The mission

As he says, a bit mushy…

1. One thing that really annoys me is when someone at work will just start clipping their fingernails at their desk. In most cases, it is men who do this, which only makes it worse. I can’t explain why this grates on my nerves, but when I hear that “click-click-click” of the clippers, I just imagine nasty fingernail fragments flying everywhere. What habit do people have that drives you crazy but doesn’t seem to bother anyone else?

Uhm. Talking loudly on their mobile on the bus? Though I suspect that annoys a lot of other people, too.

2. I just had to replace the compressor in my car. That was $400 I didn’t have that is now gone. Have you had any expensive car trouble recently?

I don’t have a car. I love not having a car.

3. A friend of mine came over for dinner with us this recently, and brought her baby. At only 8 months he is as cute as the dickens, but when he got hungry, his momma just whipped out her boob for him to start chowin’ down on. Among friends or family I can see why she wouldn’t be shy, but it still made me a little uncomfortable. I realize it is a natural function and wonderful bonding experience, but I wasn’t ready to be a part of it. How do
you feel about mothers who breastfeed their children in public? At what age do you think they should stop?

I say go to it. I’d much rather have people breastfeeding in public than screaming babies, and the latter is what you get when people are too shy to “whip it out”.

4. I was watching the “Antiques Road Show” recently, and the resident “expert” presented the “Atari 2600” game system as a popular collectible. I am now officially OLD! Do you recall the first item from your youth that became an “antique” and made you feel old and how you felt? Or if it hasn’t happened, yet, what item do you think it will be and how do you expect it to make you feel?

Several things from my “youth” have become if not antique then at least collectible. Whenever I see anyone talking about these things, I mostly regret the fact that I no longer have whatever it is, or that I never had it in the first place, as my parents bought me sensible, timeless toys for preference, things like Lego and Playmo, which, though the model may not be available in the shop any more, the toys’ design has changed so little that they might as well have been brand new (except for the marks of use, obviously). As a rule, though, I don’t mind “feeling old”. Whenever that feeling hits me it’s more a case of disbelief than of regret (“Surely I was 13 a few weeks ago” rather than “I wish I were still 13” – I most certainly don’t wish I were still 13).

5. It started raining last night as I was going to bed. Not storming or a hard rain, just a nice rainfall. The pitter-patter of raindrops hitting the window made for a peaceful way to drift to sleep (and also made it hard to wake up this morning). Do you like rainy days/nights? What type of weather makes you feel relaxed?

I love rain. Especially sitting inside watching it, but I also like to go out and get wet. As for relaxing, well, rain’s good. The only weather I really don’t like is too much sun and heat, which makes me feel sticky and hot and bothered, and also lazy and restless at the same time, which, I can tell you, is quite an uncomfortable feeling.

6. We used to joke about the retired couple across the street. Every night, they would pull out their lawn chairs, sit in their driveway and watch the world go by. We laughed about how someone would just waste away their life like that. Now 8 years later, I pull out the lawn chairs and we find ourselves doing exactly the same thing. Life has a way of making one humble. Have you ever found that you have become that which you once ridiculed?

I can’t really think of anything I’ve ridiculed that I’ve started doing. I’m sure there must be something, though. I will update if anything crosses my mind later.

7. Have you ever sent an e-mail to the wrong person? What was the most embarrassing experience you remember?

No. That’s rather boring of me, but what can you do?