What room in your home best describes your personality? Explain why.

Joanne's FAVORITE answer:
My living room. Because it's big, smells funky at times, is frequently disheveled...and recently a lot of people have looked at in and gone "naw...I think I'd rather go elsewhere."

Joanne's answer:
My bedroom, I suppose. I share a 2-bedroom apartment with a roommate, so the livingroom, kitchen, laundryroom, and dining room all have "shared" stuff...most of which was actually purchased from my prior roommate, and we don't have many decorations or anything...so I'd say those rooms are more functional than reflective of my personality. So that leaves my bedroom, which has a ton of pictures hung up in it (all of which are some sort of flower picture, incidently - apparently, I really like pictures of flowers!), lots of framed pictures of me and my friends/family, my cookbooks, school books, and journals in a bookshelf...and its usually in some degree of disarray! I'd say that pretty much reflects my personality - cheery (like flowers), extroverted & loving (as shown in the pictures of friends & family), nerdily expressive (the books), and very laid back (hence the mess!). =) P.S. On a super nerdy note, did you know that some personality psychologists at the University of Texas Austin did a study in which they found out that people who score high on "conscientiousness" on tests of personality tend to have nicely made beds in their bedrooms and people who score high on "openness to experience" tend to have more books in their apartments? Good stuff!

And the other answers!

1. My reading room. Reading puts me to sleep really quickly. I really love that room, mainly because I love to sleep.

2. My sitting room. TV – reading material – comfortable couch and a comfortable chair - chair to read, couch to sleep.

3. The room in my house that most represents me is my craft room. Luckily [my husband] and I have the luxury of each having a room of our own still so we each have a section of the house that is "ours". I have my craft table so I can do my scrap booking, I have all my books and a couch to read on. I have my work clothes there too because I shower right across the hall. I also have a shelf with some notable quotes and things that reflect me.

Describe a time when you lost something very valuable. How did you feel when you finally found it or when you realized it would never be found?

Joanne's SADDEST answer:
I lost a video of my friend on my computer. I was very upset that the only moving picture I had of my friend was gone and that I lost my only fragment of her voice and her laugh. When someone passes away you want to hold on to everything you have because that was the last note, the last picture, the last laugh you will ever share.

Joanne's answer:
When I was in 8th grade, my boyfriend gave me a necklace and matching earrings for my birthday. I knew that they didn't cost a whole heck of a lot, given that we were in 8th grade, but it was the most romantic gift I had ever gotten from a boy up until that point. That same summer, I was on the swimteam (actually, that's how the boyfriend & I met - swimteam) and I used to take off my jewelry at the beach before going swimming. One day, the necklace got lost in the sand. I was disappointed...but more worried that my boyfriend would notice me not wearing his necklace - so I found out where he bought it and I bought another one! In an interesting turn of fate, the boyfriend and I broke up shortly afterwards...but still hung out and sort of talked about getting back together. One afternoon, I was walking with him and some of my friends to a friend's house, and we got into some sort of fight - I don't remember the details except that he was being a jerk....so to get back at him, I took off the necklace and threw it in the bushes, as if to say, "I don't want your stinking necklace". Shortly aftwards (after we made up), I went back to get it and it was nowhere to be found. Then I felt just awful.....until a MONTH later, when I was walking by that same bush with the ex-boyfriend, we decided to look for it one more time - and there it was - my necklace still still on the ground where I had thrown it 4 weeks prior! I was so happy to have it back....though I'm sorry to say that the relationship - and the friendship - with the guy deteriorated a very short time after. Though I did just recently look him up on myspace....he's a lawyer now, married and living in Florida. =P

And the other answers!

1. My mind...it's lost and found so often, I don't worry!

2. I try not to get too attached to stuff. I can't think of losing anything that valuable, but I remember walking out to my car one morning and seeing that someone had stolen my mountain bike that was locked to the bike rack by destroying the bike rack. That was a little depressing, but I basically shrugged it off as one of life's lessons: you never really own anything.

