Friday 5‘ing! Oh, how I love, love, love Fridays!

1. What specific advice would you give to someone moving into your neighborhood?
Don’t speed up or down the steep hill into the valley. Many drivers have lost control of their vehicle, only to go hurtling into the wall or a tree. Wall or tree usually wins.

2. What specific advice would you give to someone beginning a job at your workplace (or attending school where you study, or, if you’re neither a student nor employed, doing whatever it is you do with your days)?
First and foremost, you must learn to roll with the punches. Always be ready to switch gears and try not to get too bent out of shape when something you’ve been working on diligently suddenly becomes completely unnecessary.

3. What specific advice would you give to someone who wants to begin an online journal or blog?
Do it! And please, try to update more regularly than I do!

4. What specific advice would you give to someone who wants to take up a hobby you’re really into?
Buy a digital camera and just start snapping. Take pictures of everything and anything. The more photos you take, the more likely you are to capture a serendipitous gem.

5. What specific advice would you give to someone who wants to marry your closest, unmarried friend?
Be genuine. Be honest. Be fun to be with. But, most importantly, take her shopping.

Friday 5‘ing on a Saturday…

1. How’s your car running?
Running smoothly, but needing a car wash - badly.

2. How’s your blood pressure?
My blood pressure tends to be on the low side. This is something I am monitoring, however, since high blood pressure runs in my family on both sides.

3. How’s work (or school)?
Work is work. I do it because I have to, not because it brings any semblance of enjoyment or fulfillment in my life.

4. How’s 2007 so far?
So far, 2007 has been good. It promises to be an eventful year, but you get to follow along right here to see what actually transpires.

5. How’s your hair?
Currently, it’s in an awkward, in-between stage. I can’t decide whether I should grow it back out or cut it shorter again. I’m not liking it too much right about now.

Friday 5‘ing a few days late, again.

1. What’s something that’s generally considered bad manners that you don’t think is a big deal?
In a restaurant: waiting for everyone’s food to arrive before starting to eat. Although I will generally mind this rule, I feel bad when others let their soup go cold while they wait for my food to arrive.

2. What’s something you think should be considered good manners that you don’t think most people pay any attention to?
Waving or throwing a shaka when someone lets you cut in front of them in traffic — especially when they make an extra effort to make room for you.

3. In what way are you especially well-mannered?
I say “thank you” far too much.

4. In what way are you especially ill-mannered?
I can’t think of a way in which I am especially ill-mannered, since I tend to be such a prude about manners and such.

5. If you owned a beautiful, enormous house high upon a hill, what would you name your manor?
Chateau Champuru. haha

Friday 5‘ing a little late, but for fun, effortless things like this, I say “better late than never!”

1. What do you like on a hot dog?
Ketchup, mustard, and relish.

2. What do you like on a hamburger?
Ketchup, cheese (I guess that would make it a cheeseburger), mustard, onions

3. What do you like on a baked potato?
Sour cream and chives

4. What do you like on a slice of toast?
Peanut butter and honey

5. What do you like in a cup of coffee or tea?
I don’t drink coffee. I like my Asian tea unadulterated, but black tea can stand a squeeze of lemon and a teaspoon of honey.

Time for another Friday 5 to celebrate the coming weekend!

1. How high is your guilt threshold?
My folks gifted me with a guilty conscience strong sense of right and wrong. I remember as a young child, I put a fish net on my doggie’s head to see what he would do. Of course, he was quite bothered by it, trying in vain to paw it off his head. Immediately, I thought: cruelty to animals! I rushed to remove the net and proceeded to apologize to him and pet him incessantly, which was probably equally as bothersome as having a net on his head. I felt guilty for weeks after the incident. Come to think of it, I still feel guilty about it. Oddly enough, if I had a pesky little brother and put a fish net on his head, I probably would not have felt nearly as bad about that — but rather would have thought it to be hilariously funny.

Sorry, tangent. Did I answer the question?

2. How strong is your resistance to sweets?
My resistance to sweets is pretty flimsy, at best. At worst, completely non-existent. One thing I cannot refuse: ice cream. Unless, of course, I don’t have a dose of Lactaid with me. Dark chocolates are difficult to resist as well.

3. How long is your fuse?
It depends. Behind the wheel during afternoon rush hour traffic: about an inch. With people, face-to-face, I try to afford a long fuse. At least long enough to keep me from detonating in their presence.

4. What is the quickest way to get you hot (you know what we mean!)?
Tender huggles, sweet nothings, and soft kisses.

5. How sensitive are you to ambient noise?
Very sensitive. I cherish peace and quiet.

Your turn. What are your thresholds?

I’ve been delinquent on my Friday 5 installments, so what better way to start off the new year fresh with the first Friday 5 of January 2007?

1. What is one healthy food you really, really like?
I love tofu. Cold. Fried. Steamed. In miso soup. In okazu. Prepared in a faux burger. Any way you prepare it, I’ll love it.

2. In what area of your life are you especially well-organized?
I like to be organized (some might call it “anal retentive”) in all areas of my life, but most notably, I am well-organized at work. Being organized brings a contented sense of peace to my soul – and believe me, I’ll do nearly anything to reduce my stress levels at the office.

3. Who is someone you’ve managed to stay in touch with?
My childhood friend Shari, which is nothing short of a miracle since I’m pretty bad at keeping in touch with anybody.

4. What bad habit were you able to break (or what vice were you able to give up), and what was it like going through that change?
Vices? Who has vices?

5. Someone out there, whether you know it or not, wishes he or she were more like you in some way. What is it he or she most likely admires you for?
I don’t think such a person exists, but if he or she did, perhaps they would admire my ability to take a totally mundane topic and turn it into a totally mundane blog/vlog entry! Hey, that’s a skill!

It’s Friday and that means it’s time for the Friday 5!

1. When did you most recently receive a massage?
About six months ago. I just checked: it’s been a week short of an entire year! I am SO due for another one! (Link warning: Scary photo of my bare back.)

2. When did you most recently bleed?
I honestly can’t remember. Since I started using an epilator, freak shaving accidents are rare. Previously, when I regularly used a blade, I would shave my legs in the shower hastily with just a bar of soap and running water. As a result, I would cut myself about every other day.

3. When did you most recently have ice cream?
Tonight. Despite being lactose intolerant, ice cream is one of the vices that I simply cannot resist and will never refuse. Blessings to the inventor of Lactaid!

4. When did you most recently amaze yourself?
I’m still amazed that I managed to survive the loooooong haul to FINALLY obtain my degree (BS/IT).

5. When did you most recently turn on your vacuum cleaner?
Tonight. I am preparing my old PC to be handed down to a friend of mine. Since it has been sitting in a corner for the past month or so, I figured I should clean it up before giving it to him. It’s simply amazing how many dust bunnies can hide in a single PC. Frightening, really.