snagged from everyone on LJ

guess I'll play too:

"Everyone has things they blog about. Everyone has things they don't blog about. Challenge me out of my comfort zone by telling me something I don't blog about, but you'd like to hear about, and I'll write a post about it."

For ralst

What really irritates you - either on-line or off.

Does frustrate and irritate mean the same thing? Because I frustrate, at times, rather easily. Especially, stupid, illogical people frustrate me.

True irritation, I think I reserve for mini-road-rage. I hate stupid drivers. Like those who just HAVE to pull out in front of you and then DIE. People who refuse to use turn signals. And those idiots who see a whole line of cars yet feel they're special and wait until the last minute to get over and just expect the seas to part for them. Asshats.

On-line: tweeners. I have discovered no patiences for the squeeing . Plus the feeling that everything written is just the 'most awesomest' thing ever! And fanfic authors who think they deserve a fandom of their very own since they're so prolific and awesome. Please.

For zennie

What's it like to work for the government the way you do? Do you experience a sense of fragmentation and if so, how do you reconcile it? (You don't have to go into specifics nor even answer the question if you don't want.)

What I do is so non-political it really has no bearing. Not even my administrator (the head of my agency) is a political appointment. We're a very small agency within USDA (~1,000 employees across the US) and have special rules (ie. we are not subject to FOI requests) that insulate us even more.

The biggest thing politically I pay attention to in reference to work is the yearly budgets. If they don't get passed in time, we work under continuing agreements and projects might need to be cut or postponed due to lack of funds. Also, depending on how the Farm Bill goes, will play a roll in how farmers feel about the government and hence how they will respond to surveys.

Some things I just can't do. I can't wear a pin that supports a particular candidate nor have any type of political material on my desk. But I can slap a bumper sticker on my car and give donations to the candidate of my choice.

Mainly, I find working for the Feds to have more positive than negative points. I like the job security. But that's my personality. Plus, I still can switch to other gov't jobs without loosing seniority, or look to an outside company - but it's truly my choice.

Easier question: what's your favorite place in all the world?

So far it's kind of a toss up between New Zealand and Tuscany. It's so much easier to get to Italy... and the food and wine are superb but there is something about NZ and the people there...

For theholyinnocent

What kind of music do you like? Is music important to you?

I like a lot of different stuff: Pop, Rock, Top-40 (do they still call it that any more?), Country, Classical. But I don't tend to be on the cutting edge or know 'up and comers'. I have a difficult time talking music since I don't tend to pay a ton of attention to names...

I'm not a fan of rap or really any music where I can't understand the words. But also, I'll listen to anything someone has on and wont usually have too much of an issue.

I like music but I'm not sure if I'd take hearing over sight if I needed to make a choice. I think it'd be easier for me to adjust to a lack of hearing rather than a lack of sight.

For atfm

What little things do you derive pleasure from?

damn... I'll just make a list: good wine, coffee and food; puppies and other baby animals; good fanfic; friends; being outside at the beach or the mountains; family; just 'hangin' with people I like...

For darandkerry

If you could actually live, as in live and breathe, in any television series - current or not, drama or comedy - which would it be? What role would you have?

Voyager - something in the science department...

Why? be like living a fantasy - what is the world gonna be like 500 years in the future?

For fewthistle

Okay. If you could do or be anything other than your current occupation, what would it be?

Anything? OK, this assumes I could do it well enough to support myself in the manner I've become accustomed, yes?

I'd be a professional photographer. A sports photographer, I think - for an actual paycheck.

Being able to go to the games and sit court side like that - awesome. Travel and sports for pay. Heaven.