5 questions for a girl named Laurie who lives in Branson, Missouri:
1. Why do you live in Branson?
I came here for the my art, which is the theatre. It has also turned out that I absolutely have fallen in love with the area and the people, so I think I'll be here a while.
2. What is the name of your favorite bar?
The Happy Banana
3. Name a food that you can only get in Branson.
A pickle at the snack bar in any show in town. Bizarre.
4. What do you do in your spare time?
See other shows, cook, exercise and laugh.
5. If you could give Branson a color - what would that color be?
Blue, because it has had a calming effect on me.

5 questions for a girl named Lauren who lives in L.A.:

1. Why do you live in L.A.?
i live in l.a. (west hollywood) because of my career--i am an actress. it's good for work. there's a lot of cool stuff about it, but i wanna move back to new york.--or make enough money to live in both places.
2. What is the name of your favorite bar?
my favorite bar is . . .hmm. i have yet to find a bar that i love in l.a. that isn't incredibly "scene-y", but i love a restaurant that has a nice bar called "the little door." in new york, i love a bar called "bar and books" on hudson.
3. What kind of car do you drive?
i drive a jetta volkswagen.
4. What do you do in your spare time?
in my spare time i take walks, take ballet, read, write, am attempting to learn french, keep in touch with my family as much as i can, hang out with my boyfriend and friends, see movies, listen to music.
5. If you could give L.A. a color - what would that color be?
if i could give l.a. a color it would be a pink-tinted brushed silver--sleek and expensive but kinda cheesy.

Everytime I eat Grape Nuts, I get Grape Nuts breath. Its like Doritos breath, but with Grape Nuts. Grape Nuts remind me of a friend from junior high - Heather Jones. I spent the night at her house once, and she made fun of me the next morning at breakfast because I did not put honey on my Grape Nuts (we weren't allowed to put sugar/honey on our cereal) and she did. So she made me feel like and idiot. Then I went home. With Grape Nuts breath.

i would like to start a discussion group on craigslist where people talk about perscription drugs. what they take, why, and how it makes them feel.

5 questions for a girl named Mandy who lives in Girdwood, Alaska:

1. why do you live in Girdwood?
I work and ski and hike and have good friends all in one little town. It is one of the most inspiring places on earth.
2. what is the name of your favorite store?
Its a tie. Ann Taylor and REI
3. What do you do when not skiing?
I hang out with my fun husband, read lots of good books, go running, throw pots, and try to cook yummy food.
4. Seen any whales?
Not in a long time.... but I hear belugas are on their way to the Turnagain Arm!
5. If you could give Girdwood a color, what would that color be?
Definitely green.... for the summer foliage, the people that live in trees (they really do!), the stuff people smoke here, and for my job (Director of Acctg)

[[this is anise: Mandy is the director at Alyeska (the largest ski resort in Alaska.) This picture is something I see everytime I go home. Its an old cabin, outside of Girdwood that was practically swallowed by the earth during the big Alaska Earthquake in the 70's.]]

5 questions for a girl named Becky who lives in Chicago:

1. Why do you live in Chicago?
because I was placed here for Teach for america. i'm glad i was, it is a GREAT city.
2. What is the name of your favorite bar?
my favorite bar is The Charleston mainly because it is directly across the street from my apartment. They have great live music ...my favorite band that plays there is the Wabsh street Jug Band (which, of course includes a spoons player). they also have fantastic decorations and pool tables.
3. How many times do you go to Lake Michigan?
I go to lake Michigan about once a week when the weather is nice, otherwise, maybe once a month.
4. What do you do in your spare time?
I take dance classes, take my students on field trips, and go to the best movie theatre in the universe called the musicbox theatre.
5. If you could give Chicago a color, what would that color be?
i would give chicago bright green .

5 questions for a girl named Elizabeth who lives in Amarillo:

1. Why do you live in Amarillo?
Because my husband got a job with the American Quarter Horse Association doing computer programming that paid better than his job in Idaho. Plus, we both get a little ansy (Sp?) after being somewhere for a couple of years. Change is good.
2. What is the name of your favorite store?
Well, I just discovered that one of the grocery stores with a "Market place" in it has chocolate croissants- a favorite of mine from the Patisserie in Rye. The name of this store: United Supermarkets.
3. Have you ever seen an Armadillo?
Armadillo's in Amarillo? Actually I've only seen dead ones- either stuffed in souvenir shops or on the side of the road. I've seen a lot of prairie dogs.
4. What do you do in your spare time?
I'm not sure what you mean by spare time. Darby takes up most of my time. We've been going swimming a lot lately, but what I really love to do is bake desserts, especially cheesecakes. I've got a lot of great new recipes I need to try.
5. If you could give Amarillo a color - what would that color be?
Amarillo actually means yellow in Spanish. Amarillo is a desert on the plains- I don't think it's too green. I guess I'd probably say blue because you see mostly sky and that's more positive than saying puke brown which is what the rest of it looks like.

