Dave's Progress. Chapter 104: Oh No, I've Been Tagged!
No, I have not, as the title of this blog might suggest, committed some offence and been forced to wear an electronic tag around my leg to make sure I'm in my home at curfew time. Instead, Gary, aka klahanie, my happy, hairy friend, has "tagged" me, which involves me answering a number of questions and then asking four more bloggers to do the same. So, in the spirit that this was intended, I shall endeavour to answer all 19 questions. I sincerely hope you don't get bored.
1. if you have pets, do you see them as merely animals, or are they members of your family?
Currently, I don't have any pets, but I think I might like one. People who experience mental ill health are often told to get a pet, as it helps them focus on something beyond themselves and encourages responsibility. I, however, seem to have enough trouble looking after myself! But if I did have a pet, I hope I'd treat it as a member of my family.
2. if you can have a dream to come true, what would it be?
I would sincerely like to visit America. I love American writers, films, etc. and have long dreamed of having the guts to travel right across the country by car, or something. I would like to see the "real" America, the America of Steinbeck, Fitzgerald, Harper Lee, or even Hunter S. Thompson. I know the realities of which all these writers speak probably no longer exists, but I love them all and would love to compare their visions with what I find.
3. what is the one thing most hated by you?
I suppose I hate to see suffering, especially the needless kind. In the austere times economically across the world at the moment, one tends to see a lot of it, and in my old, dear England, it almost seems as if the poor and vulnerable are being made to pay for the mistakes of the incredibly rich. I can't bear that.
4. what would you do with a billion dollars?
Well, speaking of being incredibly rich! I suppose I'd have to give most of it away, leaving myself with just enough to get by. Maybe, I dunno, £10,000,000. Just so's I'd have enough, you know. Seriously, though, I think that amount of wealth might carry with it a great responsibility and I'd hope to be a philanthropist and not a miser.
5. what helps to pull you out of a bad mood?
A good dose of anti-depressants! No, seriously, I'd have to say just doing things that I enjoy, like reading, writing, listening to music or watching a good film. All these things help me relax, unwind and think that, really, life ain't too bad.
6. which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?
Unrequited love must be difficult to bear, and has been the subject of poets throughout the ages. So, loving someone without being loved in return must be difficult. On the other hand, being loved by someone and not being able to love back seems like a tragedy for both parties. So, I would hope that any relationship would be, perhaps, more equal, where the feeling of love was mutual.
7. what is your bedtime routine?
Drink two bottles of vodka. Take some pills. Pass out. But, I jest once again. It's usually watching a film, reading, having a nice cup of tea and then bed. Ah!
8. if you are currently in a relationship, how did you meet your partner?
I am not currently in a relationship, although I have looked. It seems extremely hard to find an interesting, understanding person who does not have an agenda. I think that having a history of mental ill health makes meeting someone fraught with difficulties, but I know such difficulties are not exclusive to those with experience of mental illness.
9. if you could watch a creative person in the act of the creative process, who would it be?
I would probably sit beside a great writer when working on his or her book. I would love to have seen, for example, F.Scott Fitzgerald when composing "The Great Gatsby", or Dostoevsky when writing "Crime and Punishment".
10. what kinds of books do you read?
I read all sorts of books, but mostly I suppose I tend towards "classic" literature. I like to think that this expands my mind, or is morally instructive, or teaches something valuable about the human condition, but none of that might be the case.
11. how would you see yourself in ten years time?
In ten years time I hope to be older. Seriously, though, I would hope that I am still healthy and relatively happy and still working in some capacity, maybe with a partner by then.
12. what’s your fear?
Now that my parents are getting to be of a certain age, I do quite fear their imminent passing. I have been through a lot, but don't quite know how I will cope with that. I came to rely heavily on my parents through my experience of mental ill health and I suppose my fear is being alone with, perhaps, no one to turn to in the way that I can with my parents.
13. would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to visit outer space?
Yes.
14. would you rather be single and rich or married, but poor?
I think being single and rich might be quite lonely and isolating, so I think I'd definitely rather be married and poor.
15. what’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
The first thing I usually do when I get up is eat breakfast, which usually consists of some fruit, toast, and the abidingly English cup of cha (tea).
16. if you could change one thing about your spouse/partner what would it be?
If I could change one thing about my spouse/partner it would be that I'd actually have one!
17. if you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?
I would quite like to change my name, for although I don't mind my christian name, my surname is a very rare and often misspelled one, so I seem to have spent a good deal of time just spelling it out to people who don't know me. Perhaps I would change it to the name of the older generation of my family on my mother's side, Sheldon. Yes, that would sound OK, I think. David Sheldon.
18. would you forgive and forget no matter how horrible a thing that special someone has done?
There was an incident long ago when I was more or less certain that my then girlfriend had cheated on me. Being who I was then, I don't think I even brought up the subject. I was only young and was inclined to bottle things up. Given the same situation now, I really don't know how I would react. I think I'd certainly bring things out in to the open this time, but as to whether I would forgive and forget, I think that would very much depend on how much I loved and wanted to be with them. Going on past behavior alone, though, yes, I would forgive and forget.