3. Frantic – sick to my stomach.

4. I woke up one morning and had a notion to wear a different ring so I went to my jewelry box and it was gone!! The whole box was just gone. Someone had come into my house when I was at work, went to my bedroom, went behind my little t.v. and just took the whole box. I was absolutely devastated!!! I finally knew what it meant to feel violated. My rings meant the world to me. One of my rings had belonged to my grandmother. It was a platinum ring with two sapphires and a diamond. I used to wear it every time I went to her house. She finally gave it to me when I graduated high school but my mother wouldn't let me have it until I was 21. I had a ring in that box that I designed myself. My graduation ring was in that box. That happened almost 30 years ago and my heart still weeps when I speak of it. I'll never get it back nor the rings in it. It's events like that in my life that I must lean of my faith in the Lord for only He knows who took it and why. And the good book tells us, "Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord" so in other words, God will get them for that. And I must be at peace with that for all I CAN do is pray for serenity for the things I can not change and get on with my life. For I will not cry because they are gone, I will smile because I had them.

When is it okay to lie?

Joanne's FAVORITE answer:
I think it's okay to lie when it's all in good fun, and you're trying to set up a good joke or make someone bite on something. For example:
Me: Hey, did you know that PF Chang's is really owned byPeter Frampton? After his music career, he decided to pursue one of his life-long goals of having an up-scale, healthy, fresh chain of Chinese restaurants. However, he knew that no one would ever be interested in Peter Frampton's Chinese Food because, well, he's not Chinese, so, he named it PF Chang's.
Joanne: No, I didn't know that about PF Changs -- how random!!
Me:So, in my true "jokester" form, I made that whole PFChang's thing up. I told my mom this at Christmas, and she totally bit on it. It was hilarious. I didn't tell her the truth, and later she was telling my aunt the story. My aunt started to bite on it too, but I started laughing. Just recently, I told [our mutual friend], and she totally fell for it. Looks like you did too. HeeHee!!!!!
Joanne:I will kill you!!!!! I was wondering why you weretelling me something so random with your "jokester"answer - now it makes sense!Hee Hee!

Joanne's answer:
Anytime it can help you avoid unnecessarily hurting someone's feelings...or anytime it can help you avoid getting in some sort of trouble! No, but seriously, you usually shouldn't lie...especially to people whose friendship you care a lot about.

And the other answers!

1. When my wife asks me if I think the Victoria Secret models are hot.

2. I do not like lies. Never did. Maybe and I mean maybe....when the lie can only help a needy person.

3. When you are on the job market and nobody is suppose to know. Then a colleague asks you "are you on the job market?"

4. I think it's okay to lie when it's all in good fun,and you're trying to set up a good joke or makesomeone bite on something. For example:
Me:Hey, did you know that PF Chang's is really owned byPeter Frampton? After his music career, he decided topursue one of his life-long goals of having anup-scale, healthy, fresh chain of Chinese restaurants.However, he knew that no one would ever be interestedin Peter Frampton's Chinese Food because, well, he'snot Chinese, so, he named it PF Chang's.
Joanne: No, I didn't know that about PF Changs -- how random!!
Me:So, in my true "jokester" form, I made that whole PFChang's thing up. I told my mom this at Christmas, andshe totally bit on it. It was hilarious. I didn't tellher the truth, and later she was telling my aunt thestory. My aunt started to bite on it too, but Istarted laughing. Just recently, I told [our mutual friend], and shetotally fell for it. Looks like you did too. HeeHee!!!!!
Joanne:I will kill you!!!!! I was wondering why you weretelling me something so random with your "jokester"answer - now it makes sense!Hee Hee!

4. Tuesdays and bank holidays.

5. When the truth serves no purpose or is meaningless. Or, when you're trying to keep a surprise party a surprise.

6. Whenever it makes your life better.

7. There are times when it's okay to lie. To spare someone's feeling is a time when it is ok. Unless they truly want your honest input, then it's wrong to lie. It's okay to lie when it comes to keeping a secret for a surprise party kind of thing. It all comes out in the end and the lie is forgiven. Life is not all black or white, right or wrong, up or down, yes or no. Life is full of varying amounts of gray in all areas. You are the only one at the very moment of decission whether to tell the complete truth, a complete lie or something in a grayish color.

