Birds, Blogging, Childhood, Favorite Things, Life, Writing

orion questionnaire

Kari

my friend jill recently shared a link to an article where louise erdrich answered questions from the orion website. the questions are designed to “get to know our favorite writers by exploring the sacred and mundane.”

i thought these were great questions for getting to know anyone, so i wanted to share them here. feel free to join in by answering in the comments, using them in your journals, or if my blog friends are inspired, sharing your own answers on your blogs.

here are the questions and my answers.

do you knock on wood?

yes. always.

there’s a spider in the room; what do you do?

it depends on the size of the spider.

big spider – eek!

small spider – trap, then free them outside

what is your most treasured comfort meal?

pancakes and bacon

what is a species you feel is frequently misunderstood?

menopausal females

in what environment do you feel most at home?

at home

my favorite tree in the world is?

long leaf pine tree

courtesy wikipedia

what is something you’re looking forward to?

lunch

what was your last memorable animal encounter?

biscuits was lounging in a sunspot for a while, but then he started panting and had to move. it made me laugh—first world dog problems.

do you have any unusual hobbies, hidden talents, or superpowers you’d like to share?

i’m pretty good at reading a room and picking up on others’ energy.

if you could, regardless of the climate, reach out of your kitchen window pluck a fruit from a tree, bush, or a plant, what would it be?

apple

if you could make pancakes with anyone living or dead, who would it be?

my dad

what are some of your favorite words?

unconditional, tonglen, maitri, joy, lovingkindness

who are some of your heroes, heroines, real or fictional?

my mom; she has been through so much this past year, and she’s doing things she never thought she could. i’m in awe of her.

what is something new you’ve done recently?

i went to my first ever yoga class (ish) sunday with my dear friend melanie.

Photo by Elina Fairytale on Pexels.com

wait, who took that picture of us??

what’s the wildest thing you’ve experienced or witnessed in nature?

the cat that showed up on our front porch the night my dad passed away, and then returned exactly a week later. never to be seen again.

it’s late afternoon on a summer saturday, you’re sitting with your feet in a cool creek and someone hands you the perfect beverage. what is it?

brown sugar boba tea

are you optimistic about the future?

cautiously optimistic

what is a smell that makes you stop in your tracks?

good- fresh cut pine

bad-rotten food/garbage

do you have a writing/art-making routine?

not really. i create whenever i get the chance.

when you walk into a bookstore, where do you head first?

after the bathroom, it’s the non-fiction section.

where did you grow up?

crawford and richland county, ohio

are you the same person you were as a child?

i’m getting there. 🖤

what song or album reminds you of high school?

two albums: purple rain by prince and hysteria by def leppard

what did an average friday night look like for you as a teenager?

a football game (i was in the marching band), followed by pizza hut with friends afterward during the fall. in the offseason, i was either hanging out with friends or working at mcdonald’s. (exit 169 i-71 and hanley road – beep if you ever pass it by!)

if you had a walk-up song like professional baseball players do, what would yours be?

long cool woman (in a black dress) by the hollies

okay, but what if you are in a situation where you simply must sing karaoke?

i will never put myself in a situation where i must sing karaoke

if you could live anywhere, where would it be?

chicago area

you’re in a deserted island situation for an unknown period of time. you get three items and one book. what do you bring?

i’m going along with louise’s answer of having a unlimited food and water. then i choose waterproof blanket, music source of some kind, and edibles. i haven’t had weed in ages, so this will be interesting.

and book – this was so hard….eastern body, western mind.

i would have preferred a phone, charger, and wi-fi, but…

what would you like to be most remembered for?

it’s funny—i have a similar journal prompt in my soul homework, and it took me a whole year to come up with just seven things! this question hasn’t been easy for me, but i finally narrowed it down to one:

being a compassionate/good human

if you could come back as any organism, what or who would you be?

a crow or a canada goose

tell me some of your answers in the comments. 🩷

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63 thoughts on “orion questionnaire”

  4. As always, so many good things here and things I resonate with.
    It really struck me today how much I enjoy your humor! And nearer the beginning you mentioned energy and I wondered if you’ve done anymore with Reiki?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aww, thank you!

      My friend Melanie and I were just talking about this before our yoga class on Sunday. She’s also Reiki certified but is one level ahead of me. I became level one certified about a month before my dad’s diagnosis, and since December, I haven’t really been able to practice Reiki on anyone. I have tried here and there, but my mental health has taken a toll because of grief. I’m giving myself some time—a year or so—to regain my energy before making any decisions. I still want to continue my certification and help others; that’s definitely my plan. I just know that, right now, I need to give myself the space to heal.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. I wouldn’t want you to come back as a Canadian goose because then I’d just have to hate you. They are such a bane to my exitance living on the lake…

    I read “menopausal women” as marsupial at first just assuming your answer would be a bit more animal related and then had a good chuckle when I realized what you actually wrote. That is so, so true!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. LMAO, I knew I was bound to get some goose hate! My husband isn’t a fan either. But I can’t help but love that they mate for life, fly in those cool V formations, and stay loyal to each other. That said, I totally get it—they’re a bit of a nuisance around here too.