Children of the Fodder - Now introducing my little brother, Geoffrey. He is a 17 year old high school senior living in Alaska, that apparently failed out of spelling.

5 questions for a girl named Becky who lives in Liverpool:

1. Why do you live in Liverpool?
I was awarded a British Crafts Council grant to be Artist in Residence at Liverpool Hope University. My dad is from the area, so I feel really at home here. The city is great, especially living in South Liverpool, all those Victorian houses. The architecture is definitely one of Liverpool's main attractions.
2. What is the name of your favorite bar?
Hard to say, only been here since January, but so far, its Keith's wine bar on Lark Lane.
3. Do you eat chutney?
Occasionally, with cheese sandwiches, it's not in my cupboards though.
4. What do you do for fun?
Read Paul Auster books, listen to Barry White and Lionel Richie, and the Jackson Five, oh and Stevie Wonder! Get on that camel!
5. If you could give Liverpool a color - what would that color be?
Liverpool would probably be purple, because it's the only place in the country that has purple rubbish bins. The council has kind of adopted it as their brand colour. If it was up to me, it would be sage green. I love it that most people have plants on their window sills.

I finally finished The World According to Garp. Whew. Took me long enough! I thought the book was such a great summer read. I suggest reading one John Irving book per summer. In the end - he [Irving] basically summarizes each characters life, after Garp. I don't know about that, I felt rushed. Now I begin the book Kavalier & Clay. I am way excited to read this book, but for one reason or another, was always side-tracked by other books.

Yowser. This girl would like to let you know what she has consumed today. She should definately stay away from this article.

I like to keep up with the Tour de France. Its one of those things that if no one brings up; I fail to mention. Well, I more so enjoy watching mountain biking on ESPN way more than cycling - but I can never find mountain biking shows out here, so I stick to le Tour. Here is some information about the jersey colors:
Yellow Jersey: This guy is the fastest fasty fast you will ever fast. In fact, you eat his bike dust. He is typically white, has a wife & two kids, survived cancer, originates from Texas, and his name usually starts with an L and ends with an E.
Polka-Dot Jersey: This guy is a climber. He has boulders for thighs, and originates from Lucern, Switzerland. Never mind if he starts yodeling. He is gay.
Green Jersey: Meet the sprinter. After a Mary Decker style sprinting injuring, during a national track meet in 2000, this dude's coach suggested he take up cycling to help repair the damage done to his hamstrings.
white jersey - This dude is the youngest. Probably the most pompous too. You might overhear him saying things like "dude - I could have swapped caps with Armstrong on that last hill in Bayonne." or "whatever - I had that guy chewing the leather off my bike seat in Le Tour." or "I'll show oldie what the postal service can deliver. huh huh huh."

I think Tony Hawk and Lance Armstrong should be friends.
They are both:
1. tall
2. blonde
3. white
4. giving media family/wholesome vibe
5. get shit load of money for riding wheeled contraptions.
6. are always thanking their sponsors.

However:
1. one wears spandex/one wears pants down to his knees.
2. one does tricks/one is really fast.
3. one has battled cancer
4. one has his own video game
5. one is from Texas/ the other, California
6. 4 wheels/ 2 wheels.
7. One can go to the Olympics/ the other, Venice beach.

5 questions for a girl named Sherri who lives in Baltimore:

1. Why do you live in Baltimore?
Its very easy, cheap and lots of charm
2. What is the name of your favorite bar?
The Ottobar or the front stoop drinking cans of Natty Boh (National Bohemian for you non-baltimoreons)
3. Seen any drunk sailors?
only in my dreams
4. What do you do in your spare time?
hang out on rooftops and practice my hula hooping skills
5. If you could give Baltimore a color - what would that color be?
a dusty version of baby blue

Do people walk around with change in their pants for a reason?