So the other day I was honkering around in my old yahoo mail account, and came across a flurry of those email surveys/quizzes from high school. Most of them are just from me to @kquizzo and back (yes, I still have yours), and I decided to compare my past self to my current self.
1. What time is it
- Original Answer: “9:46pm, exactly 5 hours after Katie : )”
- Current Answer: 11:18am, and why the hell did I think using a smiley face was acceptable?
2. Name as it appears on your birth certificate:
- Original Answer: “<Edited for privacy purposes>”
- Current Answer: Turns out I was actually named Juan Dominic Guttenberg
3. Name most people know you by
- Original Answer: “Tom”
- Current Answer: Tom, but I am trying to make Sexy Legs stick
4. Number of candles that appeared on your last birthday cake?
- Original Answer: 16
- Current Answer: Well, my literal answer to the question is 21, since I haven’t had a birthday cake since junior year at Wake. How depressing.
5. Date that you regularly blow them out?
- Original Answer: “I generally make myself birthday cakes periodically throughout the year so I will feel special.”
- Current Answer: Glad to see my sense of humor hasn’t changed.
6. Pets?
- Original Answer: “Nope”
- Current Answer: Nope
7. Height?
- Original Answer: 5’9’
- Current Answer: 5’10”, and did I seriously think that I was 5 feet 9 feet tall?
8. Eye color:
- Original Answer: “Brown”
- Current Answer: I’ve never been told since everybody just gets lost in them
9. Hair color:
- Original Answer: “Brown”
- Current Answer: I am very paranoid that I’m going to start going bald any day now, but I current do have hair, and it still is brown.
10. Piercings:
- Original Answer: “No”
- Current Answer: I considered making a “just my nipples” joke, but you never really know what’s true over the internet.
11. Tattoos:
- Original Answer: “No”
- Current Answer: I’m glad I am just as boring as I was 8 years ago.
12. How much you love your job:
- Original Answer: “During the school year, the only work I do is make movies, its awesome, and over the summer I am a camp counselor at a kids sports camp, which is also awesome because I’m so much better at dodgeball than they are.”
- Current Answer: Aside from wanting to call my former self a prick, I also was a partial liar. I didn’t work a ton in school, but I certainly did enough to get by. Anyway, I love my current job except for the paycheck, the location, and that I work for the government, where there is little hope of actually changing or implementing anything. It makes my year seem almost worthless.
13. Birth Place:
- Original Answer: “Good old Saint Louis”
- Current Answer: I haven’t been to St. Louis since I was ten months old- why would I refer to is as “good old”?
14. Current and Past Residences:
- Original Answer: “Current: Lake Forest, Past: St. Louis, Lincolnshire, Connecticut, Lake Forest”
- Current Answer: Current: Kenai, Alaska: Past: St. Louis, Missouri; Lincolnshire, Illinois; Lake Forest, Illinois; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Soldotna, Alaska
15. Ever been in love before?
- Original Answer: I’m certainly in love with my (once) new shoes!
- Current Answer: I vaguely remember being really excited about the new shoes I got. I think they were very white. It most certainly wasn’t love. But yes, I have.
17. Been to Europe:
- Original Answer: “Was supposed to go a few years back, never got around to it.”
- Current Answer: What the hell was I talking about? When was I “supposed” to go to Europe? What does “not getting around to it” even mean? Christ, former Tom. Also, I have no idea what happened to question 16, and at the time I apparently didn’t think anything of it. But yes, I’ve been to (in chronological order): Rome, Florence, Venice, London, Cambridge, Paris, Bordeaux, Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Istanbul, Madrid, Salamanca, Barcelona, Milan. Also a few smaller towns, and a few other airport layovers, but I don’t really count those.
18. Love somebody so much it made you cry:
- Original Answer: “To an extent… goes along with one of yesterdays survey’s questions.”
- Current Answer: Not sure what I meant back then, but yes, I have. This thing got depressing real quick.
19. Been in a car crash?
- Original Answer: “Well if by crash you mean a flaming reckage of cars because you ‘accidentally’ of cars because you forgot where the break pedal is, then no, I’ve never been in a car crash.”
- Current Answer: I stand by my past answer, but would like to correct my spelling of the word wreckage.
20. Croutons or Bacon Bits:
- Original Answer: “Croutons, definitely.”
- Current Answer: Croutons, definitely
21. 2 door car or 4 door car:
- Original Answer: “4, my car is 2 and its a pain in the buttox”
- Current Answer: Wow, grass certainly is greener. Looking back I loved my little two door baby. Definitely going with two-door now.
22. Coffee or Ice Cream:
- Original Answer: “I hate coffee, like ice cream.”
- Current Answer: I suppose I didn’t realize how ridiculous of a question this was. It’d be one thing if they were somewhat related, like coffee or tea, but one is a beverage and the other is a dessert. Anyway, I enjoy the taste of ice cream more, but drink coffee about three times/week and can’t even remember the last time I had ice cream.