      Your comment had me laughing so hard! 🤣🤣

      Like

  6. “there’s a spider in the room; what do you do?”

    SCREAM!!! I’m not usually scared of bugs and stuff, however, when it comes to spiders and (Palmetto Bugs – HUGE roaches), I will literally jump on a chair and scream bloody murder. That’s one of the reasons why I love cats. They’re great for killing bugs. LOL!

    “what is a smell that makes you stop in your tracks?”

    The smell of any type of seafood being reheated in a microwave. DISGUSTING! However, I love the scent of eucalyptus.

    “if you could live anywhere, where would it be?”

    Japan. I lived there for a summer (2 1/2 months) and fell in love with the country. I feel as though I was Japanese in a past life because I feel so intuned to the Japanese culture.

    What FUN this was, my friend! I so enjoy learning more and more about you!

    Have a terrific week! The weather here finally feels like Autumn! X

    P.S. LOVE that photo of you!!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Have you seen the spiders in Australia?? Or even in the South! Like I said, big spiders—EEK. Cats are great predators for those creepy crawlies!

      Oh, and yes, I can’t stand that smell either. Eucalyptus, on the other hand, is amazing! It always reminds me of a spa.

      And yes, we’ve talked about Japan before! I feel the same way—like I must’ve lived there in another life. I’ve always wanted to visit, and I hope I get the chance someday.

      I’m so glad you enjoy these posts! We’re having beautiful weather all week here, and I’m soaking up every moment of it.

      I love that photo too. ❤️

      Wishing you a wonderful week as well! 😘

      Like

  7. I love these questionnaires because it’s fun to get to know you better. That Santa picture is fantastic! Some of my answers:

    Comfort Meal – Creamed Chip Beef over Toast (yeah, I know it has some awful names, but I love it though I don’t eat it anymore due to it having enough sodium to kill a bear)

    HS Albums – your two totally remind me of college. My HS ones would be Born To Run (Bruce Springsteen) and Back In Black (AC/DC). My walk on song (also, my TV Theme song) would be Short Skirt/Long Jacket by Cake.

    Ok, I had to look up that exit to be sure, but I distinctly remember stopping at that McDonald’s on an early Saturday morning in May or June of 1985. I was with my boyfriend (now spouse) and his brother and brother’s girlfriend on our way to Cincinnati for his sister’s college graduation party. I remember it most because his brother and said girlfriend were bickering so much on the drive that it was driving us nuts and we though that stopping to get breakfast to-go at McD’s would at least shut them up for a while! Tell me you might have been working! LOL!

    I also have a hilarious story about the Dutch Pantry that was at one of those exits. Do you remember it??

    Have a great week!

    Liked by 1 person

    2. I know, right? Aren’t these so much fun?? I’ve found others through Ally’s blog and a few others, and I’m planning to share them soon.

      I haven’t had that in years either! I used to love it; we had it all the time growing up.

      I love all that music too!! That’s such a GREAT walk-on song.

      I wasn’t working then. (I worked there from May 1987 to May 1989.) If I remember correctly, Dutch Pantry was right across the street? I’m sure I bought cigarettes there…🤣

      Wishing you a great week, my friend!

      Like

  8. I feel like doing a whole post! It’s hard to choose from these questions, but my walk-on song is Maneater.

    Your first yoga class! Yay!!!

    I think menopausal women are definitely misunderstood, but I also think the lives of animals are not taken seriously enough. I remember someone saying that turkeys are so dumb, they deserve to be eaten, and that makes me feel so sad. So maybe I’m saying turkeys are misunderstood? I mean, I have no idea on the social structure of the turkey, but they are sentient beings too.

    Also – teen girls! Teenagers in general are misunderstood.

    I trap and release spiders, but recently I read there are a lot of black widows in the Okanagan, so I guess I have to tread carefully.

    I think I’ve told you this but when I was little I thought when I grew up, I could change species, and I wanted to be a flower. I recently told my family (and lawyer) that when I die (may it be many years in the future) I want to be human compost for a tree. My son Mark was like “It’s one step towards your childhood dream!”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. MANEATER! Wait…Hall and Oates or Nelly Furtado? I hope you come back to answer. 🤣

      It was a grief share and it was lovely. I can’t wait to try another class.

      I agree 10,000 percent. I feel like we could write a post about misunderstood species.

