draliman on life

Here is my post for Share Your World, which this week is hosted by Pensitivity – thanks Pensitivity!

When you’re on holiday, do you prefer self catering or a hotel/B&B?
Self catering is nice sometimes when I’m with someone, but generally I’d go for a hotel if the room is just a base for sleeping.

Do you have a favourite meal you cook for yourself or order when out?
Cajun chicken when I’m out, that and chilli when cooking for myself.

Here’s one I made earlier! Cajun chicken, spiced sweet potato chips and baked beans.

In the current fuel crisis, have you made a conscious effort not to use the car unless absolutely necessary?
Not really – I don’t drive much in general and now that I work from home I don’t use a lot of petrol. I only need to fill the tank once every couple of months or so, if that.

If you were to compare yourself to a plant, what would you be?
I’d be a grand old tree. Doing everything slowly and sedately and being able to see what’s going on everywhere as I tower above the landscape.

Here is my post for Melanie’s Share Your World.

Do you ever feel more excited about getting the package in the mail, rather than the item that’s in it?
Not really, I get so much delivered these days. I want the contents.

What is the difference between your ideal self and your real self? (i.e. what attribute or physical feature would allow you feel the ideal ‘you’?)
I would have to say I’d like an absolutely massive… um… er… understanding of humans nature so that I could help others. Yes, um, that’s it. Massive understanding of human nature.

If you found $2,000 on the ground and there were no witnesses, what would you do with it?
Hmm, 2k just lying around for the taking? Sounds a bit iffy to me. Like it’s a “drop”. I would leave it alone, in case it belongs to someone with a name like “Harry ‘The Hammer’ Hanson” or “Charlie ‘Chainsaw’ Chivers”.

No way I want to risk a visit from Nigel “Nad-crusher” Niven.

Are you ever morally obliged to take action? Under what circumstances?
Only according to one’s own morals, I think. Someone shouldn’t feel pressured to take some sort of action based on someone’s else’s moral compass. Who is to say what is morally right, after all?

Here is my post for Melanie’s Share Your World.

What mythical creature would improve the world most if it existed?
Any mythical creature worth its salt will take one look and run/fly/dimension jump the other way.

A cute sexy little tree nymph living in my garden would improve my world.

Should the death penalty be re-instated? Why or why not?
I’d say no. I found an interactive map which indicates that the death penalty is still used in mainly Muslim countries plus USA.

I’m against it for two reasons – first, there’s always the possibility that the wrong person has been convicted. You can let someone out of prison with an apology, but it’s very difficult to un-hang someone. Second, if someone has committed a really heinous crime I’d rather they languish in a tiny prison cell being slowly eaten by rats than get a quick head-chopping.

Spontaneity Or Stability?
Stability, all the way.

Can a dog/cat suffer? What about an ant? What about a plant? What about a bacteria cell? Why do some humans think we’re the only species that does suffer? Your thoughts?
Suffering/feeling pain happens when a brain processes nerve impulses in a certain way. So anything that has some sort of “awareness” can suffer, I guess. Not sure about plants, though – you’d never cut the grass again! And a bacterium cell – nah.

Here is my post for Melanie’s Share Your World.

In one sentence, how would you sum up the internet?
99% bollocks, 1% really useful.

Is true beauty subjective or objective?
Objective. Everyone likes different things.

How many chickens would it take to kill an elephant?
That would depend on the aggressiveness of the chickens versus the general “wussiness” of the elephant in question. Will he fight back? Will the chickens press their advantage? Are the chickens “tooled up” or will they be fighting “beak to trunk”?

I’ve been unexpectedly killed by psycho chickens in two separate computer games, so it’s definitely doable.

If your five-year-old self suddenly found themselves inhabiting your current body, what would your five-year-old self do first?
Crap itself in shock.

Here is my post for Melanie’s Share Your World.

How did you spend the money from your very first job?
I had a summer job for three months before going to university. I don’t recall spending the money on anything specific, it was just to get me some extra cash. However, the summer after my first year I had another summer job and I spent that on stereo equipment – speakers, tuner, record deck etc.

Would You Rather Look Like A Potato, Or Feel Like A Potato?
What? What? Potato? What?

Obviously I don’t want to look like a potato. Is that feel like a potato to the touch or experience the feelings of a potato? Either way, no thanks. I know it’s a one or the other question but these are no-win choices!

What was the best pair of shoes you have owned?
I have absolutely no idea. They’ve been almost all trainers throughout my life, they come, they wear out, and they go. The current ones are Nike.

Besides war and diplomacy, what would be the best way for countries to settle disputes?
That doesn’t leave all that much, choice-wise. I suppose we have the “personal champion” whereby both countries offer a champion for single combat, winner takes all. At least then one only one person dies – until the losing country decides not to accept the decision and starts a war anyway.

Here is my post for Melanie’s Share Your World.

What do you think it means to be healthy?
Not long-term ill. And sound of mind – and right-thinking.

Is being obsessive about someone or something a good thing?
I would say no. The dictionary uses phrases such as “intrude”, “constantly” and “to a troubling extent”. The dictionary agrees with me.

After a disagreement with your S.O., do you initiate the makeup conversation or wait for your S.O. to do it?
Not having an SO I’m left having to argue with myself. I always win.

Have you ever done something incredibly embarrassing in front of a huge crowd? Feel free to share details or not. Some things are best left in the closet…
There was this one time at school I tripped in the playground and ended up hanging forwards over a low wall with my trousers totally ripped right up the seam.

I have, of course, done many far more embarrassing things. None of which I’m telling you about 😉

Here is my post for Melanie’s Share Your World.

What’s your favourite way to spend a day off? If you’re retired, what’s something you now include in your schedule that you dreamed about while employed?
It depends on the weather, but preferably I’ll go somewhere nice in the morning, have lunch at home, have a nap and then PS5/gardening/sitting outside in the afternoon.

Now that Covid isn’t so strictly monitored and folks can go out and about again, are you into after-work happy hours?
That sounds like a thing from 1990s American films. I work from home, anyway!

What physical traits do you share with your relatives? (Example: I have my mother’s nose)
I’m quite like my dad. I especially have to watch that I don’t walk hunched over!

How long does it take you to decide if you like someone or not?
I tend to stay quite neutral to people for a while. First impressions are not always accurate. I was told when I got to university that we’d spend Freshers’ Week making loads of friends and the rest of the year trying to get rid off them. So no snap decisions!