frollicking festival of friday five

The Friday Five Folks are moving this week, so I’ll do an old one instead! This one was originally posted Friday, December 14th (2 days after my birthday!).

1. What did you want to be when you grew up?
Many different things. When I was really little, I wanted to be an equestrian. This gradually shifted to veterinarian, which was my goal from third grade all the way through my freshman year of high school. It was around this time that I took Teddy to the vet, and had to watch the vet inform an old man that his dog had passed away. The man, who had to be at least 80, leaned on the counter and sobbed as the vet handed him the empty collar, and at that moment I knew with absolute clarity that I couldn’t do that. I didn’t want to have a job where I had to deal that directly with death, so I went looking for something else. From my sophomore year of high school until about a week into my first year of college, I wanted to be either a professional French Horn player (in a symphony or similar) or a band director. Olaf sucked that desire right out of me … at which point I dropped my music major and ended up majoring in theatre. My life goal now is to co-opt the life of my college acting professor. I want to marry someone wealthy but wonderful, have adorable children, teach acting to college students all day and act professionally at night. Okay, I could vary it a little, but that’s essentially the goal.

2. Do you have any nicknames?
God, I’ve had so many nicknames in my life. Ali (occasionally toothless Ali), Sissy, Punky (which I actually thought was my name when I was about three), Ines (and eight years later, Inez), Abe, Shiggy, Barta-baby, Scylla, Freesia, Monkey, Heidi, My Special Girl, etc etc. (One Townie, who shall remain nameless, calls me Leeshie Bar-tah). It’s still sort of odd to me to have people call me by my actual name.

3. If you could change something about yourself what would it be?
Jesus. Do you want the real answer, or the answer that will make you feel like I’m a decent human being? You know what, I’m going to plead the fifth. I’ve got to draw the self-disclosure line somewhere.

4. Have you ever bought anything from an infomercial?
Yup. I bought the whole Winsor Pilates video set a couple of months ago while I was up at three in the morning bored and watching TV. They’re … okay. Nothing miraculous.

5. How do you plan to spend your weekend?
Well, I’m so glad you asked! Tonight, I’m going to Swanky B Studio (at 800 Morerand) to do a workshop presentation at 8:00. You should come see it! I’ve been working for the past couple of weeks on this exceedingly odd (but very fulfilling) pseudo-generative-movement-kinda project with Pinky Budraitis, GJ, ZZ, Comte, Jaye, and The Girl. It’s been a really good time, although it’s exhausting work (both emotionally and physically) on top of it being a week which has not been easy for me for unrelated reasons. So, that’s tonight, after which we’re going drinking (huzzah!) and then who knows. On Saturday, I’m driving Patti somewhere to pick up a cleaner for her art deco couch which is covered in Kasmo fuzz. Then we’re going to paint the dining room, maybe? And then maybe to Nanny-Tiger’s in West Seattle for her BBQ, if I’m not total toast by then. On Sunday, I’m going to do yet MORE painting, and also go to BWC! Then, I am going to collapse in a painty, mosquito-bitten pile and sleep right there for three or four days. I’m really looking forward to that part.