      TEENAGERS, YES.

      Omg, black widows would have me very scared.

      Oh, friend, I love all of this. So very much. 🩷🪷

      Like

  10. i’m pretty good at reading a room and picking up on others’ energy. Amen sister, so am I. Favorite words: snazzy, perspicacity, and groovy. People just don’t say groovy enough anymore.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. This was a fun way to learn more cool things about you, Kari! The yoga photo made me do a double take! I love your humor! The Santa photo is adorable.
    Comfort food: Carbs – pancakes, bread, pasta, cereal. Ice cream!
    Spiders: I just don’t like them. Yes, OK, I scream when I see them. There is no releasing them into the wild. Sorry.
    Walk on song: She’s got the look by Roxette.
    If I could come back as anything, I’d choose a bird because flying must be so cool!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I still make that face! 🤣

      Carbs are my favorite comfort foods!

      I imagine you get some pretty big spiders on the ranch! I don’t blame you!

      THAT IS A GREAT WALK ON SONG!!

      I agree. I’d love to be able to fly at all times. ❤️

      Liked by 1 person

  12. I love these questions, and your answers paint such vivid pictures! But on the desert island you picked four items, and no book. I think you’ll have to do without the blanket as the others aren’t negotiable!

    I’d like to make pancakes with my mum, and my ideal home would be on the west coast of Canada, someplace where there’s no karaoke, hoping to be remembered in the same way you wrote about.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. 1.Yeah kinda superstious, lots of wood knocking
    2. Big, little, daddy longlegs, hell bugs in general I do not like. My wife is a bit braver than me 🫣🕷
    3. MacNCheese…just made a recent version with an egg custard and it was delish
    4. Uhhh…NO IDEA
    5. most at home around the ones I ❤️
    6.The Larch…Monty Python Anyone ?
    7. PA Ren Faire this Sunday spooky edition
    8. Sigh we had a lovely mouse problem, where our cat was content to just watch as opposed to chase
    9. I like to do heinous devious things to AI Chat Bots
    10.A blackberry
    11. Both of my parents (Mom gone in ’02, Dad in ’19) if they were good at making anything it was definitely breakfast
    12. Swell, Really ?!, Fascinating, Groovy
    13. Spiderman
    14. Nothing New, I need to work on that
    15. We saw a rabid skunk on a walk recently, thankfully it didn’t see us
    16. A tall glass of ice water with a hint of lemon juice
    17. Absolutely optimistic
    18. Pizza, or Onion B.O.
    19. I create when the muse hits me
    20. Grew up in North East Allentown Pa
    21. Can’t say I am the same as when I was a kid, there has been some emotional/intellectusl growth
    22. High School Music Albums: Van Halen 1984, Run-DMC King of Rock, Bon Jovi Slippery when Wet, U2 The Joshua Tree, Janes Addiction Nothing Shocking
    23. Friday night: alone, watching tv most likely
    24. Soulful Strut by the young holt trio
    25. I have and would again rap it takes two by Rob Base at Karaoke
    26. Anywhere but this shitty apartment
    27. Keg of KY 🤪, Keg of Water, Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Icing, the bible (don’t read it so might as well in this scenario)
    28. For being a “Man”
    29. I would like to be a hyper chijuajua

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Kari, I always have to open your post a second time in a second tab so I can respond as I go — there is so much to comment on!

    I DO knock on wood, but not… always, I guess? Just when I remember?

    The spider question is complicated! I am not a save-and-releaser. I figure we have a contract that spiders will do their work unseen, and if they break that contract I will squish them. I always apologize though, and remind them of the contract before I do any squishing. Once in a while, if a spider is too large to squish, I will pretend I didn’t see it.

    I don’t think I can choose a single comfort meal! Tacos, nachos, and chicken paprikas would be near the top, though.

    Love that you have a favorite tree! And what a beauty.

    LOVE your answer to the last question. I think my child self is long gone. But I’m mostly okay with that.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Chicken paprikas is my mom’s speciality! She only makes it once a year, for my dad on his birthday. Luckily, Tara has mastered the recipe. It’s still a very occasional treat and always comforts.

        Liked by 1 person

  15. But karaoke is so much fun! Come with me to karaoke, Kari. You’ll have SO MUCH FUN, I promise.

    I tend to leave spiders alone. They are good guys and trap insects. But when I have to clean the house because we have guests, I do try to remove them to someplace safe.

    I’m currently hoarding ideas for blog posts for NaBloPoMo next month, so don’t be surprised if you see this appear on my blog later on.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’ll have fun watching you sing. 😊

      They really are good guys! I figure if I leave them alone, they’ll do the same for me. Mutual respect.

      YAY!! I can’t wait to see your answers!

