Colleen was kind enough to interview me when I commented on her interview post! If you want me to interview you, just leave a comment and let me know.
1. Why did you want a tattoo, and how did you decide on the design?
I think I have always wanted to decorate myself. I would actually get a lot more tattoos if it didn’t cost so much! It took me a long time to decide on my design, and the reason I got the one I did is because I played stringed instruments growing up. I played violin as a kid and double bass as a teenager, and the f-holes from Le Violon d’Ingres called to me. I also especially like that it’s integrated into my body as a whole, not tacked on as an afterthought. After I chose the design, I waited close to a year before actually getting it done.
2. You mention that you want approval on your about me page of your blog. Do you feel that you’re seeking approval when you blog? And if so, by whom?
I think I am always seeking approval, but I blog as much for myself as for anyone else. I enjoy having a record of my thoughts, and I keep up with my blog far more than I ever did with the diaries I had as a kid. That’s probably why I obsessively back up my database – I’m afraid of losing what I’ve written! However, I do love the praise I get sometimes about my quicklinks posts…I never tire of hearing that people like those. I do need to post more good links though, I haven’t been doing that much lately.
3. If you could move anywhere in the world, where would you live?
If money was truly no object, I think I would like to live in Japan. With a ton of cash I wouldn’t need to worry about things that might be culture shock – I could hire somebody to do that stuff for me! And living in the land of Hello Kitty and all things kawaii would just be fantastic. In terms of realistic places to live, I’d probably like Toronto. I’ve only been there once, but it was very attractive to me – there were outdoor activities in the heart of the city, and all kinds of fun stuff around. And of course there’s the bonus of being able to get married, minus the linguistic difficulty of finding a different profession.
4. Who do you miss most in your life?
My friends. I mean that in a very general sense, because I have gone through “cycles” with friends, people who have come into my life and left again. I don’t think I have any lifelong friends that I’m still in contact with; the closest it might come is a girl I knew in high school who I still e-mail on occasion, though we weren’t ever really best friends. But I have had people in my life who meant a great deal to me, and I have lost touch with them, and that makes me sad sometimes. In fact, my really good friends, my best friends, are all people I’ve met online and some of whom I’ve never even met.
5. Do you have any regrets?
I do regret an affair I had a couple of years into my relationship with my wife. We separated temporarily, and fortunately she took me back, because I’ve never loved anyone so much in my entire life. But that affair caused a lot of heartache over the following few years and I don’t think we’ll ever get over it completely…not for a long time anyway. She knows I’ll never do it again – and I won’t – but the pain will take a long time to wash away. (I almost said I regretted not finishing college the first time around, but I truly love my job and my life wouldn’t have taken this path if I hadn’t dropped out when I did…so I’m not sure I really regret that anymore.)
