to lose. I mentioned our son; our daughter and her husband are working from home, but our daughter still has to go into Chicago three times a week on public transportation, so she won’t let us come near her or her husband, or our beautiful grandcats! They moved into our old house when we moved here, so they’re renting from us. They are especially grateful now, because they each have their own “office” in different parts of the house, and they can chill out on the deck out back. Our daughter said if this had happened when they still lived in their apartment, she would have killed her husband by now! Both love to cook so sometimes they deliver food to us, which is a treat!

Question Fun: Time

/ amoralegria / 7 Comments

Rory at A Guy Called Bloke and K9 Doodlepip has a twice weekly series of questions, called “Question Fun.”

Today’s topic is ………….. A Question of Time 

How often do you actually deep think of time as a concept?
Not often, unless my attention is drawn to it – I have read two books recently that dealt, partially or totally, with the concept of time: When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel Pink and Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking. Both were thought-provoking books.

When was the last time that you sat down and tried to visualise the future of the planet by 50 years? [Where are we going to be in the year 2069? Explain your thoughts]
I am often prompted to visualize the future of our planet. According to Stephen Hawking, we will either destroy Earth through nuclear war or environmental catastrophe caused by human avarice. Climate change is a global problem requiring urgent action to prevent our planet from becoming uninhabitable. By 2069, I have confidence that we will have gone a long way to tackle this problem. We simply cannot go on polluting and using up our finite natural resources as we have been. By 2069, I visualize electric cars as the norm – perhaps there will no longer be gas-powered cars by then – and artificial intelligence doing many of the jobs currently done by humans. The problems of the future may include sustainability and the scarcity of employment.

What time is it right now as in the time you are answering this question and where abouts are you in the world?
It is 9:46 p.m. and I am sitting in front of my computer in my home in Midwestern USA – specifically, Des Plaines, Illinois, a suburb northwest of Chicago.

Tell me about a time when you stepped out of your comfort zone?
When I decided to change careers and become an elementary school bilingual teacher. Teaching was the hardest thing I have ever done, and I often struggled with the myriad of tasks it required.

Last time you had a really good time was … ?
Two days ago, when I went with a friend to the Chicago Botanic Gardens. It was a beautiful day – pleasantly warm and sunny and the flowers of all kinds were abundant and beautiful. It is the time of year when we were able to see the field of red, orange, yellow and white poppies, and also a display of various colors of foxglove. Afterward, we had a really nice lunch. It was magnificent!

Quote Time!!! Display two excellent quotes on the subject of horology!
Horology is the study of prostitutes.
Watching gory movies made me an expert in horology.

Let the good times roll … please provide me with three song titles that are about the topic of time in your eyes?
Time Has Come Today by the Chambers Brothers
Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper
Time by Pink Floyd

Having a really good time means what in your world?
Traveling to an interesting place with a person I enjoy being with.

Time to ….. what?
Finish answering these questions!

Which term do you prefer more ?

Lost Time
Wasted Time
Time Spent
Time flies
Time flies because it reminds me that time is precious and I should make the most of it.

What do the following mean? [However DO NOT ANSWER the correct way but answer the incorrect way!]

Ahead of one’s time? Getting somewhere early
Behind the times? A person reading the New York Times by holding it up in front of his/her face so that the person is behind the newspaper.
In the nick of time? Adopting the timetable of a guy named Nick.
A Race against time! Visiting another part of the universe by going through a wormhole.
Having the time of your life? The lifespan of a person; all the time of one’s life.
Bide your time? Description of buying a clock by someone who doesn’t speak English fluently and thinks the past tense of “buy” is “buyed.”
Bad time for you? When time is bad, not good.
Having time on your hands? Description of a German clock maker.
All in good time? When all time is good, never bad.
A Matter of time? A conversation about the usefulness of wrist watches.

