Chatting with Suzanne

Recently, Suzanne "interviewed" me on her blog, Mimilou. Here are the questions, along with my responses. Who wants to be interviewed next, by me??

1. What's your fondest memory of Ocean City (NJ)?

Oh gosh, just one? If I pick just one, then I'd have to say the boardwalk. That covers a lot of memories: the arcade and skeeball, Copper Kettle fudge, salt water taffy, the giant slide & burlap bags, riding bikes in the early morning hours, the sound of the waves, cheesy stores with seashell dolls, and so on. (That's not exactly parallel construction... I'm sorry, Suzanne -- I know that bugs you!)

2. What type of music did you play when you were a college DJ?

A hodge podge. This was in 1986-87, so I was playing what was big at the time. And whatever my friends wanted to hear! The traditional college bar stuff - Paradise by the Dashboard Light, It's Raining Men, Relax, ..and then you had your Talking Heads, Phil Collins, U2, ... Plus stuff that I brought with me. My college roommate and I had an eclectic and wonderful record collection (yes, we played LPs back then), and I always brought a few interesting things to play. Remember Boom Boom (Boom, Let's Go Back to My Room)? I had that 45. My favorite time of the evening was early on, 9:00-ish, when I could play whatever I wanted. It didn't have to be dance music early on. That was FUN. That's when the Lou Reed would come out. And some very cool Canadian music. My roomie lurks here... maybe she'll de-lurk to help me out! What'd I play, roomie?

3. What’s your next big home improvement project?

Either repairing and painting the living room walls and ripping out old carpeting, or fixing the upstairs bathroom plumbing & kitchen ceiling (those are related projects, since the bathroom is above the kitchen). I really dread the second project, but that's life in an old house! I've learned that I detest plumbing projects. Granted, I'm only the helper, but still... My hubby got me a Plumbing for Dummies book for my birthday one year (as a joke). I refuse to crack the binding. (Get it?... plumber... crack...?! )

4. What authors would you recommend that I read?

Hmm. I take it you mean beyond Dr. Seuss? Well, I finally read The Kite Runner a little while ago and really enjoyed it. It's the one & only book by Khaled Hosseini, but I'm ready for another. I just picked up Ann Patchett's Truth and Beauty at the library; it's her first non-fiction work, and it's about an enduring friendship between the author and another woman. It looks wonderful. I haven't read any of her work yet, but have heard raves, so I thought I'd check it out. And Suzanne, which Anne Lamott book is the one to start with?

5. How is your New Year's resolution going?

New Year's resolution? I made one?

Oh, this? Well, I do spend an awful lot of time in front of the computer. But now that it's nice outside, I'm going for a lot more walks. Now Weight Watchers, which I started in February... well, I have kind of fallen off the wagon, in terms of recording my intake. I'm down 8 pounds though, which is good.

Who's next??

Comments

[Suzanne]

Just reading about your Ocean City memories makes me wistful for summer!

I recently finished Truth and Beauty -- I like Ann Patchett's novels, and a few months ago I read Autobiography of a Face, the memoir of Lucy Grealy, Patchett's friend. I'd love to hear what you think about the book.

I would definitely start with Anne Lamott's nonfiction rather than her novels -- Operating Instructions (about her first year of motherhood) is my first recommendation, followed by Traveling Mercies (subtitle: "Thoughts on Faith"). Bird by Bird is also great -- it's a book about writing, and I liked it even though I'm not a writer. For whatever reason, I have not found her fiction books to be nearly as compelling as her nonfiction.

[elle]

Nothing like the Jersey Shore. I grew up there, in fact we used to live on the beach over an arcade. Skee Ball was my life. (I was only 5).

[Marie]

Thanks, Suzanne! It will be interesting to read Operating Instructions, as I enter my 2nd year of motherhood. I remember thinking I'd never feel normal again... miraculously I do! I saw some of her fiction on the shelves at the library and the borrower comments in the back of the books weren't exactly positive. I'll check out your recommendations though!

Elle,
So you're a professional Skee Baller?! Wow. There's nothing like it - the feel and weight of the ball...the sound it makes as it hits the alley & then rolls. Much more satisfying (to me) than bowling! :-)

[CollegeRoomie]

Hey M!

You played all kinds of stuff: The Tubes, Genesis, fun obscure bands that I can't for the life of me remember, all the songs that we asked you to play, and BRUCE!

Loved the crack about the plumber!

[Marie]

Hey Roomie!!! You de-lurked!! HI!!!

Oh yeah... Talk to Ya Later... The Tubes! and Bruce! How could I forget Bruce!?

Re: the plumber crack... some things never change, huh?