flwyd | Step Once More into the Shower Meme (Reply)

As part of the shower meme,

supereggo asked me five questions. You may post a comment requesting five of your own, which I shall provide. You will then post the answers in your journal and make the same offer to ask questions.

1) What's the absolute longest you would ever let your hair grow?

It stops on its own at my waist. This is fine by me, since otherwise I'd sit on it and hurt my neck.

2) What's your favorite "non-holiday" holiday? Why?

Today! The beginning of Daylight Saving Time means I'll be able to enjoy the ambient light and pleasant heat of the sun for a full hour more each day. This year is especially cool because I get several more weeks of sun.

Today the weather celebrated as well. I read about Nikola Tesla naked on the porch. I took a walk in a T-shirt around Columbine High School. Even though I couldn't get to sleep until four or five and was in bed until noon, I don't feel like my day was incomplete. Compare to yesterday when I had trouble getting off the floor.

3) Your collection of "stuff you really like" needs to shrink - what do you give away? What do you get the next time you see fit to add to said collection?

I have a lot of books I probably won't get around to reading. I could probably shed some of those. There's a lot of stuff on my hard drive that could probably go. Music that isn't very good, pictures I took that are fuzzy, programs I downloaded and don't run. But those aren't really hard decisions.

I find very attractive the thought of driving around for several months with nothing but food, water, camping gear, a journal, and a road atlas. It'd be weird to go without a computer for a whole summer, but it might be liberating. This fantasy always concludes in starting a new and interesting software development job. I can put down my debugger, but you'll have to pull the algorithms out of my cold, dead brain.

4) What is one of the most impacting rituals or circles that you have been a part of?

I can't overstate the awesomeness of my circle in college. Over the course of four years we experimented, learned, shared, supported, struggled, and rejoiced together. Even though one woman was the key force in starting the group, she made it clear that she didn't want to be "the leader." The group did an amazing job of acting by consensus. Everyone took turns leading rituals and did so in their own style as they developed their ideas and practices. We stuck together through seasonal scholastic cycles, intense conflict between members, mental, physical, and emotional challenges, and members who left for several reasons. We've gone our separate ways now and I miss everyone a lot. I often think I should contact folks, but I usually don't follow through.

I tried to start a similar group with the Potluck Tradition when I moved to Jefferson County. We had a few promising biweekly gatherings, but when I was out of town a few times nobody picked up the torch and led, so the group didn't gain momentum. Maybe I'll try again soon.

5) How many times have you participated in this meme? And what's the best question you've asked and answer you've received?

I've just gone through and tagged all my shower meme entries. I went several rounds in 2003 when anoisblue came up with it in the shower. (Interestingly, the meme outlasted her journal.) It then periodically crept up again. This will be my tenth post tagged with "shower meme," you are my fourteenth interviewer.

I don't remember most of the questions I've asked. If anyone remembers thinking hard about a question I asked them, post a comment.

6) Are you aware that you are a contestant on this season of American Idol?

Yeah. I heard I lost in a late round. Maybe I should try for American Idolater next time.