Can you write a small story on the subject of Time and the Giraffe?
The giraffe’s sense of time was guided by his instincts and the natural world. He knew when it was time to sleep, because it was night and he was safe, so he folded his long legs and lay down in the tall grass. It was always time to eat – he spent much of his day picking the tender leaves off the tips of acacia tree branches as well as munching baobob leaves and those in the canopy of the forest. He knew when it was preferable to hide, and he was able to camouflage himself perfectly in the foliage, where predators and pesky humans riding around in noisy vehicles couldn’t see him.

He knew when it was time to run because he would see a herd of zebras stampeding by. A predator – a lion or leopard – would be looking for an animal that lagged behind. He and his fellow giraffes would lope alongside the zebras, kicking up the dust of the Serengeti.

Thus his days and nights would pass, most of the time spent foraging at the tops of trees.
858
He knew when he was mature, at the age of seven or eight, because he would suddenly feel an urge to find a mate.

He knew when it was time for mating when he would smell the urine of a female in heat. He would have to take time to woo and pursue her (and hopefully not have to fight with another male for her), letting her know his intentions by putting his head on her back and pushing his front legs into her rear legs. When she was willing, she would stand still and he would be able to mount her – a rather tricky and awkward process, but the giraffe knew how to do the act smoothly and quickly.
SONY DSC

A long time later, his offspring would come into the world, falling several feet from its mother’s body to the ground. Then it was time to guard his mate and calf until instinct would tell him it was time to leave. Once again his days and nights would pass – mostly peacefully – chewing tender acacia leaves until the urine of a female would tell him it was time to mate again.

Question Fun: On Adventures, Travel & Explorations

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I know I’m late for this one, but I just didn’t have time to do it before now, and then I saw “Bipolar Barb”‘s answers and got inspired. This is one of my favorite topics, so please forgive me!!!

Welcome to Question Fun The Twice Weekly Game!
An easy game, and more so if you love questions! Each game has a topic, and then there are 23 questions relating to the topic – they can be visual, musical, personal, professional, topical, serious, thought provoking, fun, weird and even wacky – the questions will cover all fields and there is no structure to follow, so it could orderly one day and completely random the next time you play!
Today’s topic is ………….. Adventuring, Exploration and Travel/ling

What are five [in your eyes only] top quality Adventure films?
Instellar – In a future where humans are struggling to survive, astronauts venture into space through a wormhole to search for a new home for humankind.
Contact – a young woman takes a spaceship to a planet in another galaxy, not knowing what she will find or if she will even get there.
The Martian – The ultimate adventure that could plausibly take place in the next 100 years! An astronaut is left for dead on Mars by his crew members, who return to Earth. He must learn to survive Mars’ hazards until he can communicate with Earth and be rescued. This was a good movie, but the book was better!
Armegeddon – NASA discovers that an asteroid is going to hit Earth and sends a crew to land on the asteroid and divert it. OK, this film is not “top quality” but it  is actually a real possibility – it is against all odds that Earth has not been impacted by a devastating asteroid since the time of the dinosaurs.
The Lost City of Z – the only one of my five that takes place on Earth and is really true! It’s the story of a writer who traces the route of past explorers into the Amazon jungle to find a “lost city” known as “Z”, a possibly mythical place but whose legend has endured to this day. To get there, he faces many hazards and possibly death, since none of the explorers of the past returned from their expeditions.
In all of these films, characters face the unknown and the probability of not returning home alive. [Please provide links and say why you think they are]
What would be your ideal Adventure [not holiday – Adventure]? 
to be an archaeologist or help a team of archaeologists excavating ancient Egyptian ruins (I mean for real, not like Raiders of the Lost Ark!)
If you were planning your Adventure of a Lifetime which is the best season for you to go? Winter, early spring or late fall in a warm climate or southern hemisphere because I hate the cold.
What kind of activities do you enjoy doing and what would you never do?
I like to explore new places, then write about it, reading, photography and being in nature. I would never go hang gliding, mountain or rock climbing, skydiving or ziplining. (I did go ziplining once, in Costa Rica – never again!)
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year out of the answers below, where would you choose? The forest.
What are three great adventure quotes?
These are the answers “Bipolar Barb” gave, but they are great and I couldn’t come up with anything better. 
“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” — Eleanor Roosevelt;
“Keep reading. It’s one of the most marvelous adventures that anyone can have.” — Lloyd Alexander
“Until you step into the unknown, you don’t know what you’re made of.”
― Roy T. Bennett
America is named after?
Amerigo Vespucci
Who reached North America first out of the following peoples? Spanish, British, Vikings, Portuguese
Vikings – archaeologists have found evidence of Viking habitation in Canada from back in the 12th century or earlier. They were master sailors and conquerors.
map_viking_voyages.jpg
What was Christopher Columbus’s aim of his second voyage to the New world? Probably to rape & pillage and steal all the gold. Really, I don’t know, but that is what he and his men did. They wanted to find “El Dorado” – a city made of gold.
What happened to the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan? It is buried under Mexico City.
What was the most exciting Adventure you have ever been on? Four days hiking/backpacking in the Grand Canyon
Where in the world have you had the most fun exploring as an adult?  I guess I have to say Scotland, because it is one place that we set our own agenda – we weren’t on a tour. It was in 1999, and my mother was with us. She had ancestors in Scotland and we explored some of the places that were part of their history.

