• 1. In a recent post, you said “I miss normal.” Define what normal is to you.

 I don’t know that any of us know what this is, until ‘it’ is gone.  For me ‘normal’ was a good job and enough money to pay bills, having my children around, my parents healthy, and a sense of satisfaction about the day in and day out of my life. 

• 2. You’re a Capricorn – tho you don’t reveal your age. Why not? And no bio? What mask are you wearing?

 There is enough reference information in my posts and comments offering clues to anyone interested in my age, although I don’t know why they would be.  My posts are essentially my bio, and the masks I wear depend on my outfit.  I like to coordinate.

• 3. And, on the subject of Capricorns, here’s what (author, guru, wacky-famed astrologer) Rob Brezsny says about you for the week starting Oct. 7: “If you have been in tune with the cosmic rhythms these past ten months, you've been erecting bridges like a master builder. Your careful planning and guidance have conquered an abyss or two. Seemingly irreconcilable differences are no longer irreconcilable. Unlikely connections have bloomed. You've combined ingredients that no one thought could be blended. Between now and your birthday, your good work should reach a climax. It's time to inspect your craftsmanship, polish any rough edges, and be sure that your creations will last.” What do you think?

 Rob is living on another planet, he’s certainly not in my universe.

• 4. “Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.”-- Oscar Wilde (Irish Poet, Novelist, Dramatist and Critic, 1854-1900). You live behind a mask on OS – is it so you can reveal your truth? And if so, why are unable to tell your truths under your real identity?

 Oscar is right and he died too young – 46, wow.  We have many faces, or masks if that’s what you want to call them.  Your family knows you, your friends know you, your co-workers know you, your boss knows you, your neighbor knows you, your doctor knows you, people from your clubs or churches know you, yet not one of those people knows you in the same way as any of the others.  We pick and choose what we reveal, how we act, what we say and the way we say it, depending on the company we are in. We are meant to use filters and manners and expressions in our social world.  Those who don’t are typically labeled dysfunctional or have a syndrome assigned to their behavior.  I have no problem using my masks to get about in the world. I also have relationships where I can show most of my face most of the time.  It feels like a healthy balance.

As to part two, I’m not sure why anyone writes under their given name here unless, like yourself, they are in the business of writing.  With the advent of the WWW comes the ability to type in a name and get all kinds of information about anyone you’d like. Google is routinely used in background checks. Your name goes into the net and gets caught there - forever.  We’ve lost control over our privacy.  I plan to continue to maintain the illusion that there’s a little bit of mystery left to be had.  

 Under an avatar I can write about any subject at all, including the three taboos of religion, politics and money.  Nothing I write here is going to affect my ability to get a job, or a promotion, or going to be held over my head by anyone in my life, and I am not going to inadvertently violate someone else’s privacy.  I like it that way.

• 5. What’s you’re biggest regret? 

 Investing in the real estate market five years ago.

• 6. If you could change one thing about OS, what would it be?

 I’d love a Spellchecker and an effective Spamcatcher

• 7. What did you want to be when you were a little girl?

 Exactly what I am right now.

• 8. A magic wand has appeared and you can live your dream life. What is it?

 Yippee, I won! I won! I’m assuming the lottery ship has pulled into my dock, so now I can have my dream job, money manager for an independently wealthy lady.

• 9. Would rather be a great singer, dancer, writer, artist, doctor or carpenter? Why?

 Besides whistling, I have no talents that allow me to express myself physically, so it would be dancing – and it burns calories as a nice bonus.

• 10. If you were the star of a reality show, what would it be called?

 The No One’s Watching Show

• 11. Pick one song, color and food you couldn’t live without?

 There is very little I can’t live without and I wouldn’t miss any one of those things but I would miss my evening glass of white wine. Cheers, Cindy! and you can call me Abby, all my friends do ;)