23. Blanket or stuffed animal:
- Original Answer: “Stuffed animal (and Katie, if by ‘like 9’ you mean 9:00 last night, then yes, that would be correct)”
- Current Answer: I think I was trying to make some sort of sexual joke here, but looking back I failed miserably.
24. Dumper or Dumpee:
- Original Answer: “Only been a dumpee, not a fan of either.”
- Current Answer: Gosh, another depressing question. Really there are big negatives on both sides of the spectrum. I suppose I am “better” at being the dumpee since I can’t stand hurting people, but obviously have not been as depressed about the situation when I’ve been the dumper.
25. Salad Dressing:
- Original Answer: “I hate salad.”
- Current Answer: Didn’t like coffee, didn’t like salad. Who was I? Balsamic vinaigrette.
26. Color of socks:
- Original Answer: “On me, plain old white, on other people, whatever floats their boat is cool with me.”
- Current Answer: How fashion has changed. I only wear white socks now when I’m at the gym. I don’t have a consistent go-to color, it just needs to look good with the pant and shoe.
27. Lucky Number:
- Original Answer: “21”
- Current Answer: 21
28. Favorite place to be kissed:
- Original Answer: “I begin to wonder about anyone who DOESN’T answer lips.”
- Current Answer: Hahahahaha, oh god Tom. You were so young and naive.
29. Favorite Movie:
- Original Answer: “Caddyshack & Airplane”
- Current Answer: While still great movies, my current top five (which hasn’t changed in the past 18 months) is: Gladiator, American Beauty, Royal Tenenbaums, Good Will Hunting, and Blood Diamond.
30. Quote from a movie:
- Original Answer: “I REALLY enjoy comedy movies, but I also find the two-and-a-half minute speech/dialogue between Nicholson and Cruise in ‘A Few Good Men’ (‘You can’t handle the truth’)”
- Current Answer: Really interesting answer there. For starters, it’s an incomplete thought. Also, while I knew the scene, I didn’t see A Few Good Men until I was in college. I really have too many favorite movie quotes to choose from, but if I had to pick I’d go with “I like to get kissed before I get fucked” from Blood Diamond, which is insist has far more meaning than just the sexual connotation.
31. Favorite Holiday
- Original Answer: “1/30 (b-day), 12/25, 7/4, spring break is a REALLY nice break in school too.”
- Current Answer: Christmas for family reasons, July 4th for summer/friend reasons, I don’t really care about my birthday anymore and I haven’t had a spring break in a few years.
32. Favorite food:
- Original Answer: “I like a bunch of stuff.”
- Current Answer: What a boring answer, past Tom. I’d probably go with sushi if I had to choose.
33. Favorite day of the week:
- Original Answer: “Saturday… sleep in late and stay up late.”
- Current Answer: Gonna stick with Saturday, even though I don’t really sleep-in anymore.
34. Favorite Song:
- Original Answer: “My Heart Will Go On” - Celion Dion
- Current Answer: I really wish I had answered this one truthfully, because I’m very curious of my past answer. At least I think it was in jest, since I didn’t even know how to spell her name. My favorite song is “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones, but that’s more for consistency of enjoyment over the years as opposed to what I enjoy listening to the most now.
35. TV Shows:
- Original Answer: “Simpsons”
- Current Answer: I can’t remember the last time I watched an episode of the Simpsons. Lost, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld, Arrested Development, Parks & Recreation, the Office, Friday Night Lights, and Top Chef.
36. Favorite Toothpaste:
- Original Answer: “Whatever’s in the bathroom.”
- Current Answer: What an indifferent 16 year-old punk I was. No clue what flavor it is now, but I do have a favorite and know the tube well enough to pick it out in the store. Crest something.
37. Favorite Restaurant:
- Original Answer: “There’s a bunch.”
- Current Answer: What a complicated question. The beat meal I’ve ever eaten (in the US) was at Moto in downtown Chicago. For an everday/easy option, I’d have to go with Chipotle.
38. Favorite Flower:
- Original Answer: “Difference between giving and getting, getting it doesn’t really matter, giving depends on the occasion.”
- Current Answer: I guess I still feel that way, although I would phrase my answer completely differently now.
39. Least Favorite Thing:
- Original Answer: “Anxiety to the point of breaking down.”
- Current Answer: Did I used to get anxious? I have no recollection of that. I have a huge aversion now to hurting other people, so that probably makes me feel like crap the most out of anything.
40. Favorite sport to watch:
- Original Answer: “Basketball, by far”
- Current Answer: Really depends on whether we’re talking live or on tv. Either way it’s college basketball, though.
41. Fast food restaurant:
- Original Answer: “Subway”
- Current Answer: ohmygodwhatthefuckwaswrongwithme. I can’t stand Subway now. Even if we’re just talking sandwich/sub places, there are at least a half-dozen places I’d go before I’d go to Subway. Unfortunately none of them exist either in the Middle East or in rural Alaska, so I find myself at Subway far more often than I’d like. Former Tom would be happy. As I said earlier, I’d probably go with Chipotle.
