I’ve been tagged by two different bloggers with two different sets of questions, for a total of twenty-one questions. I will not be passing this along, ‘cause I’m a rebel (and a loner, Dottie), but I will answer them to the best of my ability on a weekend.

First on the block, elevensies! Not a Hobbit reference, but the eleven questions sent my way by Mike Schulenberg. I responded to this tagging mostly because he referenced Monty Python in his. Awesome.

If you could live in a fictional world, where would that be?

When the hubs and I were dating, one of the first gifts he gave me was Myst – the book, not the video game, although the video game is also way awesome and I would live there. I always thought that world was so serene (in its own way) and intricate.

And of course, I would want to ability to create worlds by writing them.

Fiction or non-fiction?

Both. Don’t make me choose!

If I was forced to choose one for the rest of my life I would probably go with non-fiction. I can always make up fictional stories for myself. Learning that comes from reading non-fiction fuels new stories, so I wouldn’t want to miss out on that.

Do you read in noisy or quiet places?

I have a toddler. Yes, that is an answer.

But seriously, I like having music on at ALL times, so I guess noisy, although I don’t really think of music as “noise”.

Do reviews influence your choice of reads?

They can, but they aren’t the only criteria. Reviews that just say, “Dis book bitez” don’t really tell me anything. But if a bad review reveals details about poor writing or story development, or ideas that I might find bothersome, it may hinder my purchase.

I do enjoy reading bad reviews, though. Like this one for A Confederacy of Dunces, a book I loved as a teen:

“If you want to read about a bunch of dunces go for it, because that is ALL this book is!”

[Well, reviewer, yes. I guess the book should have mentioned it was a confederacy of...oh WAIT A MINUTE!]

A review from a trusted friend holds way more weight than a random stranger on the interwebs. But even than, books are very personal choices.

Audio books or paperbacks?

I haven’t actually tried audio books. If I had a commute to work, I imagine I would enjoy them. Especially if this guy was reading to me.

But, since I don’t, I prefer the voice in my head with a paperback.

What was the first book you remember reading?

Something by Dr. Seuss, I’m sure.

First “grown up” book I recall reading was Jane Eyre. I was in fourth or fifth grade and my mom had just finished reading it. She may not remember, but she handed me a list of words from the book that she didn’t think I would understand and told me that I could read the book once I defined all the words on the list.

I sat with the dictionary, looked them all up and wrote down the definitions, then traded the paper in for the book.

I kind of love that my mom made me work for it.

Favorite author?

I don’t think I really have one. I loved Roald Dahl as a kid and still think his books are great, but as an adult I don’t have one that stands out in my mind. I mean, there are classics like Shakespeare and Gabriel Garcia Marquez that I couldn’t be without, but I don’t know that they are my favorite.

Also, when typing this, I totally typed Sharkespeare.

Classic or Modern Novels?

Hard choice.

I have really varied taste. On my bookshelf you might find Love in the Time of Cholera next to a Sophie Kinsella novel, sitting on top of Cervantes and Dante, sandwiched between Tad Williams and C.S. Lewis. I don’t like to choose between them.

So, I won’t. You can’t make me.

Have you ever met your favorite author?

Since I don’t have one, no. And other than some of the lovely authors I’ve met online, I have never met one of them in person.

My kid brother (I say “kid”, but he is 26) met Mo Willems and got him to sign Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus for me. That’s about as close as I’ve been.

I was appropriately stoked. The Pigeon books are the awesome.

At this moment, I would love to meet A.J. Jacobs. I adore his books.

Book groups or solitary reading?

I have never been part of a book club. I am not against it, but it would take the right group of people for me to enjoy it. I have not met that group of people yet.

Actually, I take that back. The people that would make the perfect book group for me happen to live in Seattle and Arizona. So, unless we start having some sort of Google Video Chat book club, I see little book clubbing in my future.

If you could read only one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?

The rest of my life? That’s mean. But, I’d want something useful in various situations, so…

The Bible. Surprised?

And on to the next set of questions, brought to you by Tiffany White.

Do you prefer coffee or tea in the mornings?