How would you describe the perfect day?

Joanne's FAVORITE answer:
What a coincidence that you should ask this. Earlier today it had occurred to me that I was actually HAVING the perfect day! I woke up with a lovely person, had a great conversation over tea, took an early walk on Venice Beach, and played a few hours of tennis in beautiful sunny weather. I drove home thinking about the fact that my number 1 school is having their meeting today, and I will maybe hear something soon. I have a great trip coming up, and lots to look forward to this weekend. So, there are all the pieces of my happiness puzzle: good people, hope for the future, sunshine, exercise....Of course, now I'm about to call Dell tech support, so its all shot to hell :)

Joanne's answer:
I think some version of a perfect day might go something like this: spend the night in a cute bed-and-breakfast on the waterfront, wake up to a beautiful warm day and head out to the beach. This particular beach should be somewhere tropical, where I can snorkle and see some really cool fish. And my friends should be with me on the beach - a bunch of us, like a big party. We BBQ for lunch on the beach, snorkle, play in the waves, chill...then go back to the hotel, get cleaned up (and dressed up)...and then my friends go off and do their own thing while me and the guy I'm with (we're in love, of course) go to a fancy dinner and then to a really great musical that I've been dying to see. We have some champagne after the play, then go back to the B&B and have lots of awesome sex. =)

And the other answers!

1. A QUIET day with no plans and I can do whatever I want...I want...I want...I want...I want...for me!!

2. I had at least one perfect day. I woke up on the morning of my 48th birthday in South Dakota and celebrated with my son, daughter-in-law and my grandson, had a wonderful picnic and then flew home to Mass and had dinner with my husband and two daughters. It will forever be in my memory as a truly perfect day for me.

3. This is my perfect ENDING to the day:
Laying out a blanket on the soft white sand…Watching the sun set peacefully into the darkness of the land…
A glass of wine in my withering hand…
And soft music on the radio of a traveling band…
My head resting gently on my lover’s chest…
While glancing as the moon reveals its monthly’s last crest…
A seagull’s call from far out west…
And the lapping sound of the ocean at rest.

4. The perfect day would involve me sleeping completely undisturbed until I naturally woke up on my own. (I don't think that this has happened since I went to stay with you for your Graduation.) I would play with [my daughter] for an hour or two as someone else made, served, and cleaned up breakfast. Then, [my daughter] would go away. Everyone would go away and leave me the heck alone. I would crank my own music and take my sweet-ass time taking a shower, getting dressed, and sipping coffee. I would proceed to spend most of the rest of the day writing (well) in a perfectly clean office as I munched grapes and expensive nuts. As evening approached, I would put on makeup, sip wine, and eat cheese (which would NOT on this perfect day make me incredibly constipated) as I cranked more of my favorite music. THEN, I would go OUT of the house. I would see a movie, um..... AND a play - yeah, AND I would go dancing at an 80s dance club and then go to a big dancehall where a big band was playing swing music and [my husband] and I would know how to swing dance (well), or maybe we would go square dancing and he would just be willing to give it a go and have a good time. At home, he would rub my feet as I sipped amaretto or sambuca and listened to more awesome music. I would not be too tired to have sex and could fall asleep knowing that the next day I would once again be allowed to sleep as long as I damn well pleased. Wait, I'm pretty sure that a delicious dinner is supposed to be in there somewhere...

5. I would wake up about 10:30 in the morning to find Pamela Anderson on one side and Carmen Electra on the other. I would then call the lottery and find that I had just won 367 million dollars. Aah life is good!!!

If you had an unlimited shopping spree at only one store, which one would you choose? Why?

