This or That

Mains. In fact, I installed a central vacuum system. Motor and dust bin are in the garage and I just connect a hose to an outlet in the wall. There's like 3 outlets in strategic locations so I can reach the whole house with a 30' hose.

Carpet or hard floor (wood, tile, vinyl)?

Hard wood floor, definitely.

Sailboat or motorboat?

Sailboat

Lake or Ocean?

Lake. And not a big one. I'm nervous on water.

Hot porridge or cold cereal?

Depends on the day, and probably the temperature outside. Generally speaking, cold cereal in the summer and hot porridge in the winter.

Soy or beeswax candle?

Never had soy candles but probably worth a try. Let the bees keep their wax, eh.

Gas lawnmower or electric?

Petrol always.

Electric hedge trimmer. Mains power or battery?

Battery would be nice in some ways (no cord to drag around) but cord is more reliable if you've got a lot of work to do. So icord.

Listen to new (to you) music or an old favourite?

Impossible to say, since new music now could become an old favourite in the future.

Watch an extra-long movie (ie. all three Lord of the Rings), at the cinema or in the comfort of your own home.

In the comfort of my home.

Movies. Drama or psychological thriller?

A well-done example of either is in my wheelhouse, but these days I seem to lean to drama more than suspense.

Romantic comedy or romantic drama/melodrama?

Romantic drama

Watch a play or watch a movie?

Either, really, given how long it has been since I've been to either, but probably a movie since I can do that at home

Learn a martial art or learn a non-martial form of exercise?

Non-martial art. Does kickboxing count? I had a trainer for a very short while in college but it was getting in the way of my academia so I had to stop. I'd take that back up again.

Hang gliding or scuba diving?

Scuba Diving

Tropical beach or historic city?

I can't decide. Tropical beach for the beauty. Historic city also has great potential for beauty. Hm, depends on my state of mind and where I feel drawn to going.

CD or vinyl?

CD. Vinyl is more of a nostalgia thing in the end.

Plant perennials or annuals?

This is tough. I love both. Off the top of my head, lilies and peonies are my two favorite flowers and they're both perennials, so I choose perennials.

Succulent or orchid?

Quote by Cora
lilies and peonies are my two favorite flowers

Mine are coming up even as we speak.

Succulent. Some of them are quite interesting.

Rhubarb pie or apple pie?

Quote by Mendalla

Mine are coming up even as we speak. ---How beautiful and exciting! I thought you mainly enjoyed plants. I have loved lilies forever. I decided at a young age if I were ever to marry and have children, the girl's name would be Lilly. My plan: Four children; 2 boys, 2 girls. Lilly would be the oldest.

Succulent. Some of them are quite interesting. ---I wholeheartedly agree. While I like some plants, I tend to be drawn towards succulents, a few in particular. I think I could easily have a conversation with you about plants, succulents, flowers, animals, sea creatures, and mammals.

Rhubarb pie or apple pie?

Again, another tough one.

Hands down, rhubarb pie. My mother has a recipe handed down from her late mother for the best rhubarb pie ever. She rarely makes it. I remember watching her make the pie as a kid. Now rhubarb strawberry pies can be found in markets. I had those a few times and they are very good, definitely nothing like my mom's rhubarb pie.

However, my mother makes an outstanding apple pie on Thanksgiving.

FInal answer: rhubarb pie 😊

One-hour conversation with Jane Goodall or one-hour conversation with your favorite author (deceased or alive)?

Quote by Cora
One-hour conversation with Jane Goodall or one-hour conversation with your favorite author (deceased or alive)?

One hour conversation with Jane would kind of fall into the other as well. I loved reading her stuff in National Geographic back in the day. And I think it's no secret that I am fond of apes. So her. (though a conversation with Neil Gaiman would be fun as well).

Stick with my current comp story or write something else? (yeah, I'm not really sold on this story but it's progressing better than the others)

Can't give you advice there - I haven't read your current piece.

However I will say, you've started four drafts for this comp (that I know of). Now you're thinking of starting a new story. If you're not "really sold" on the story, why bother having it published? It seems to me like you don't have a story written which you fully believe in and are happy with. If you submit this story, I think something will always be missing from it. You yourself said you're "not really sold on this story." It's frustrating, but why not sit back and take a beat? You've written multiple stories with new ideas seemingly non-stop shortly after this comp opened. There's still time to enter. Maybe an idea will come to you when you're watering a plant, etc.

For me, the first few days after the comp opened, all of my thoughts were focused on a possible idea and I kept coming up with nothing. I finally relaxed when I stopped thinking of the comp. If an idea comes to me or I get inspired by something, great. If not, I'll just have to sit this one out.

*I truly hope you didn't find my advice harsh. I was telling you my sincere, honest thoughts.

Thanks, Cora. I'll see what happens. It's just I have been rather bitchy about the activity level here of late and, yet, not really doing much about it myself given my current state of writing. So I was really hoping to be in this comp for that reason, if nothing else. And seeing that there is still only one entry after two weeks or something like that isn't helping that.

Back to the thread topic.

Mountain biking or mountain hiking?

Mountain hiking. Gives time to go at my own pace and explore.

Read a book on gorillas or dragons?

Hmmm. Could depend on the day of the week, really. Probably gorillas these days.

Big meal at supper/evening or big meal at midday?

Big meal at supper.

Listen to a lightening/thunderstorm or listen to your favorite music?

Lightening/Thundering. Nature is the best stress relief.

Bicycle or walking for exercise.

Walking.

Smoothies or Milkshakes?

Milkshakes

Sliders (mini-burgers) or Nachos?

Nachos

With or without cheese?