Just feeling too lazy to do a real entry tonight, so here's part of the long, long personality survey that's been going around this month:

Screen Name: grouse

Location: Rocky Mountains, western USA

Nationality: American

Grade: AA

GPA: high

Gender: male

Zodiac sign: Scorpio

Chinese Zodiac: snake, if I remember right

Pets: none, really. Pack includes 3 red heelers and a dove who came here for rehabilitation after being mauled by a dog, and has stayed more than five years.

Hair Color: red, although mostly grey now

Eye Color: hazel

Hair Length: short

Car: Ford Explorer, Dodge 1-ton crewcab

Bed Time: depends on the season

Were you named after anyone?: nope

Do you find yourself attractive?: not anymore

Do you think you are cute?: not anymore (isn't "cute" attractive?)

Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?: nope (wife was upset at this answer, so yes, I have a girlfriend)

Where do you shop the most?: eBay

Do you think your fashion is cool?: nope. Just chambray shirts and Levis.

Do you have any piercings?: Nope, although I once pierced both nipples to see what it was like. Bearable.

Do you have any tattoos?: nope

Do you do drugs?: nope

Do you drink?: rarely

What kind of shampoo and conditioner do you use?: whatever the wife buys

What sport do you play (do)?: volleyball

What are you most scared of?: dying second

How many phones in your house?: four

How many TV's do you have in your house?: four (but the wife says five)

What are you listening to right now?: In My Hands by Natalie MacMaster

What book(s) are you reading now?: The Grouse of the World by Paul A. Johnsgard and All the DAVE BERRY You Could EVER Want by Dave Berry

Who are you talking to right now?: you

Do you have your own phone line?: Nope, just the one for the entire household and both computers.

What clothes do you sleep in?: sweat pants

Who is the last person who called you?: Wife's godson on Thursday. He didn't want to wait until she got off work to come over here, and wanted a ride. He's still here. (Actually, that was weeks ago. Latest call was youngest son needing a ride home from the basketball game.)

If you could have 1 wish what would it be?: a time machine

If you could change anything about yourself what would it be?: lose 20 pounds

Who do you really hate?: No one. No, not even Osama bin Laden. Hate is an emotion that damages the possessor, and has no effect on the target of its venom. An absolute waste.

Do you wish on stars?: no

What's on your mouse pad?: Well, as was pointed out to me by one of my reads, a mouse, of course.

If you were making a movie about yourself, who would play you?: Bill Mayer

Do you like your handwriting?: definitely not. illegible chicken scratches.

Who do you admire?: Ordinary people who act extraordinarily in extreme circumstances. Oh, you wanted names? Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Mohandas Ghandi, Anwar el Sadat.

What is the #1 priority in your life?: Have never sat down to consider that. Really. Not going to now, either.

Any bad habits?: Depends how you define "bad". Lots of wasteful ones.

What store would you never be caught dead in?: Can't think of any I've ever turned away from. The teeny-bopper bead and bangle shops in the malls make me uncomfortable, but I've shopped in them.

If you were another person, would you be friends WITH you?: unlikely, have only a handful of friends out of 6 billion potentials

Have you ever told a secret you swore you wouldn't tell?: Probably, but none come to mind. All who would trust me with secrets are aware that my secrecy never includes my wife.

Do looks matter?: yes

Do you pray?: nope

Have you ever met anyone famous?: Once spent a weekend on a private ranch in Colorado where one of the other guests was an Apollo astronaut. Kick myself for not remembering which, but he made it to the moon. He was invited there to get away from it all, (and drink), so we left him alone. No autographs. No "how was it in space" interrogations. Just a few words about breakfast and horses. Director of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was also there, who taught me how to pick up porcupines bare-handed.

Do you think there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?: No. Rainbows are full circles (I've seen them from the air.). They do not have an end.

Are you trendy?: nope

What do you do to vent anger?: get crabby with the family. hit wood.

Are you passive or aggressive?: Not at the same time.

Who is your second family?: The outfit I work for.

Do you trust others easily?: yes

What was your favorite toy as a child?: my dinosaurs, one of whom is in this office

What class in school did you think is totally useless?: shop (I was wrong.)

Do you like sappy love songs?: ballads, yes.

Do you have a journal: do 24 years of field notes count?

Have you ever intentionally hurt someone?: any one who answers 'no' to this question is either lying or less than six months old.

Do you like sarcasm?: giving or receiving?

Do you feel understood most of the time?: no, who does?

Have you thought seriously about committing suicide?: not as an adult

Do you know what 'sctief' is?: nope, nor do I care

Could you be a vegetarian?: only if I could find a place where raspberries grew year-round.

Would you ever bungee jump?: Only if I trusted the carnies who were running the equipment. Jumping out of a perfectly good airplane wasn't bad, solely because I knew the chute was going to open.

Do you untie your shoes every time you take them off?: Only wear shoes three or four times a year, but usually 'yes'.

What are you worried about right now?: paying for eldest son's college without cheating his brother of his chance.

Do you ever wear overalls?: Only when trapping antelope, deer, elk or bighorn sheep. (Getting those sharp hooves shoved down your waistband can be unpleasant.)

Do you think you are strong?: actually, what I feel is untested.

Worst feeling in the world?: I know what it is, and never want to feel it. I intend to die first.

Best feeling in the world?: Reaching the top of the mountain, to find it's downhill no matter which way you go.

What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?: What time is it?

How many rings before you answer the phone?: One. Or less. Which can be unnerving for the caller (especially telemarketers). The "ringing" the caller hears is electronic and artificial, and does not necessarily coincide with the actual rings on the telephone. So I occasionally answer before they ever hear a ring at all. Can be fun.

Future children's names?: The ones we didn't get to use were Genafer (before Ms. Flowers ruined it) and Katelyn.

What is most important in life?: contributing to the future, whether genetically, scientifically or socially.

Do you like to drive fast?: When young, yes, although 105 mph on public roads was a bit much. Likewise 65 mph on a bicycle (fun to pass cars going 55, though).

Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?: no, but Cera sits on the headboard by my light.

What type was your first car?: 1968 Chevy Impala, a living room on wheels.