Joanne's FAVORITE answer:
Seriously unlimited?!???? OMG. It would be a tough choice between two: a store that sold pianos and keyboards, new, used, vintage and antique. I would simply buy everything in the store. Then I would sell one or two of them in order to afford a small space to keep it all in, and an insurance policy on all of it. Second option would be Frye's electronics. I would literally just purchase every product in the store, keep a lot of the computers, movies and electronics, and sell the rest on Ebay, invest all the profits and never worry about money again.

Joanne's answer:
Well, I feel like my favorite thing to buy is clothes...I usually shop at Lane Bryant or Torrid...but the only problem with picking either of those stores is that at any given time, there is probably only up to a $1000 worth of stuff that I would actually want to buy. It seems like if I have an unlimited shopping spree, I should choose somewhere where I could spend more money. So in that case, maybe I would go with something like Robinson's May (one of the really big ones that sell furnature), then I could buy new furnature, clothes, shoes, make-up, jewelery, perfume, kitchen stuff, linens...and gifts for people. Although honestly, I don't even need/care about most of that stuff. I'd really just rather someone pay off my credit card.

And the other answers!

1. As "consumery" as it sounds, I'd probably pick Costco... So I could upgrade all the electronics in my house (new big screen, sound system, computer, laptop, cameras, etc. etc. etc.), outfit my daughter with a bunch of new toys and clothes, get some wine for the wife (plus they carry Dom!), get new bikes...maybe try on some golf clubs (not that I'm a golfer,but hey, free clubs!), and best of all... you can buya car through Costco... so I'd pick myself up a MiniCooper too... okay, so maybe it's just a car-buying service... but it's MY DREAM DAMNIT! At the very least I could get some new tires and get my alignment fixed...

2. I would pick Target because that is pretty much a one-stop shop all around.

3. The biggest and most expensive jewelry store I could find.

4. I have just one word - Bloomingdale's!!! I could totally live in that store, they have the best of everything and it isn't too outrageously priced.

5. Vickie Secret of course! Just cuz I like their clothes.

6. I think Costco, because I could get food, clothes, electronics, new eye glasses AND jewlery!

As a child, what was your idea of fun?

Joanne's FAVORITE answer:
I had two favorite things my sister and I would play. The first was "school". I was always the teacher, andI would make elaborate rollsheets and homeworks for my sister and friends to do. I would grade them and keep their scores in a record book. It was very organized. I think it's safe to say, I was the only one who enjoyed "school". Is it a suprise to anyone that the older I get the more anal I become? The second favorite thing we would play was "bar". When we stayed at my grandma's house, we would play"bar" at the bar my grandparents had built in the downstairs room of the house. It was large enough that it could fit 6 large barstools, and they always had it stocked with tons of liqour and mixers. One of us would be the bartender, and the other would be the guy at the bar who started out normal but always got really drunk and had to be thrown out of the bar. It was our favorite game. Is anyone suprised that I have a tendency towards being a drunk?

Joanne's answer:
As a kid, I looooved swimming in my neighbor's/babysitter's pool in the summer, just doing laps or playing Marco-Polo or pretending I was a water-ballerina. Also, when I was a little older and my dad moved into a house with a basement, my sister and I would spend hours every other weekend putting on singing performances for each other. And who could possibly forget the chinese jumprope...either played conventionally (by jumping on it) or unconventionally (by doing some sort of wrapping-it-in-your-hands thing that I can't seem to be able to explain)!

And the other answers!

1. When I was ten and young I lived in California and while Dad was builing a house ( for us) we decided to utilize the type of dirt we had. Actually in the yard it is not dirt but clay. We had more FUN wetting it and shaping into cups and saucers and letting them dry in the sun and they would become hard and usable if we had wanted them to. We made all sorts of things and it would keep us busy all day!

2. Having sleepovers with my constantly changing best friend(s), eating Doritos, watching movies, talking about boys, and writing in slam books (a dangerous game when your best friends can become enemies overnight).