      Like

  16. This is great. And I’m so glad we did that grief yoga share together. I laughed a little too hard at the photo of “us” though.

    I’ve always said I’d love to come back as a house cat…sleep, get lots of pets and cuddles, eat, poop, repeat.

    xoxo

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m so glad we did it together too. We’ve shared a lot of really special moments. Okay, that might have sounded a little creepy, but I didn’t mean it that way. 🤣🖤

      Oh man, I take my answer back—cats really do have the life!

      😘❤️

      Like

  17. So many smiles your answers gave me. I especially loved your answer to the question about whether you are the same person you were as a child. I don’t know that I’d want to be the same person in all ways, but I’d love to have back the lack of self-consciousness I had before I was 11 or so. When I liked what I liked and did what I wanted to do without thinking about how others might perceive or judge me in response. Happy to say I’ve made much progress on this since my teen years, especially on liking what I like, but there’s definitely room to grow in doing what I want to do. (Which, let’s be honest, is more about not doing what I don’t want to do.) Also: I LOVE the Santa picture. You look like a bit of a handful. Wish you could make those pancakes with your dad.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s exactly what I meant—the freedom from worrying about what others think of me, wanting to feel free, and letting go of societal pressures. You totally nailed it. And I knew you’d be the one to comment on it. You’re my soul sister, Rita. 😘🌈❤️

      (And yes, I was a handful—the best kind.)

      I wish I could, too. Sigh.

      Like

  18. This is a fun list of questions. Some of them really made me think. I have a baby that won’t nap, so I’m distracted and need to be brief . . . the “who took that photo of us” made me laugh.

    My fav comfort food is chili.

    I feel most at home when I’m on the couch, watching a movie with my people (hopefully all of them).

    I kill spiders, if I can reach them and I probably shouldn’t stand on things to make that happen, yet . . .

    One of my favorite words is consistent

    A favorite drink to enjoy on a summer day with my feet in a brook would be a margherita.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. You went to a yoga class withe Melanie? How fun is that?! I want to live in London in a really cool flat and eat banana pancakes, a fav comfort food!..lol

    Liked by 1 person

  21. I love Q&A posts like this! Always so enlightening.

    what is your most treasured comfort meal?

    Italian wedding soup. Once the weather turns cold, I make it at least once a month. It’s almost time!

    what is something you’re looking forward to?

    Well, Italian wedding soup now!

    what was your last memorable animal encounter?

    I was attacked by a shark while swimming in the Great Barrier Reef. Had to fend it off by poking it in the eye with my fist. (OK, not really. But you have to admit that would be pretty unforgettable!)

    if you could, regardless of the climate, reach out of your kitchen window pluck a fruit from a tree, bush, or a plant, what would it be?

    Lasagna. If lasagna were a fruit that grew on trees. Otherwise, a peach.

    what is something new you’ve done recently?

    I took that photo of you and Melanie at yoga class. Ooh la la. Lookin’ good, ladies!

    if you had a walk-up song like professional baseball players do, what would yours be?

    It would start out with 10 seconds of “Dazzey Dukes” by Duice, just to get everyone’s attention. Then there would be a record scratch, somebody yelling “Psych!”, followed by “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor. That has long been my anthem.

    okay, but what if you are in a situation where you simply must sing karaoke?

    Like, gun to the head? Scribble out a quick farewell note, close my eyes, and hope the ending is painless.

    you’re in a deserted island situation for an unknown period of time. you get three items and one book. what do you bring?

    A blow-up doll, duct tape, and an air pump. The book is titled “How to Cross the Line.”

    what would you like to be most remembered for?

    A few of these comments.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love them, too! I might just do more, so stay tuned…

      Last year, when my dad was in the hospital, my friend made our family some homemade Italian Wedding soup, and it was absolutely delicious. I’m craving it now!

      Your shark story was AMAZING! I might have to borrow it for small talk if I ever find myself in that situation—which I hope doesn’t happen.

      Oh yes, the lasagna tree. I don’t think we are in the right zone for that.

      Do we know how to pose or what??

      Dazzey Dukes. Now that’s a song I haven’t heard in a while.

      I 100 percent agree with you.

      I’m laughing so hard.

      You will. Oh, you will.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. I love these questions Kari and am going to tuck them away to answer on my blog sometime.

    But I’ll answer the first one. I don’t knock on wood, but I do touch wood to ward off bad luck when I’ve said something aloud which I really don’t want going wrong.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Is it wrong that I thought this said orgasm? “if you could come back as any organism, what or who would you be?“

    Purple Rain was my HS soundtrack as well.

    I loved the questions (very unique) and all your answers. I’m also most at Home, at Home. The irony of that is perfect.

    Like

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