Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Hair and now

Do you get your hair cut or trimmed on a regular schedule? Do you have it done the moment it starts to get a bit shaggy, or out of shape, or do you put it off until your hair is long and needs a complete restyling? Do you go through periods of different hair lengths, and just cut it when you feel like it?

This week's theme is personal grooming.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Personal grooming

Is your shower cluttered with dozens of bottles, soaps, sponges, razors, and other things? Or do you just have the minimum necessary items in there? Are you very particular about what products you use while bathing, or are you happy to use whatever is sitting around?

This week's theme is personal grooming.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Tell us a story: dressed to kill

Have you ever bought an item of clothing that was either so outrageous, or so unusual for you, that after you got it home you were reluctant to wear it? Did you in fact never wear it? If you did wear it, how did it go over?

Saturday, November 27, 2010

In my other occupation, I'm a . . .

Imagine that you are starting to create an alternate-reality life for yourself, with an alternate life story very different from your ordinary life. The first step in this process is creating your alternate-reality business card. With no practical concerns to limit your choices, what job title would be fun to put next to your name on your business card?

Friday, November 26, 2010

The consequences of conflict

What is the worst conflict you've had with a family member, and what happened as a result?

This week's theme is family conflict.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

A house divided

Are you estranged from members of your family because of unresolved conflicts? If so, what would have to happen for those divisions to be healed?

This week's theme is family conflict.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Is there a diplomat in the house?

When there are conflicts between family members, who in your family is most likely to play the peacemaker or referee?

This week's theme is family conflict.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Learned behavior

How did you learn to resolve conflicts in your family? Were disagreements calmly discussed? Did people argue and then storm off and not speak for a few days (or a few weeks, or a few years)?

Do you still experience conflict the same way that you learned it from your family, or do you have your own style of dealing with it?

This week's theme is family conflict.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Family conflict

In the United States, this Thursday's Thanksgiving holiday is a traditional time for families to get together. For many families, getting together is likely to be an occasion for bickering and arguments. Are you getting together with family members this Thanksgiving? Are your family gatherings often marked by arguments, or are they mostly happy and harmonious?

This week's theme is family conflict.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Tell us a story: volunteer work

What was one time that you volunteered to help out and did some interesting work that you otherwise might never have had the occasion to do?

Saturday, November 20, 2010

My Way on the Highway

What do your friends think of your driving style? Are they more likely to say you're too cautious, or too reckless?

What is one potentially risky thing that you sometimes do while driving?

Friday, November 19, 2010

Facing death

Have you ever been in a situation where death seemed like a possible outcome (for example, a car accident, or awaiting a medical diagnosis)? Did that experience change the way you approach everyday life, or did it have no lasting impact on you?

This week's theme is death.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

A death in the family

Who is the first person in your life who died when you were old enough to be aware of it? How old were you? How did the people around you handle it? Did they communicate well with you, or leave you frightened and with unanswered questions?

This week's theme is death.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Dreaming of deadly dangers

Do you sometimes dream about your own death, or about facing life-threatening situations? What deadly perils turn up most often in your dreams? Do these dream perils overlap with your daytime worries, or do your dreams have their own special dangers that don't occur in the dayworld?

This week's theme is death.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Beating the odds

Though individual deaths are hard to predict, on average the causes of death are well understood. Do you know the leading causes of death for people like you, based on your age and where you live?

Have you taken specific steps to reduce your chances of death, for example, by adopting healthy habits or avoiding risky situations?

(US statistics: 15 Leading Causes of Death in 5-year Age Groups)

This week's theme is death.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Death

Do you ever think about your own death? To what degree? Have you decided how you want your earthly remains handled, or what kind of service you want (or don't want)? Have you told anyone about your wishes, or put them in writing so that they have some chance of being carried out?

This week's theme is death.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Tell us a story: the extra mile

What was something that you wanted very much, something that inspired you to put in an extraordinary effort or travel a long distance to get it?

After you reached your goal or got the thing you wanted, did it feel like a great triumph, or was it something of a letdown, an anticlimactic conclusion to your quest?

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Going Places

What was the first car you owned, or the first car that you drove regularly? What color was it? How long did you have it?

Friday, November 12, 2010

Picture perfect

Think of a photograph of yourself that you particularly like, one that shows you in the best possible light. What is the setting for the photo? Is it a posed photo or a candid action shot? Which of your positive qualities are brought forward in this photograph?

This week's theme is the reflected image.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Like looking at myself

Think of the person who most reminds you of yourself (it can be a family member, a personal friend, a celebrity, a fictional character — anyone who is most like you). Do you tend to be critical of that person or character, or supportive? What do you like about him or her? What do you dislike?

This week's theme is the reflected image.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Profile pic

On Blogger, on social networking sites, anywhere you are allowed to use an avatar or image to represent yourself, what picture are you using right now? Is it a photo of you? Is it a current photo of you, or you as a child? Or is it a cartoon, one of your pets, your children, or a random funny image? If you aren't using a picture of yourself, why not?

This week's theme is the reflected image.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

That person in the mirror

How many times a day do you happen to see yourself in a mirror?

What are your usual thoughts when you look in the mirror? Are you proud of what you see? Do you tend to criticize shortcomings in your clothing or appearance? Do you feel uneasy and self-conscious? Do you smile at yourself in the mirror?

This week's theme is the reflected image.

Monday, November 8, 2010

The reflected image

When the cameras come out at an event, are you the one who puts up a hand in front of your face, or turns away? Or are you happy to have your picture taken, and in fact keep images of yourself around your home?

This week's theme is the reflected image.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Tell us a story: mistaken identity

Where were you when someone mistook you for someone else? What happened, and how long did it take for you (or them) to realize you weren't the person they were looking for?

Saturday, November 6, 2010

By the people

Wherever you live, do you keep up with politics? Or do you avoid the subject because it's too scary/depressing/overwhelming/confusing? Do you feel that your world is running smoothly, or would you do things differently if you were running things? (Please folks, let's not turn this into a partisan debate; we just want to talk about your relationship to politics, and not your politics. Thanks!)

Friday, November 5, 2010

Pruning the family tree

Are there any pieces of your family history that you'd rather forget, or overcome, or make amends for?

This week's theme is your ancestors.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Your family tree

How far back have you traced your family tree? Who are your earliest ancestors you specifically know about? Where and when did they live?

If you haven't actually traced your ancestry, what do you imagine some of your ancestors might be like?

This week's theme is your ancestors.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Legendary

What stories about your ancestors have been passed down through the family? What have you been told about family members who died long before you were born?

This week's theme is your ancestors.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

The family name

What expectations of success and accomplishment come with your family lineage?
Do you feel you have to make an effort to live up to the high standards established by your family tree? Or is it the opposite — do you have to overcome low expectations and prove that someone from your family can accomplish something noteworthy?

This week's theme is your ancestors.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Your ancestors

Because this week begins on Samhain, the old Celtic holiday that honors the ancestors on the day when the veil is thinnest between the worlds — and thus when they can walk among us! — we will have five days of questions about ancestors. By "ancestors," we mean both the people who biologically preceded you, and also any people from the past with whom you have an affinity, whether cultural or spiritual or anything else.

Do you feel a connection to your biological ancestors? Do you have a connection to a group of ancestors who aren't biologically related to you?

This week's theme is your ancestors.