I’m once again shirking my regular Flash Fiction Friday commitment (busy week), but I’ll carry over the words left in the comments last week and really, really, try to get another one up next Friday. In the meantime, I’m going to steal this tag that originated on YouTube, but works for bloggers, too. 😁

I first saw this tag on Amy Tasukada’s YouTube, then later on Nell Iris’s blog. It originated on Nicki J. Markus/Asta Idonea’s YouTube.

Here are the 10 questions, and my answers:

Do you have a day job?

Does babysitting my granddaughter count?  I don’t get paid, so probably not. No, I’m retired, although I’d probably do something for spending money (and better insurance) if I didn’t have the babysitting gig.

Are you a reader?

Heck yes! I’ve been a big reader my whole life. That’s pretty much what led me to writing. I completely agree with Nell Iris, that it’s probably the single most important thing a writer can do.

My first loves were science fiction (Asimov!) and Harlequin romances (don’t judge!). If I had to pick a favorite genre now I might have to say mysteries, either mainstream or M/M.

What are your other hobbies?

This is where you find out how boring I am. I’ve tried various things, but they don’t take. I took a quilting class years and years ago, but that lap quilt I started in class is still in my closet waiting to be finished. I had my daughter teach me the most basic of knitting stitches and it was torture completing one damned scarf.

I did used to do some basic sewing, making the kids’ Halloween costumes for a number of years, and a few for myself, too. But other than a few simple kiddie outfits, I never got into that, either.

Does walking on the treadmill each day count as a hobby? Nah, probably not. I guess if I simply name things I like to do other than reading and writing, I would say watching movies and walking. Daydreaming ranks up there, too, but that’s probably tied to my writing since I’m usually dreaming up story ideas.

Tea or coffee?

Total caffeine weenie, here, so neither. I guess teas aren’t necessarily heavily caffeinated, though, so partly it’s just that I never acquired a taste. I wish I liked tea. I love reading stories in British settings where getting a cuppa is the answer to all ills.

So if we’re talking hot drinks, I’ll go with hot cocoa. Otherwise, what I drink all day is this: each morning I fill a pitcher with the recommended 8 cups of water we’re supposed to drink each day. I add the proper number of electrolyte drops to that, then squeeze in some lemon juice, and pour from that throughout the day.

What are you passionate about?

My family, equal rights for LGBTQI+ and other minorities, and getting decent healthcare sorted out in this country (USA). “Passionate” as in have strong feelings about, but as someone who’s both shy and introverted, I’m not much of an activist.

Do you have any pets?

Yes. A year ago I had three old cats, and now I’m down to one, Pumba, a big old orange furball. She’s a sweetie.

What was your dream job as a child/when you were younger?

I wanted to be an astronomer. I eventually figured out that I loved math but hated physics. I ended up majoring in math and minoring in chemistry, then I never really used either.

If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be?

Somewhere with liberal tendencies and good healthcare. I suppose add in English-speaking since I’ve never managed to learn a second language well enough to get along. Canada’s looking good.

Do you speak foreign languages?

Not really. I’ve wanted to my whole adult life, and often wish I’d acquired a second language as a child when it could have happened fairly seamlessly. My mother spoke two languages (English was actually her second language)…why, oh why didn’t she raise us bilingual? *le sigh*

I took 2 years of French in high school, then a few semesters in college/university. I had a decent handle on it at the time, but have since forgotten it all. More recently I started over, taking a French class at my local university (same one I graduated from years ago), and also made some attempts with apps on my tablet, but that’s gone by the wayside, too. I guess since I never have anyone to speak a foreign language with, whatever I learn will soon be forgotten anyway.

What music would we find in your collection?

You’d find a mix. Most everything you’ve ever seen mentioned in any of my stories can be found on one of my playlists. My favorites are mostly indie, folk, and classic rock, with a touch of some classical. Here’s a (long) sampling from my faves list (in no particular order):

Can’t Find My Way Home – Blind Faith
Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers
Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Behind Blue Eyes – The Who
Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) Don Mclean
Everybody Hurts – R.E.M.
Hey There Delilah – Plain White T’s
Pachelbel: Canon in D Major – London Symphony Orchestra
Day is Done – Peter, Paul & Mary
Puff, the Magic Dragon – Peter, Paul & Mary
Personal Jesus – Depeche Mode
People Are People – Depeche Mode
Walking on Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves
Tusk – Fleetwood Mac
When Dove’s Cry – Prince
Losing My Religion – R.E.M
Superman (It’s Not Easy) – Five for Fighting
I Wanna Be a Cowboy – Boys Don’t Cry
I Will Always Love You – Dolly Parton
Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top
Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes
Adagio for Strings – New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Paper Planes – M.I.A.
Kettering – The Antlers
The Sounds of Silence – Simon & Garfunkle
The Sound of Silence – Disturbed
Fat Mama – Alela Diana
F**k You – Lily Allen
Sundown – Gordon Lightfoot
Imagine ­– John Lennon
Landslide – Dixie Chicks
One Day – Sharon Van Etten
Set Fire to the Rain – Adele
Rolling in the Deep – Adele
Be the One – Moby
Dream On – Aerosmith
Swim Club – The Cave Singers
The Lion’s Roar – First Aid Kit
Outlaws of Love – Adam Lambert
All the Little Lights – Passenger
As Tears Go By – The Rolling Stones
Sheets – Damien Jurado
Gimme Shelter – The Rolling Stones
Try – Pink
Somebody That I Used to Know – Walk off the Earth
Simple as This – Jake Bugg
20 Years – The Civil Wars
I Done You So Wrong – The Paper Kites
Take Me to Church – Hozier
The Crying Game – Boy George & Culture Club
Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key – Billy Bragg & Wilco
Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show
Float On – Iron Horse
Sloop John B ­– Beach Boys
My Immortal – Evanescence
Sunrise – Norah Jones
Battery Kinzie – Fleet Foxes