19. if you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months, what would it be?
Currently being on a healthy eating plan, there are many indulgences that I tend to avoid now, such as cheese, chips and chocolate. I couldn't really imagine eating one thing alone for six months, but if I had to choose, I guess it would have to be one of those things, probably cheese, so long as I could have a cracker or a piece of bread with it. Does that count?
So, all 19 questions answered. I will now pass on this enviable task to four more bloggers. I would just say that to make things easier, you can copy and paste the questions, as klahanie suggested to me, in to your own blog. They are listed together on Gary's (klahanie's) page. I would also say that the four bloggers I mention are not compelled to take part in this little exercise, so please don't feel obliged if you don't have the time. But, the four people I am "tagging" are as follows:
Dixie at "dcrelief".
bazza at "To Discover Ice".
The Snee at "The Sometimes Never Eventually Express".
Sonya at "Not Singing the Bipolar Blues".
I hope you enjoyed this little foray in to my banal existence. It's a wonder you're still awake. Maybe you're not. Oh well.
1. if you have pets, do you see them as merely animals, or are they members of your family?
Currently, I don't have any pets, but I think I might like one. People who experience mental ill health are often told to get a pet, as it helps them focus on something beyond themselves and encourages responsibility. I, however, seem to have enough trouble looking after myself! But if I did have a pet, I hope I'd treat it as a member of my family.
2. if you can have a dream to come true, what would it be?
I would sincerely like to visit America. I love American writers, films, etc. and have long dreamed of having the guts to travel right across the country by car, or something. I would like to see the "real" America, the America of Steinbeck, Fitzgerald, Harper Lee, or even Hunter S. Thompson. I know the realities of which all these writers speak probably no longer exists, but I love them all and would love to compare their visions with what I find.
3. what is the one thing most hated by you?
I suppose I hate to see suffering, especially the needless kind. In the austere times economically across the world at the moment, one tends to see a lot of it, and in my old, dear England, it almost seems as if the poor and vulnerable are being made to pay for the mistakes of the incredibly rich. I can't bear that.
4. what would you do with a billion dollars?
Well, speaking of being incredibly rich! I suppose I'd have to give most of it away, leaving myself with just enough to get by. Maybe, I dunno, £10,000,000. Just so's I'd have enough, you know. Seriously, though, I think that amount of wealth might carry with it a great responsibility and I'd hope to be a philanthropist and not a miser.
5. what helps to pull you out of a bad mood?
A good dose of anti-depressants! No, seriously, I'd have to say just doing things that I enjoy, like reading, writing, listening to music or watching a good film. All these things help me relax, unwind and think that, really, life ain't too bad.
6. which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?
Unrequited love must be difficult to bear, and has been the subject of poets throughout the ages. So, loving someone without being loved in return must be difficult. On the other hand, being loved by someone and not being able to love back seems like a tragedy for both parties. So, I would hope that any relationship would be, perhaps, more equal, where the feeling of love was mutual.
7. what is your bedtime routine?
Drink two bottles of vodka. Take some pills. Pass out. But, I jest once again. It's usually watching a film, reading, having a nice cup of tea and then bed. Ah!
8. if you are currently in a relationship, how did you meet your partner?
I am not currently in a relationship, although I have looked. It seems extremely hard to find an interesting, understanding person who does not have an agenda. I think that having a history of mental ill health makes meeting someone fraught with difficulties, but I know such difficulties are not exclusive to those with experience of mental illness.
9. if you could watch a creative person in the act of the creative process, who would it be?
I would probably sit beside a great writer when working on his or her book. I would love to have seen, for example, F.Scott Fitzgerald when composing "The Great Gatsby", or Dostoevsky when writing "Crime and Punishment".
10. what kinds of books do you read?
I read all sorts of books, but mostly I suppose I tend towards "classic" literature. I like to think that this expands my mind, or is morally instructive, or teaches something valuable about the human condition, but none of that might be the case.
11. how would you see yourself in ten years time?
In ten years time I hope to be older. Seriously, though, I would hope that I am still healthy and relatively happy and still working in some capacity, maybe with a partner by then.
12. what’s your fear?
Now that my parents are getting to be of a certain age, I do quite fear their imminent passing. I have been through a lot, but don't quite know how I will cope with that. I came to rely heavily on my parents through my experience of mental ill health and I suppose my fear is being alone with, perhaps, no one to turn to in the way that I can with my parents.
13. would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to visit outer space?
Yes.
14. would you rather be single and rich or married, but poor?
I think being single and rich might be quite lonely and isolating, so I think I'd definitely rather be married and poor.
15. what’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
The first thing I usually do when I get up is eat breakfast, which usually consists of some fruit, toast, and the abidingly English cup of cha (tea).
