TEN QUESTIONS FROM YOUR DAILY DOSE

Robin from Your Daily Dose posed these ten questions, and I promised to post my take on them. 

This is posting later than I planned...I promised the next day, but last week was kind of crazy and I had two posts scheduled at the end of the week. 

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! 

You can read this post between sips of Guinness and bites of corned beef and cabbage.

Have you ever met someone famous?

Quite a few, actually, depending on your definition of fame and your definition of meet.

I just went on a cruise where the band members were mingling and dining with us common folk. I met members of Spock's Beard, Transatlantic, Big Elf, and Marillion (to name a few).

I've met Todd Rundgren several times (is he famous?). 

At the Arizona Musical Instrument Museum, the artists usually come out for signings afterwards Some of those I've met are Todd Snider, Al Stewart, Maria Muldaur, Rickie Lee Jones and Booker T. Jones (although I don't think they are related). Ronnie Spector did not come out after the show...my heart is still broken. 

I've had the same experience at many other small venues (meeting the act after the show), so I have also briefly met The Dear Hunter, Pat Travers, David Bromberg, Jeff Healy, Buddy Guy, Tommy Castro, and others I am sure I am forgetting. No disrespect to the artists I am forgetting-I go to a lot of concerts and my memory is not what it used to be, and it never used to be much.

In 1988, I was on a plane going to LA and said "excuse me" to Axl Rose (I needed to get by him to get to the rest room) but did not know who he was (figured him for a rock star). 

In high school, a couple of us drove to a bar in Jersey where we'd been told Bruce Springsteen frequently appeared. He did. This was after Born To Run (before Darkness), so he should qualify as famous at that point.

But beyond a quick handshake...not really. 

And honestly, I don't go too far out of my way for that quick handshake meeting, especially if I do not have a CD or record to be signed. Again, no disrespect to any artist-my music collection is adequate demonstration of how I value your work, but I respect your privacy and know that you're probably tired of shaking strange hands.

There are a few celebrities that I'd love to be able to have a discussion with, but doubt I would ever get that chance.

What concert would you pay a "ridiculous" amount of money to see? The person or band can be dead or alive.

Well I have already paid ridiculous amounts to see Todd Rundgren ($225 in 2009) and Bruce Springsteen ($150 in 1988)…but I'd match the old Saturday Night Live offer from the mid-seventies and pay $3,000 to the Beatles for a living room concert in my house.

What personality trait do you like best about yourself?

What if I can't think of one?

If you could meet a character in a book, who would you choose?

Would I have to meet them in a book? 

There is only one book worth reading, and only one character worth meeting!

I'd have green eggs and ham with Sam-I-Am! 

(in a box with a fox).

If you won the lottery, how would you spend the money?

Oh sure, now I win it…after I already own all the CD's. 

I honestly do not know what I would do-the things I want in life cannot be purchased. 

I never play the lottery because I really have no interest in winning. Most people do not believe me when I say that, but those who know me know.

Do you believe that there is such a thing as "having it all"?

I do, but in my opinion it has nothing to do with money. 

I have been pretty blessed in this life. There are a couple of "things" that if I had, I feel like I would have it all (at least in this world). 

I'm working on them…the quest continues.

Have you ever had a paranormal experience of any kind?

No. I do not believe in such a thing. 

However, I am willing to concede that my skepticism may not make me open to such things.

What is the most important trait for a person to have in order to achieve success in their life? Job? Relationships? (It can be one trait that ties them all together or separate ones...)

I do not define success in the traditional sense. Money is not success. Money is a measure of wealth, which can come to you through your own efforts, through strokes of luck, or from your ancestors.

Happiness is success, but all too often that is as easy as making a choice to be happy.

Having your health is a good step towards success-hard to enjoy life if you are bed-ridden.

Having someone to share whatever you've got with is also success in my book. 

However, at fifty two and single, I would not pretend to know what trait helps one succeed in a relationship.

For my cat, sleeping in a beam of sunlight appears to be success. 

He certainly looks happy. 

Maybe success is learning to appreciate the little things and be happy with where you are right now. 

Good call, cat!

What is holding you back from achieving your dreams?

My own fears

What is your favorite time of day?

At my age, I don't quibble. I am acutely aware that I have more road behind me than ahead of me.

I'll take every Monday morning I can get. 

In Arizona, I love the mornings before the sun gets high-once it gets to noon, it feels hot even in the cooler months. 

But the sunsets are pretty spectacular, too. 

I'll go with mornings. Even on a work day, I take time to relax with a cup of coffee and enjoy the day. And it's almost always a beautiful day.