interview

[ilanarama]

fredfred interviewed me. If you want to be interviewed, ask me and I'll give you five questions which you can answer in your own lj and perpetuate the meme. Alternatively, you can ask me two questions, and I'll ask you two.

1. Have you now, or have you ever been, a member of the international communist... well, more seriously; as a politically-active Democrat, how do you cope with waves of right-wing vitriol, either in person or on the net?

Most of my friends (both local and internet) share my values, so it's generally not an issue. I have learned to keep my mouth shut around my inlaws, particularly my brother-in-law who is a Fox-news-watching redneck. When there is a particularly virulent letter to the editor in the paper, my husband and I snark at it together . Mostly, when the right-wingers win it makes me redouble my efforts toward regime change.

2. How did growing up Jewish in your family shape your religious or spiritual beliefs?

Despite a fairly Jewish household (Hebrew lessons and Sunday school, Shabbat and holiday observations, and so on) I always felt as though my parents were more culturally-Jewish than religiously-Jewish. My parents were both scientists, and although I have never asked them (and I really should! I don't know why I never did!) I think they are both agnostic, which is pretty much the way I am, too. I'd like to "believe" but I find it logically impossible.

3. Where haven't you travelled that you're dying to go to?

Nepal! I think I'll wait until the current unrest has settled down, though. I want to do some of the base-camp treks in the high mountains. I'd also really like to visit the prehistoric sites in South America, and the game reserves in Africa.

4. What are you reading now?

Hee. I'm reading Di and I by Peter Lefcourt. It's a hysterically funny novel about a Hollywood writer who is sent to London to research a miniseries on Princess Di and ends up falling in love with her - and vice versa. I'm about halfway through and they're just about to elope. Those of you who are fanfic writers or readers might consider it Gary-Stu RPF, but it's just wonderful.

5. How did you end up as a working meteorologist and what might you have done instead?

As I mentioned above, both parents were scientists (my mother was a chemist and my dad an astrophysicist), so I grew up feeling that science was the best and highest calling. I initially majored in physics at U. Md., but I had a hard time with the advanced stuff at the end of second year - quantum mechanics and modern physics. I was working as a programmer for a Beltway bandit that did processing of satellite data for NOAA and NASA, looking at sea surface temperature and atmospheric and oceanic profiles, so I took a meteorology elective and decided it was cool. I ended up switching my major to what they called "Physical Sciences" which was essentially minoring in three sciences instead of majoring in one - I picked math, applied math, and meteorology, which they didn't have an undergrad program in at the time. After a few years of working post-college as a scientific programmer in the earth sciences, my boyfriend at the time talked me into applying to grad schools with him, so I decided to get a grad degree in meteorology. I quit at ABD so all I have is a master's.

I did briefly flirt with changing my major to journalism, though. I think that would have been a good alternative career for me, for sure. I also really like languages, but I couldn't think of anything interesting to do with them at the time.

Comments

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

*raises interviewee hand*

[fredfred.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That was informative, and fun.

[dwenius.livejournal.com]

Interview me! (I'm getting to Tom's questions right about...now).

[saramwrap.livejournal.com]

SOHO imagery icon!!! *swoons*

Okay, I just had to be a giant geek. ;)

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

1. You have been very Quiet about Project lately. What's its status?

2. Do you see yourself ever getting into fandom again - either writing or reading fanfic for any fandom?

3. Suddenly, you're no longer a lawyer - you're a restaurateur! Describe to me the restaurant you open - its name, how it's decorated, and what's on the menu.

4. I remember once in a discussion about the term wyfe/wife, you said that even if you had the option, you and probably wouldn't get married. Do you still feel that way, and why?

5. Who would you like to see run for president in 2008? (I mean the question seriously, but you can choose someone who is unlikely to run.)

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

1. I have always (well, since you and I both joined lj) wondered: what does your lj-name mean?

2. Had you always wanted to have kids, or did you discover it after it happened? You seem like such an involved dad (yay!)

3. If you could have any superpower (and by that I mean a la X-Men, not a la Russia), what would it be?

4. You are supreme dictator of the US! What law do you immediately pass?

5. What is your currently favorite song, either to listen to or perform, and why?