3. There was in amusement park several towns away from me that my mother would take me to on my birthday as my birthday is in August. Norumbega Park in Newton, Ma was the ultimate day of fun. My siblings would come too and it was the most fun. I also went to a day camp for 4 weeks in the summer and I got to sit on a horse and swim in a pool. I learned to shoot with a bow and arrows as well as a .22 rifle. I had my marksman medal by the time I was 12. I had a best friend at camp. I saw her every year until I was 12. I never spoke to her during the school year but we'd be back best friends come summer at camp.

4. Playing Baseball.

5. From what I'm told, I'm a child now! So can I say "Strip Clubs"?

6. As a child, my idea of fun was when my family would pack a picnic and go to this playground that had backhoes that you could dig into the sand. It was really cool to meneuver the backhoe. Really, I had a lot of ideas of fun and most involved playparks - I especially liked the ones with the swirly slides that were near my grandparents!

7. As a child I loved pretend play. I was either a very rich Victorian lady or a poor destitute mother of seven. I also like to ride my bike around town.

8. When I was young I used to live near a park that a creek ran through. My friends and I would catch crawdads in the summer and play games in the park. One day we realized that all the storm drains led to the creek (they were like 4 ft tall). Of course as kids, these looked like caves from the Goonies, full of adventure. So we did what any kid would do. We wrapped the end of a stick with a rag soaked in oil, lit the frickin thing on fire, and pretended we were Indiana Jones while we explored the drains! I spent an entire summer doing that in elementary school. We did manage to find bats and a few tarantulas, but we never found that gold...

9. Rollerskating, baby!!

10. Climbing trees and playing in the sand box

Are you more of dog person or a cat person? Why?

Joanne's FAVORITE answer:
OBO. ME LOVE OBO.

Joanne's answer:
While I like them both, I do have to say I am more of a cat person. Probably because I grew up with cats - but also because they are so much easier to take care of, are not nearly as aggressive with demanding your attention/jumping up on you, and don't bark/make a ton of noise like dogs do. People complain that cats are the type of animal who is elusive and doesn't pay attention to you - but what I don't think they realize is that if YOU are the cat's OWNER, they are often just as loyal and attentive as dogs. Every day when I come home, my two kitties are waiting for me at the door and meow until I pat them for a little while...and for the most part, they follow me around the apartment everywhere I go - even to the bathroom!! I love my kitties. =)

And the other answers!

1. People always divide themselves up into categories: white wine or red wine, apples or oranges, chocolate cake or apple pie. Deciding if I'm a dog or a cat person - is much like the difference between apples or oranges. Cats are like oranges. They're hard to predict. One can't always tell from the outside of an orange if it will be sour or sweet. Even with a softer orange, it's not unusual to have a sudden burst of acidity fill one's mouth unpleasanty, as if one accidentally put salt instead of sugar in hot chocolate. Yet, when an orange is good, it's very good, incredible, amazing even, like a bite of sunlight. So it was that for years I didn't like cats, until I met The-Best-Cat-In-The-World, with whom I had the priviledge of sharing my room with for a time. Our parting was truly sad. Dogs are like apples. I know pretty much what an apple will taste like depending on its color, likewise depending on the breed, a dog's temperament is much easier to predict than a cat's. You can depend on a dog to be at least somewhat affectionate, if its owner is decent, just like you can depend on a Fuji apple to be sweet, or a Granny Smith to be agreeably tart. Our family has a Border Terrier - who acts the same every time I see her. I can depend on her to sit in my lap and follow me around, and I love her, but there is something to be said for the elusiveness of the cat.

2. I'm a cat person for sure. Cats are live decorations who pretty much take care of themselves. Dogs on the other hand, are 4 legged children that never grow older than six. With a cat you can go away for 2 or 3 days and they are fine. A dog on the other hand needs to be taken out for walk at least twice a day. That's in the cold or rain or snow or wind - you name it. You gotta take the dog out or let it out and then they bark and won't shut up, etc. Nope, I'll take my kitties anyday. You can have your dog.

