Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone! Since I live near what I'm told is the Scottsdale Barrio, I'm sure the fiestas will be going on all day and into the wee hours of the night. For dinner tonight, I'm going to make my favorite Queso Tortilla soup. The Roommate will be so happy.

I also live near some over-crowded yuppie bars, so I'm also sure I don't want to be on the road at all tonight. St. Patrick's day was enough of a headache.

So, you know how much I like asking the questions. Now is your turn. Inspired by a different Patrick (take a look at that smile!), I present to you: Three Questions. Here is how it goes.

• Anyone and everyone who reads this, gets to ask me three questions. No more. No less.
• Ask me anything you want and I will truthfully answer it*.
• On your blog, copy and paste this allowing your friends (including myself) to ask you anything.

Sounds easy enough, right? Let the question-asking begin!

*Of course, anyone who knows me will tell you that if you ask something completely crass, rude or inappropriate, I will tell you so. Therefore...play
nice.

3 Questions from Hot Toddy:

1. What is your typical reaction when you're angry?

I usually want to clean things when I'm mad. I go through things and throw shit away or clean the kitchen or something. According to the evidence in my house, I'm not angry very often.

2. What is the bravest thing you've ever done?

Good question. Hmmm. A lot of the things I'd consider brave don't seem such a big deal in retrospect. I think moving 1000 miles to a city I had never been to was sort of brave, but now it doesn't seem like such a big deal. There was one time, when I was a teenager, I stood up to my alcoholic father during one of his abusive fits. I was able to calm him down while standing my ground. I suppose that was pretty brave of me at the time.

3. Is there a song that makes you cry?

Not really. I'm not much of a crier. However, the "I'll Cover You - Reprise" from Rent always makes me well up a bit.

3 Questions from Patrick:

1. Why do you blog?

I've never really thought about it in depth too much, so honestly I don't really know the reason. I suppose I blog for the same reason I think most people do: I think I have something interesting to say and assume there are people who are interested in hearing it. I guess it also serves as an outlet for my creative side.

2. What is your greatest accomplishment?

Surviving a childhood full of trauma, abuse and emotional neglect. I never really thought about that as much of an accomplishment until very recently, but in retrospect I have to admit it is somewhat remarkable that I made it through that without doing serious damage to myself or someone else.

3. Have you ever not forgiven someone for something they have done, and if so, what did they do?

I'm a pretty forgiving person, so nothing comes immediately to mind. I am however extremely hard on myself when I make what I think are stupid mistakes and I have to remind myself to learn from them and move on.

3 Questions from Crash:

1. What's your earliest memory?

I don't have a lot of clear memories before the age of six, but my earliest vague memory is when I was five. My cousin and I went to the same kindergarten, however I went in the morning and he went in the afternoon. One day, they combined the morning and afternoon classes for a field trip. I don't remember the trip itself. My memory is of the two of us alone on the school bus waiting for our grandmother to pick us up. We were sharing a Ziploc bag of Vienna Fingers (they only made one kind back then). Our Grandmother arrived and we got off the bus to go to her car. It was an overcast afternoon.

2. What is your most prized possession?

I don't usually become attached to material things. I throw stuff out and donate boxes of things to thrift stores all the time. One constant I have is a box full of various mementos, scattered photos, ticket stubs, some childhood drawings, correspondence, etc. I keep cards and letters that I want to remember later in life. Sometimes I even print out emails from special people to keep in there. I guess that box would be my most prized possession. About twice a year, I open it and sift through its contents, strolling down memory lane, remembering good times old friends and reaffirming how much I adore my current ones.

3. What animal do you think you're most similar to?

Probably a house cat. It's all about sleep, food and going to the bathroom for me.

3 Questions from Robbie:

1. Who is the one person you look up to the most?

My friend Micheale. She is just an incredible person and I feel very lucky to know her. She is one of the most intelligent people I know. She is also one of the most warm and open.

2. Recite a favorite lyric from a song you like. What about that lyric/phrase makes it a favorite?

I don't know if I have a favorite but my current haunting lyric is from Ani DiFranco's Slide:

she was bending like something brittle, trying hard to bend she was numb with the terror of losing her best friend we never see things changing, we only see them ending

This lyric speaks such truth and is applicable to some relationships in my life.

3. And lastly, how many licks does it really take to get to the tootsie roll center of a Tootsie Roll pop?

Let's find out (unwraps it and licks it once) One ... (twice) Ta-whoooo [two] ... (bites into it) three... ahem... three.

3 Questions from Homer:

1. How many times have you been in love?

None. (More on that another day.)

2. If you could relive one moment, what would it be?

Damn Homer. That's a tough one. Hmmm. (thinking) About four years ago, when I was volunteering at the local GLBT Community Center, this guy came in. He was from California and lived in his van. He was traveling across country to Maine (I think) and just stopping at various places along the way and working odd jobs until he had enough money to go to the next place. I gave him the usual tour of the facilities. Afterwards, we ended up talking for the next three hours about music, art, life, etc. It was one of those rare instances where you instantly click with someone and feel like you've known them for years. A friend of mine was leaving to move to Seattle the next morning and I asked him if he wanted to go to her going away party. I gave him directions and he said he'd think about it. He showed up that evening and we had more conversations. He was one of the most free-spirited, genuinely happy people I had ever met. He stayed in Phoenix for a while and we hung out from time to time. Months later, I discovered he was a total selfish ass and I haven't heard from him since, but I will never forget those first few weeks I knew him. His newness and energy in turn made me feel new and alive in a way I never had before. It was somewhat magical. His passion for life is something I strive to attain daily today.

3. Alcohol or chocolate?

Hands down, no questions, the answer is absolutely chocolate!

3 Questions from Sam:

1. Name something that happened that changed your outlook or view of a particular situation.

Over the holidays my mother was visiting me from out of state. Over the last several years, we have drifted apart, mostly I feel because she knows I am gay. I decided to take this time together as an opportunity to try to reconnect with her. When I tried to talk to her about how I feel about our relationship and her comfort level with me being gay, she got very upset and told me all her life she has suppressed her emotions and she doesn't know what to do with them. She then told me she wants to keep suppressing them. It was at that moment that I realized my mother's issues go way beyond me. In fact, they have very little to do with me at all. Ever since then I've sort of pitied her. Her world must be very sad and lonely.

2. How much money would you have to be paid to kill a puppy?

I honestly can't fathom killing a puppy. I'm sitting here trying to honestly think of a figure, but I keep seeing big, sad puppy eyes instead.

3. Name something you did that really hurt someone else.

Gosh Sam! You don't let up with the hard questions, do you? :-)

The summer before my senior year in college, I was really angry at a close friend. I honestly can tell you why I was. I don't think I had a legitimate reason. I think I was just mad for some reason. He knew I was avoiding him and giving him the cold shoulder, but he always treated me the same. I think he knew I had no reason to be such a jerk, so he wasn't going to play my game. One day I ran into him as I was coming out of building. He tried to talk to me and I was my usual grumpy self. He kept egging me on, telling me jokes, trying to get me to laugh or smile. It was working. I was pissed off that it was working, so I punched him. I had never hit anyone in my life. It was completely unexpected and he was shocked. I remember the way he looked at me with such disbelief and hurt. I was hot with stupid anger, but mostly embarrassment for letting myself get so out of control over absolutely nothing. I stormed off and went home. It was the only time I raised my fist to anyone.