You asked, I answer (part 2)

For the first post in this series, and a wee bit of background, check out this post.

Why is Justin Bieber popular when he clearly sucks so very bad? (Trisha)

For the same inexplicable reason that people care about Paris Hilton and the Kardashians.

What is the question to the ultimate answer of 42? (Trisha and Stephanie)

See the next question.

What do you think is the most important thing to living a good life? (Trisha)

Laughter.

Which celebrity do you wish would just vanish without a trace and why? (Allie)

All country music singers and their work.

Oh, I’m sorry…is that cheating? If so, then I’ll go for Ashton Kutcher (because he CANNOT act, and I’m tired of seeing his face everywhere).

This was hard, actually. Because I also considered Brett Favre, believe it or not, because I’m sick of his “I’m retired, but for the right price I’ll play” attitude. And Oprah Winfrey, because she needs to just stop. Also, I was going to say Tom Cruise, but he seems to have already disappeared, so that would’ve been a wasted wish.

Favorite music group or singer? (Allie)

Dave Matthews Band. Although I prefer their older stuff.

Favorite triangular-shaped kind of dessert? (Allie)

Pretty much anything made by my mom that can be cut into a triangle. Earlier this year she made red velvet cheesecake brownies and they were amazing. Even if they were squares. But if she ever makes them again I’ll cut them into triangles! And I’ll invite you all over.

I would like to ask how you got started on this song parody kick?  Is it something you’ve been doing since you were young (I know a girl in my high school that did this kind of thing all the time), or were you recently inspired?  What is your favorite parody that you have written? (Sandy)

That’s a good question. I’ve only ever done it for this blog (and don’t you all feel special). But I forget how it started or when inspiration struck. It might’ve been when we did Game On a few years ago. Or, maybe it was when, as a college freshman, I got a tour of the restroom stall where Weird Al Yankovich composed his first song (yes, we went to the same college), and his influence has been lurking in my mind ever since.

Joyce Spews might be my favorite, if only because it’s the only one I’ve ever put to music (although I still refused to sing).

I would also like to know one thing about you that would shock us.  Something you have never told your adoring public! (Sandy)

The only love letter I have ever received I threw away without reading past the first page (it was painfully earnest and poorly written (his handwriting looked like a second grader’s and his spelling was atrocious) and I just couldn’t bear to read it and I lied and told the guy I never received it and then I dumped him soon after).

Obviously, I’m lacking a romantic streak.

I know about your books but what about favorite movies? music? (Jenners)

See Saturday’s post for my opinions on movies and above for my favorite band. In college, I loved U2. In the mid-90s, it was grunge rock, like Pearl Jam. One of my current favorites is Adele. If I listen to the radio, it’s always tuned the station that plays obnoxious rock music.

And unlike my aversion to reruns, I can listen to the same album over and over again. I’ve hit the repeat button on Adele many, many times.

Do you have any hobbies? (Jenners)

Umm, reading? Giving Hamburger pep talks? Words With Friends (I promise I don’t play on airplanes, though). Travel, but that’s expensive, so it doesn’t happen as often as I would like, which makes it hard to be a hobby. I just bought myself a nice camera, so I’m hoping photography becomes a hobby. I’m pretty boring, really. No skydiving or marathons or cooking of gourmet meals happening around here.

What is the meaning of life? (Jenners)

42.

Just how many draft posts do you have lingering around back there hiding from us? (Literate Housewife)

Only 6 (5 after this baby is done). But in my world, that’s oodles.

Describe your idea of a perfect weekend? (Diane)

My perfect weekend would consist of the absence of many things: chores, obligations, wind, cold weather, bills, home repairs, a sore Hamburger in need of attention. This would leave me free to do whatever I felt like (which would likely include walking, reading, blogging, shopping) and stay in a happy, relaxed mood for the entire weekend.

What wonderful book would you recommend I read in the coming year? (Bonnie Jacobs)

Camp Nine, by Vivienne Schiffer

Who designed the picture in the header? It looks like you (or you look like it). Can I have one like that for me? (I mean a cartoon that looks like me not your picture.) (Aths)

Do you know hard it is to find images of blondes with short hair?!? After what seemed liked an eternity of searching, I finally found this image on dreamstime:

I paid a buck or so for the image, cropped it, and used Irfan View (a program I had on my old computer) to add some white space and text and create the header. And other than the fact that at the moment I’m not quite that blonde and my hair is spikier and I have blue eyes and I don’t wear red lipstick, it’s not that bad of a likeness.

Your preference: Songs that end with a single chord, or songs that fade out? (Bybee)

Single chord, most definitely. Otherwise, it’s not an ending, it’s just a fizzling out.