3. You know that I am a "cat lover"... Still have four.....But I have go to tell you that [my son] has a 103 pound Rottie, and he is the light of our lives. Rob is working in Natick and we have doggie day care here at our house. He is dropped off at 8:00 AM and picked up any time after 5:15 PM. Sometimes it is much later and doggie is not happy atall. Oh, by the way his name is ROSCO.....

4. Well, I have a dog and not a cat. So, I guess I am a dog person! And let me use this opportunity to show off my cute dog: http://www.dogster.com/pet_page.php?j=t&i=219688

5. I've always been more of a dog person, although I like both. Cats are like women - cool and aloof! Dogs are like men - slobby and overeager! I take my overgeneralizations where I can get them.

6. Well, I have to say that I'm more of a cat person. I always lived with one or more cats except since I have been married to a man who is allergic to them. :( In recent years, I have become more fond of dogs and would consider getting one when I can handle the idea of how much work they are.

7. Ok, to answer my very first question, I am going with option D, none of the above (assuming C would be Both/ all of the above)! I'm not really an animal lover. I tried very hard to like [my fiance's] cats but it was just too difficult, with all the smells and shedding hair! Now, if you have giraffe on the list of options, that would be my first choice!

8. I prefer dogs, but I really love pussies too. HeeHee.

9. I am definitely a DOG person. I have had many cats and I have realized I hate the damage they do to the house. If you train most dogs they will NOT do that , where you have to have a lot of patience with cats you do not have to have as much with dogs. AND...a big plus is most dogs (when trained correctly) will obey what you ask of them. Some even want you to talk to them and they will try to talk back where a cat will be and is a snob except when they want something from you!

10. I have to say I like dogs because they pay attention to you all the time. My dogs are excited to see me everyday and love to have me pet them and snuggle with them. Cats couldn't be less interested, but I like it when cats purr.

11. Most definately a dog person because I chase after skate boards for no apparent reason sometimes...though i must confess i have the moods of a cat.

Would you describe yourself as an introvert or an extrovert? Give an example.

Joanne's FAVORITE answer:
I'm an introvert. I get rather exhausted after I meet a large crowd (e.g., a holiday party, meeting with a bunch of in-laws, etc.). My cheek gets all stiff for all those wasted smiling, when your internal voice is saying "son of a b*otch, could you let me outta this?" I have this thing called magic number 5 - basically, I can't handle anything beyond 5 people. The Thanksgiving was fun for me, because my friends came to visit me but there were only 5 of us (RD, LH, JW, my boyfriend CT, and me). No doubt I would have exploded if there were one more person in our apartment. Also, extroverts like JF often scare the crap out of me, because once JF starts talking, it's like having 50 people talking at the same time. It is a daunting task, but I must cope, because JF is my friend. P.S. Just kidding!!! but I think I'm an introvert. I like thinking about funny stuff on my own and laughing by myself when I'm bored at work.

Joanne's answer:
As my favorite answer implies, I am definitely an extrovert, tending to score somewhere in the 90th percentile on tests of extraversion. I love to talk, I'm loud, I love being the center of attention, I have lots of positive affect, I'm enthusiastic, and I have no problem going up to cute boys in bars and saying, "Hi! What's your name?".

And the other answers!

1. I think in at my core, I'm more introverted thanextraverted, but I can be extraverted if the situationdemands... if you ever saw me teach, you'd guess I wasvery extraverted... I'm talking loudly, I'mpractically acting out my lecture with lots of "loud"body language (not unlike Italian soccer players...) But I'd honestly rather spend a quiet evening at homethan be at a noisy, crowded party.

2. Definitely an extrovert. Anyone who is on my "frequent contacts" email list can attest to the fact that I can't NOT be in constant email contact.

3. Extrovert. Ummm… I am a sales person. That a good enough example?

4. Definitely an extrovert. I am accused of having mania more often than I care to remember, I talk with my hands, my stories are always long-winded, and I am usually very high energy. That is the scenario when I am calm. My actions when I am excited about something....straight jacket.

5. I'm more of an introvert. One of the happiest times of my life was driving across the country visiting various national parks all by myself. Being extroverted is just too much work.