dunnottar-castle-june.jpg

I downloaded this image from Bing, but this was a place in Scotland that we just happened to see when we were driving, so we stopped and explored! Well worth the visit!

When in Rome, one does as the Romans do; however, when on a sandy beach, one does ……….. ? Build a sand castle.
Whilst out and about exploring on an adventure, what is the scariest thing that has happened to you? I was almost kidnapped at O’Hare airport when I was 16, and also, in Mexico City, I got into an unmarked car whose driver claimed it was a taxi. If it hadn’t been for the alertness of the friend I was with, God knows what would have happened.
Of the following choices which would you prefer to explore?
Well, a forgotten city is sort of like a ghost town, which can be fun to explore. Ghost towns usually have great photo opps!
A sunken city – I would love it if it is no longer “sunken.” (Tenochtitlan is buried under Mexico City; many Egyptian ruins were buried under sand, but no longer. Do these count?)
A lost city – if it’s lost, how can I explore it?
An uninhabited island – that would be fun to explore also, as long as “uninhabited” includes dangerous animals!
uninhabited island.jpg
Why did you pick your option above, what appealed?
Sunken cities are archaeological goldmines, and I love learning and speculating about life in the distant past.
Would you rather swim with sharks or dolphins? Are you really expecting anyone to answer “sharks”? Dolphins, of course.
What’s the worst piece of travel advice you have ever received? It never really gets cold in Israel. WRONG!!
What is on the top of your bucket list? Going on another safari, perhaps in South Africa; visiting China; a cruise of the Greek Islands. In 2 1/2 weeks we are going to Europe, and while I am in France, I will visit Mont St. Michel, which I can then cross off my bucket list!
Best musical track you can think of for each of the following: exploration, adventuring or travelling? [Please provide links]
City of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie (traveling)
Africa by Toto (adventuring – safari!!)
This Land Is Your Land performed by Pete Seeger (exploring – there is so much variety in this country!)
How many countries [or States/Counties] have you visited – please list. I’ve been to 42 U.S. states, I think: New York, New Jersey, California, Arizona, Texas, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho (very limited), Utah, Washington, Oregon (very limited), Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alaska, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina (limited), South Carolina, Florida, Massachusetts, Vermont, Minnesota, Maine (only Acadia NP), District of Columbia, Maryland, Michigan, West Virginia. (I need to take two trips: Northeast and deep South!) I only counted states that I actually visited, and not states that I’ve driven through while on a road trip. My rule is I at least have to get out of the car and see something.  Oh, I have also been to Puerto Rico which is part of the United States, but it isn’t a state (yet).
Countries: Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Cuba, Costa Rica, Colombia (only Cartagena), Brazil, Peru, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Russia (St. Petersburg), Finland, Sweden, France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Egypt, Tanzania, Israel. In other words, NOT NEARLY ENOUGH! There’s a lot of world left to see!!!
Three items you simply could not travel without? Phone, notebook & pen, water bottle
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