Monday, November 30, 2009

The first time

In the first years of life we quickly transform from helpless infants into mobile and capable little people. Along the way, there were many first times — for example, the first step you took, the first time you ate with a fork, the first book you read. For most of us, these early accomplishments are hard to remember. What is one early skill or experience that you can clearly remember doing for the first time?

This week's theme is firsts.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Top Ten: shopping whims

There are things we buy out of necessity or obligation, and there are other things that are not so easy to justify buying. Sometimes these turn out to be our most treasured things, and sometimes they are just a waste of money.

What are ten of the most frivolous purchases you have made?

Giving thanks

What sacrifices have people made for your benefit, so that your life could be better?

Friday, November 27, 2009

In Mom and Dad's day...

Were your parents good role models for taking care of your health? Are you generally in better, worse or the same health as your parents at the same age? If your parents had a particular condition, are you watching out for that condition yourself?

This week's theme is your body, your health.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

What, me worry?

What is your biggest realistic concern about your own health? How about your most unfounded fear?

This week's theme is your body, your health.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

I'll think about that tomorrow

Does thinking about your health upset or agitate you? Do you avoid going to doctors because you don't want to face thinking about your health?

This week's theme is your body, your health.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Gym day!

What do you do on a daily basis for your general health? What do you do every week for your health? What do you do every month for your health? What do you do every year for your health?

This week's theme is your body, your health.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Your body, your health

How healthy are you? Are you comfortable with your general level of health? Or are there some aspects of your body's condition that you should change, or that need care and attention?

This week's theme is your body, your health.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Top Ten: staple foods

What are ten foods that are always found in your kitchen, or that you are likely to eat at least once every week?

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Who *is* that person??

We all have ideas when we're young about who we're going to be, and what we're going to do with our lives. What aspect of your current life would surprise your younger self?

Friday, November 20, 2009

Time and memory

What time-specific information do you have committed to memory?

For example, do you remember the dates of many historical events? How many birthdays and holidays have you memorized?

Do people turn to you to find out when each TV show is on? Do you know when certain stores and restaurants open and close on different days of the week?

What other dates and times are filed away in your memory?

This week's theme is time.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Time and place

What tool or method do you use to keep track of your appointments? If you use a calendar, is it paper or electronic? What style is it? Where do you keep it?

How well does your system work? Do you usually remember your appointments and show up on time?

This week's theme is time.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

On borrowed time

Many of us live our lives as if our current routine will continue forever. Of course, nothing lasts forever; things change, whether predictably or by surprise. What are some parts of your daily life and routine that you know will change on a specific date in the future? What are some things that are likely to change fairly soon, even if you can't predict exactly when?

This week's theme is time.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Time slots

How much of your daily life is ruled by time? Does an alarm clock wake you up in the morning? How many of the things you do depend on schedules or appointments that are set up in advance?

This week's theme is time.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Time

How many clocks do you have in your home? How many watches? How many computers, appliances, and other devices at home have a clock built in?

Are all of your clocks set to (approximately) the right time?

This week's theme is time.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Top Ten: rules you live by

What are ten simple principles or values that guide your life?

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Leaving on a jet plane

Have you ever grudgingly traveled somewhere with low expectations, only to have a really good time anyway?

Friday, November 13, 2009

Turn left at the llama farm

What was the most unusual landmark or distinctive location in your childhood neighborhood?

This week's theme is long-term memory.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The secret back door

Did you ever bend the rules to get into a place or event where, strictly speaking, you weren’t allowed? What was the place or event, and what was your clever way of getting in?

This week's theme is long-term memory.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Party like it's 1999

Where were you on New Year's Eve, 1999? Who were you with?

This week's theme is long-term memory.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Round of applause

What was one occasion when you personally got a round of applause from a group of people?

This week's theme is long-term memory.

Monday, November 9, 2009

The letter you never sent

This week's questions are meant to spark your memories of events from years ago, things you might not have thought about recently.

Did you ever write an important letter (or e-mail) and then decide not to send it?
Do you still have that letter? If so, why did you keep it?

This week's theme is long-term memory.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Top Ten: things you're not doing

What are ten things that you constantly put off, finding anything else to do to delay having to do them?

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Big storm!

Think of the blizzards, ice storms, hurricanes, and soaking rainstorms that you've lived through. What is your most dramatic or most colorful storm story? Did you ever have to evacuate because of a storm? What big plans did you have to cancel or change because the weather interfered?

Friday, November 6, 2009

What's that blue thing doing here?

What's the thing in your refrigerator that you bought, but will probably never eat? What will you eat instead?

This week's theme is what you eat.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

I don't usually eat this, but...

Are you defensive about some of the things that you eat? Do you find yourself explaining, excusing, or even apologizing to people who don't even care about what you are eating? What does that say about how you feel about what you are eating?

This week's theme is what you eat.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Your culinary soapbox

Many of us make decisions about food based on health concerns, but sometimes our decisions are purely philosophical ones. If you have a specific food or group of foods that you don't eat for moral, religious, political, or other philosophical reasons, how strict are you in that prohibition? Have you capitulated and eaten it at a family dinner simply to keep the peace, or at a business lunch to keep from having a potentially awkward conversation with a client or your boss?

This week's theme is what you eat.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

No, thank you

What don't you eat? Why don't you eat those things?

This week's theme is what you eat.

Monday, November 2, 2009

What you eat

Food is a subject fraught with significance. Our basic behaviors and feelings about food are driven by instinct -- including instincts that we have in common with all other animals. But food and eating are also surrounded by social and cultural patterns that are uniquely human, or even unique to our own country or region. As if that weren't enough, what we eat is also tangled up with health issues, weight, self-esteem, self-control, money, politics, and a host of other issues. It's hard to think of a part of life that doesn't interact in some way with food and eating.

What do you eat? Why do you eat the things that you eat?

This week's theme is what you eat.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Top Ten: worth a hike

Suppose you were temporarily without a car in a place where you had to walk a significant distance to get into town. What are ten things, ordinary items or extraordinary opportunities, that could easily be worth making a walk of a mile or two, if that's what it took?