6. Most people who have known me for years would say I am an extrovert. For most of my life I most certainly lived outside of my skin but I guess that's the Leo in me. As I grow older I'm a little more reserved until I feel very comfortable with my surroundings and then I come back outside my skin again and really have a good time doing it. But if I'm uncomfortable or unsure then I guess I hold it in, introverted style. As an example, if I'm comfortable, I'm usually the first one on the dance floor, with or without a partner. If I'm comfortable and I like the music I'll just go on the dance floor by myself if I can't drag someone with me and just go with the flow.

What books on your shelf are begging to be read?

Joanne's FAVORITE answer:
Oh don't even get me started. Right now, just within sight, I have "Glencoe" by John Prebble, "TheRunaway Jury" by John Grishom, "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood, "Spindle's End" by Robin McKinley, "Winning Modern Wars" byGen. Wesley Clark, "Khublai Khan" by Rossabi, "Fierce Invalids HomeFrom Hot Climates" by Tom Robbins, "The Deluxe Transitive Vampire: AHandbook of Grammar for the Innocent, the Eager and the Doomed" byKaren Elizabeth Gordon, "The Silent War" by Ben Bova, "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine, and"Eternity Road" by Jack McDevitt. And I've gotta go by the bookstore to get an Xmas present so I *know*I'm gonna find myself something else I've been wanting to read.

Joanne's answer:
I've been meaning to finish reading Brian's brother's book, "Seven Months Deep" by Jon King. I read the first 40 pages or so back in September and really liked it, but then have just been too busy to finish it. By the way, if you are looking for a new book to read, I strongly recommend Brian's book, "Frozen Coffee Melting"(http://www.amazon.com/Frozen-Coffee-Melting-Brian-King/dp/0595169929/sr=11-1/qid=1165427238/ref=sr_11_1/104-5299467-2383946) ... I may be a little biased because he is my friend, but it is definitely one of the best books I have ever read!

And the other answers!

1. Leigh Montville's "BIG BAM". It's another biography about the greatest baseball player of the 20th century and maybe the second greatest influential athlete ever (behind Ali). Montville wrote the defining biography on Teddy Ballgame a few years back and I enjoyed it so much, I read it three times. I am sure this one will be much of the same...

2. Considering that when I finish reading a book I put it elsewhere I must say that ALL the books on my shelf are calling to be read. And...that my dear is alot of books. I love to read however, I buy them and cannot read them all as soon as I buy them. So...there usually is an abundance of books already for me to read!

3. All the books on my shelf have been read but there was one I found in the boxes that I am reading again "Love" by Leo Buscaglia

4. I guess I'll have to wait for Christmas because I have read them all and the shelves are empty.

5. Actually, none. I've read pretty much everything in the house that I'm interested in. Although, the next book that I will probably try to take out of the library is Jonathan Safron Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

6. I'm down to the last of the Chronicles of Narnia: "The Last Battle".

7. Nora Roberts – anything Nora Roberts… well and JD Robb too.

If you were to submit a question to a relationship/love/dating/sex advice column, what question would you ask?

Joanne's FAVORITE answer:
Well Dr. X, if you must have a question, here you go. Last night my wife clearly wanted some sweet lovin down by the fire, but she wouldn't just say it... I, of course, had lots of work to do and was about to go write a test while she was going to go to bed early, but she looked at me with the googly eyes and angled her body in ways suggesting that something was maybe, but not definitely, desired. Now of course she didn't just ask me if I was interested in any way, but waited for me to ask... if she wants some nookie, why can't she just say so? Why the hell am I expected to have to read her body language and infer what she is thinking (read: read her mind)? She's a very independent and modern woman who never has problems speaking her mind, but she has a major problem committing to the invitation or request for the love-making... is it just a fear of rejection? (Because that is just silly... as her husband I've NEVER rejected her, and she really has nothing to fear in the rejection region (p<.05...)) And she says *I*have the communication problem! P.S. Damn stat humor... I'm a total geek...