Coffee. It’s not so much the caffeine as it is the ritual. I could probably replace the morning coffee with tea and be fine with it, since I do love tea.

What book have you read over and over again?

I’ve read Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead a number of times. I love reading plays – which probably explains why I am such a dialog junkie when I write. I’ve read quite a few of Shakespeare’s comedies over and over as well.

What’s your favorite outdoor activity?

I despise the heat and I live in Florida. Obviously, those two things don’t really mix, so, if I have to be outside and active (ergo, increasing the heat factor) then I want to be in the water, swimming.

When I lived in Washington state, the idea of hiking appealed to me, since I love to explore in the woods and found the mountains breathtaking. Alas, my faulty heart valves made real hiking incredibly difficult.

Do you cook and/or bake straight from the recipe, or do you get creative and throw things together in the kitchen?

Definitely creative. I love cookbooks for the ideas they plant, but I often just go to the cupboard and see what I can make happen. I love pairing flavors that people don’t necessarily imagine working.

I recently even attempted baking by ratios rather than recipe. Math is hard, ya’ll.

Where is your favorite place to visit in the United States?

Hmmm. Seattle tops the list because my two very best friends in the whole wide world live there. Oh, and it’s full of bookstores, coffee, and gorgeous scenery.

Number two…probably New York. I kind of adore Brooklyn.

Which animals must you see when visiting a zoo?

Sloths. Lllamas. Lemurs. Pretty much everything. I am an animal lover. Even the creepy crawly stuff, like snakes, lizards, and scorpions. I love it all.

What’s your favorite television show airing today?

I don’t know what my favorite is. Love BBC’s Downton Abbey and Sherlock (eagerly awaiting the new seasons of both).

And no, I’ve never been to England. A shame, right?

What’s your favorite television show of all time?

Another tough one! I’ll go with the only two I bothered to actually purchase on DVD. Firefly and Arrested Development. I am sure there are others that I like just as well, but those are the first two that come to mind.

What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Again, with the favorites. I am horrible at these questions. I am sure after this is posted I’ll think, “Gah! I totally love Movie X and didn’t mention it!”

I love Emma, Ever After, and Sliding Doors. Mildly interesting sidenote, I don’t really love Gwyneth Paltrow, yet she is in two movies I have an attachment to. Go figure.

What do you like to snack on when at the movie theater?

I am not a huge fan of the traditional snacks (I tire of the fake butter popcorn rather quickly and will be sick if I eat a box of candy) but I do allow myself a big ole Cherry Coke when I watch a movie at the theater.

Unless it’s a three hour epic film, in which case I avoid the mega large drink and stick to a small water. ‘Cause, you know, can’t take a pee break in the middle of a movie I am paying to see.

We have an independent movie house here that I LOVE where you can order real food before the movie starts and a waitress brings it to you. I can watch an indie film and get my grub on.

Sigh.

Who is your current Hollywood or otherwise famous crush?

How much time do you have?

Oddly enough, I was never that girl when I was younger. You know, the one with the NKOTB Trapper Keeper, doodling Mrs. Amber McIntire on the back of my homework. (That’s one of those guys, right?)

Even now, when other women talk about dudes like Paul Walker and Matthew McConahowdoyouspellit or whatever hard body is the flavor of the day, I don’t get it. I mean, I get it, aesthetically and what not. It just doesn’t do anything for me.

Of the guys to lately catch my attention, Richard Armitage is probably the one that most ladies would be quick to approve. It’s his voice that I love, and the intensity he brings to the characters he plays. And, yeah, he doesn’t hurt the eyes any.

Among my geekier flames:

David Tennant, for being funny, Scottish, and The Doctor (because, really, there need be no other reasons than those).

Hugh Laurie for the funny. I’ve long been a fan of the British when it comes to humor.

And, because Tiffany asked this and I am sure she is thinking I left someone out, if I find a guy funny and interesting, then he tends to falls into the “I adore you” category (like Chris Hardwick, Craig Bierko, et al.). Therefore, I reserve the right to add someone to this list at any time, or refer to an actor as “my boyfriend” in conversation.

That about covers all the questions. If this bored you out of your mind, you can thank Tiffany and Mike.