16. if you could change one thing about your spouse/partner what would it be?
If I could change one thing about my spouse/partner it would be that I'd actually have one!
17. if you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?
I would quite like to change my name, for although I don't mind my christian name, my surname is a very rare and often misspelled one, so I seem to have spent a good deal of time just spelling it out to people who don't know me. Perhaps I would change it to the name of the older generation of my family on my mother's side, Sheldon. Yes, that would sound OK, I think. David Sheldon.
18. would you forgive and forget no matter how horrible a thing that special someone has done?
There was an incident long ago when I was more or less certain that my then girlfriend had cheated on me. Being who I was then, I don't think I even brought up the subject. I was only young and was inclined to bottle things up. Given the same situation now, I really don't know how I would react. I think I'd certainly bring things out in to the open this time, but as to whether I would forgive and forget, I think that would very much depend on how much I loved and wanted to be with them. Going on past behavior alone, though, yes, I would forgive and forget.
19. if you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months, what would it be?
Currently being on a healthy eating plan, there are many indulgences that I tend to avoid now, such as cheese, chips and chocolate. I couldn't really imagine eating one thing alone for six months, but if I had to choose, I guess it would have to be one of those things, probably cheese, so long as I could have a cracker or a piece of bread with it. Does that count?
So, all 19 questions answered. I will now pass on this enviable task to four more bloggers. I would just say that to make things easier, you can copy and paste the questions, as klahanie suggested to me, in to your own blog. They are listed together on Gary's (klahanie's) page. I would also say that the four bloggers I mention are not compelled to take part in this little exercise, so please don't feel obliged if you don't have the time. But, the four people I am "tagging" are as follows:
Dixie at "dcrelief".
bazza at "To Discover Ice".
The Snee at "The Sometimes Never Eventually Express".
Sonya at "Not Singing the Bipolar Blues".
I hope you enjoyed this little foray in to my banal existence. It's a wonder you're still awake. Maybe you're not. Oh well.
Comments
zzzzzzzzzzzz...whoops, where am I?
Thanks for participating in this survey and letting all your admirers, including me, know a little bit more about your intriguing world.
Glad you balanced it with a bit of tongue-in-cheek humour (or for your adoring American friends 'humor').
I sure hope y'all get to someday visit the "real" America. First, you must practice by saying, 'have a nice day'.
Thanks for taking part and being such a good sport, old bean.
Very kind wishes and a six months supply of cheese and crackers, your way, Gary.
Thanks for dropping by and please, wake up!!
I know I have many admirers, even in the old U.S. of A. It just shows from how many comments I get. Oh, well, in the words of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, "nevermind".
I think we are both good sports for partcipating in this survey, my hairy pal, so much peace, good wishes and a truck load of grilled cheese sandwiches, your way,
David.
Living in the U.S., I've often found myself wanting to visit the U.K. Now, how is that for irony? lol
I hope you attain everything your heart desires, David. I don't know about the cheese, though...six months of cheese is a LOT of cheese!
Sending good thoughts,
M.
I completely enjoyed reading 19 things about you, and discovered that we share an affinity for cheese in common. I even have a fantasy of being a goat herder and making goat cheese...or maybe tending to an olive grove would be easier. That way I could eat olives with cheese. Anyway, Thank you so much for tagging The Snee. It's always great to know someone is thinking of you(or me).
Thanks to Gary at Klahanie for tipping me off. As you may or may not know. We are having quite a cold snap, so we'll see whether The Snee can pull it together to answer these questions in a sneeworthy way. I told Gary and Kelly that I've got brain freeze, but maybe really it's brain snee-ze.
Have a wonderful day. It's always fun to catch up with you and read the latest things going on in your world.
Yes, six months of cheese is a lot of cheese!
Glad that you were at all intersted in "what makes me tick" and I will be sure to "tag" you next time, should the opportunity arise.
I hope, also, that you too get all your heart desires, and if you ever come to the UK, maybe you could visit the joyous area that is my locality, Stoke-on-Trent. Or maybe not. It isn't exactly on the top of many people's "places I must visit" list, but I think it has a certain rugged charm, not unlike myself (LOL).
Yours with Very Best Wishes,
David.
Glad you share my affinity with cheese. Funny, of all the questions I answered, people seem to relate to the cheese one the most. I wonder exactly ehy that is. Cheese must indeed be a wonderful substance!
Anyway, I'm glad you popped by and thanks to Gray for tipping you off about being "tagged". Have fun answering all those wonderful questions!
Yours with Very Best Wishes and may all your cheesey dreams come true,
David.
In peace,
Dixie
PS: Thanks for the tag. I posted but forgot to name the four people to tag. Take care.
Glad that you found my answers interesting and your own choice of name gave me a bit of a giggle too- just because you like the sound of it, eh!
Anyways, I'm very pleased that this post inspired at least some laughter from someone.
Yours With Very Best Wishes,
David Sheldon.