42. When was your last hospital visit:
- Original Answer: “Very long time, my brother (older) threw a rock at my head in preschool, I broke my arm in kindergarten, since then nothing besides the flu and stuff.”
- Current Answer: I haven’t seen a doctor (not including a dentist or eye doctor) since I was 18. I’ve had a very clean bill of health. About a year after I took this I tore my MCL and ACL playing football, though, and was on crutches for about six weeks.
43. Favorite Drink:
- Original Answer: “Lemonade, various soft drinks.”
- Current Answer: It’s impossible for me to choose just one, but everything in my top 25 has alcohol in it. Take that you square former Tom.
44. What color is your bedroom carpet?
- Original Answer: “White”
- Current Answer: Well I live in a different place now, but it’s still white.
45. How many times did you fail your permit and/or driver’s test?
- Original Answer: “none - Perfecto!”
- Current Answer: None - Perfecto!
46. What do you think of Ouija boards?
- Original Answer: “It would only be cool if it was how it was like in Jumanji (or however its spelled).”
- Current Answer: Yes, former Tom, you spelled it correctly, but that was still a very poor sentence. Three uses of the word “it” is a bit overboard.
47. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
- Original Answer: “I’ll be 26? Out of college (hopefully), and based in a career either in business or film (two very different fields).”
- Current Answer: This is a money question looking back. Aside from the fact that “business” is an incredibly vague field, I’d say I stuck true to my guns. At 16, I never would have expected living in the Middle East or Alaska, but I certainly became more adventuresome in college. Overall I’m very happy with how my life has turned out to this point. At 34, I’d like to have a family of my own and an MBA. My exact career direction hasn’t fully taken shape yet, although I have a lot of desires/possibilities.
48. Who is the last person you got an email from besides this one?
- Original Answer: “Whitney Hutch”
- Current Answer: No idea why Whitney Hutchinson was sending me emails, but ok. Personal: an email chain going around my friends from college, Work: the Mayor of Seward, Alaska.
49. Have you ever been convicted of a crime?
- Original Answer: “Nope”
- Current Answer: Happy to say that the answer still is no.
50. Which single store would you choose to max your credit cards?
- Original Answer: “Best Buy or any store that sells electronics.”
- Current Answer: I get the meaning behind the question, but I would never max out my credit cards. That is very fiscally irresponsible. But if I was forced, it would either be at Best Buy or Brooks Brothers.
51. What do you do most often when you are bored?
- Original Answer: “TV, movies, online, film stuff.”
- Current Answer: How did I live before facebook was invented?
52. What word or phrase do you over use?
- Original Answer: “If by overuse you mean not overuse at all, it would have to be ‘if by __ you mean __’, you would be correct.”
- Current Answer: Funny joke, former Tom. No clue what to answer here, I’d like to think I’ve fixed most of my speaking gaffs.
53. Friend or family who lives farthest away?
- Original Answer: “I have some family in California”
- Current Answer: Funny how that works out, because I guess California is closest to where I am now. My closest real friend (by car) lives over 3,500 miles away in Las Vegas. I have a few friends in Los Angeles, which is only a few hundred miles further. In terms of biggest distance, I have some friends/family in New Orleans, Charlotte, DC, Baltimore, and Boston, so one of those takes the cake. A good friend’s girlfriend, who I’m kinda friends with, lives in Australia.
54. Most annoying thing:
- Original Answer: “Programs that should work that don’t.”
- Current Answer: Not sure what I was talking about, but it sure does sound annoying. I’d have to say remoteness to any meaningful person in your life.
55. Best thing:
- Original Answer: “Being with friends, and if by saying ‘unlike Mark and Tom I wear clothes when I sleep’, you mean that I DO wear clothes when I sleep, then you’d be correct.”
- Current Answer: Wow, I’m confused as shit right now. I’ll keep that answer, but cut it off after the word “friends”
56. Bedtime:
- Original Answer: “I set my own time, but I usually hit the hay around 11 on weekdays and 1 on weekends.”
- Current Answer: My job has very fluctuating hours, so it’s very dependent on what time I have to wake up in the morning. I try to get seven hours of sleep, which means I generally try to be in bed by 11:30.
57. Who will respond to this the fastest?
- Original Answer: “I really don’t understand this question.”
- Current Answer: How did you not understand the question you dolt? Are you able to read? It’s quite straightforward - who will reply to your answers the quickest. Gosh.
58. Who is the person who you sent this to that is the least likely to respond.
- Original Answer: “You’re correct that I’m scared. Very, very scared.”
- Current Answer: That has to be taken out of context, or I grossly misread this question as well.
59: What time is it now:
- Original Answer: “10:12”
- Current Answer: 12:26. Shit this took longer than I thought it was going to…