Joanne's answer:
Dear Dr. G: I am a fun, educated, and successful single woman who has been doing the internet dating scene for quite some time now. I have moderate success on the dates I go on - and by that, I mean that the guy and I usually have a fun time, it usually ends with some degree of making out, and there is usually a 2nd date (or at least a couple of post-first-date phone conversations). Now, because I am a pretty independent and assertive person by nature, I do tend to be somewhat of the "aggressor" in the dating scene - I usually send the first email, I usally offer up my phone number first, and I have no problem suggesting that we meet up for the 2nd date. I must say, I'm very comfortable in the this role and its just part of my personality to go after things that I'm interested in and not sit around and wait for others to take action. Now, like most females, I am not adverse to the idea of having a "serious relationship" with someone -- but somewhat unlike most females...because I'm new to the city (with the possibility of moving to a new city within the year)...I'm also perfectly open to the possibility of keeping the dating/the relationship on the casual side or even just hanging out as friends. However, almost every guy I go out with seems to be concerned that I am wanting/expecting something very 'serious' or 'long term' and gets scared off by this...even though I often explicitly tell them otherwise. So, my question is this: how do I communicate to these guys that I'm not looking to marry them after only the first or second date? Should I be less assertive/"play hard to get"...even though I don't enjoy doing that and it is really not who I am?

And the other answers:

1. So why are Men from Mars and Women from Venus?

2. The question that always is in the back of my mind when I read advice columns is, "Why are *you* qualified to give *me* advice?"

3. How do I get my partner to see things my way?

If you had to locate the feeling of "longing" or "yearning" your body, where would you say it was?

Joanne's FAVORITE answer:
I'd say that yearning is in my head. longing for this frickin headache to go away. Yearning to get over this blasted hangover. Half a bottle of tequilla on a worknight is no way to live life...

Joanne's answer:
When I am yearning/longing for someone who I can not (or can no longer) have, I'd say that I feel it the most in the pit of my stomach. They don't call it "lovesick" for nothing!

And the other answers!

I know it is from the brain as the doctor on Oprah said however, it seems to me that those words could and should be found in the HEART!

In my taste buds. I 'long' and 'yearn' for ohhhhhhhhhh so much to satisfy them that it must be there.

Longing, yearning is in the same company as pinning and I can tell you from experience that that emotion is all through your body. It's in your arms, your chest, your stomach, your legs - it's just everywhere. It hurts, it drains and it depletes you of everything. The deeper the want, the worse the longing/yearning/pinning. It isn't just one place. It everywhere your blood flows.

Loins. Its all about the loins. (Have I read too many Harlequin romances? And does anyone know exactly where loins are on a human?)

My spleen.

The crotch region?

What an intersting question! I certainly don't mean to be dodging it, but I think I have to say that it depends on who or what I am longing for. I have, in my life, felt longing in my chest, my gut, my arms, my eyes, and a few other places I'd rather not mention...

Definitely my liver. Definitely.

uh... my junk.

Well… depends on what you are longing or yearning for… =) I would say the heart – well because I am female – Now a man would say his head and it would not be the head on the top of his body.

What's one conviction you hold that you would be willing to die for?

Joanne's FAVORITE answer:
I would be willing to die for my conviction that people should not be willing to die for something so silly as a conviction.

Joanne's answer:
I enjoy life waaay too much to die for any sort of conviction!

And the other answers:

1. I don't know that I would be willing to die for a conviction - unless that conviction was something like "my child should have the right to live" or something like that. I would be willing to die for my kid, but probably not for an idea. But, then, I am lucky enough to live in the United States where I have grown up being able to take for granted the ability to stand up for my convictions without being subject to life or death consequences.

2. I cannot think of anything that I would die for excect....for any of my three children!!!

3. There are none.

4. No conviction – however there is only one “thing” I would be willing to die for – my son.

5. I would be willing to die for my right to live.

6. Well I would certainly be willing to die for the precept that no one should be allowed to kill me.Or is that too much of a paradox?