Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Bernard Pivot Blogfest





The lovely Nicole Ducleroir is hosting this blogfest in celebration of surpassing 500 followers and in the spirit of getting to know one another just that much more.


Anyone who's watched Inside the Actor's Studio will be familiar with the questionnaire.  The show's host, James Lipton, asks it of every celebrity guest at the close of the interview.  The questionnaire was originally created by Bernard Pivot, a French journalist, for the cultural series he hosted on French television from 1991-2001, called Bouillon de Culture.




  • What is your favorite word? Delicious (my husband and I have a joke about it that originated with Dr. Demento. We always say it "deeeliiiishoussss")

  • What is your least favorite word? Oh, I could make quite a list, trust me. But here are the top three forever and ever always amen: moist, sofa, squirt

  • What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? A mountaintop forest in late spring or mid-autumn. Especially if a river is involved.

  • What turns you off? Children (sorry)

  • What is your favorite curse word? Jesus Christ. Sometimes it's a swear, sometimes a supplication--and sometimes both.

  • What sound or noise do you love? Rain on a tin roof, a river rushing, the cooing of mourning doves, woodpeckers 

  • What sound or noise do you hate? Nails on a chalkboard, my cats' claws on the wall, Styrofoam squeaking together, my husband flicking the seam on his jeans

  • What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Surgeon, pilot, deep-sea diver, CIA agent, food reviewer, chef, video game tester

  • What profession would you not like to do? Teacher, police officer, firefighter, mailman, prison warden, podiatrist, dermatologist 

  • If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Evan (my husband) is right over there waiting for you. And kudos on living to be 150. 
  • 68 comments:

    Vicki Rocho said...

    Love those answers...and sorry, but I flick the seam of my jeans too, though I have no idea why.

    Jessica Bell said...

    LOL! Sofa? Why?

    Unknown said...

    Loved these answers!!! My favorites being the words you dislike the most... there was just something so interesting about your choices!!!

    I miss our chats! How are you?!

    Unknown said...

    Great answers! There was a woodpecker out my window yesterday banging his head on the tree -- you're right, great sound!

    Thanks for playing along!! Can't wait for tomorrow -- I'll be in touch in a bit about details. Gotta hit some of these blogs first. Later!

    Samantha Vérant said...

    Snarf! Children. Too funny! I needed that laugh today... really.

    Stina said...

    While in the dentist chair the other day (while dying of boredom), I decided the hygienist has the most boring job in the world. Not to mention, in some cases, the grossest.

    CIA agent sounds like a cool job. :D

    Alison Pearce Stevens said...

    The nails on chalkboard thing actually made me cringe. Gah!

    Kari Marie said...

    I love that you want to live until 150. Your least favorite words crack me up. Interesting choices. I have heard other folks dislike the word moist, but sofa?

    Charity Bradford said...

    LOL, I love that you gave several answers. My favorites?

    Children, chef, podiatrist (cringes), and living to be 150!

    Thanks for sharing.

    Margo Benson said...

    It's hard saying moist very quickly, which makes it worse somehow!

    Children, sofa....too funny!

    Hannah said...

    I'm with you on the children. No. Thank. You.

    omg, would I love to be a videa game tester!!! Full time!!

    I once had the life scared out of me by a woodpecker and almost called the cops. True story.

    Sarah Ahiers said...

    Squirt?! Effing gross!

    Woodpeckers is awesome! Last summer a little nuthatch landed on my door and tapped on the window with his beak. It was adorable!

    Diana said...

    nails on chalkboard...I forgot about that one.

    L.A. Colvin said...

    I'm with you on the styrofoam. eehhhggg!

    Summer Ross said...

    Great answers! a video game tester might be fun!

    Lola Sharp said...

    So many people hate the word 'moist'. I once did a favorite/least favorite words post, and 'moist' came up under least favorite LOTS of times.

    But...

    I don't understand.

    I don't want dry cake, I want a moist slab of chocolate cake.
    (granted, there ARE things that shouldn't be moist and if they are, GROSS)
    So, is it the context of the word? The sound of the word? What's you damage with 'moist'? I'm all curious and stuff.

    Though, it is pretty close to 'musty' and that's a gnarly disgusting word.

    ZOMG, can you imagine being a podiatrist? *shudder* I'd barf. I wouldn't want to be a gynecologist either. (mailman! You crack me up, my little weirdo.)

    Here's to you living to 150! *cheers*

    Love you,
    L

    Rebecca T. said...

    eww... moist is a nasty word. So ... squishy.

    Also, I love the lists of answers. I would not want to be a podiatrist either. gross.

    Tony Benson said...

    Your list of least favourite words made me laugh. Not sure about sofa, but the others conjure up some pretty graphic images.

    I'll stick with delicious :-)

    Linda G. said...

    Moist? LOL! Did you ever see the TV series Dead Like Me? The MC's mother hated that word, so of course the MC said it just to annoy her. ;)

    Wendy Tyler Ryan said...

    Interesting list. You really went the multiple choice route.

    Jules said...

    LOL, sofa, moist and squirt! I have a bad sentence in my head now using those 3 words :)
    Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

    J.L. Campbell said...

    Nice to meet you, Summer. Your last response made me laugh out loud. I just know you have an optimist living somewhere inside you - 150!

    Katie said...

    I must agree that "sofa" is a bit weird to dislike. haha Hey, but to each their own, right? Deep sea diver, huh? You're way braver than me. The whole no-oxygen thing seriously freaks me out (see my answer to the wouldn't-want-that-job question: astronaut).

    DL Hammons said...

    I'm still laughing over your least favorite words! Unique selection there. :)

    Michael Di Gesu said...

    So you want to live to 150? That says a lot about a person. Good for you!

    Great variety of careers.


    Michael

    Carolyn Abiad said...

    Exciting choice things you'd like to do! CIA agent? Maybe I'd like that too. Not so fond of the deep sea diving though. :)

    Meredith said...

    I want to be in a mountaintop forest in autumn right now! That sounds incredible.

    Arlee Bird said...

    Sometimes I'm not so fond of other people's children, but I do love my own.
    Squirt, moist, and sofa--now, is there some purposeful juxtapostion with these words?

    Lee
    the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2011

    Katie said...

    Harpoons is good thinkin'! Maybe I could pay someone to invent attachable gills for me, or something? Then I could be a deep sea diver and not freak out about having no air. Hmm...

    Hey, if I bring you ACROSS THE UNIVERSE today, do you think you could have it back to me by next Wednesday? I'm going to her signing next Friday, and I want to take the book to get her to sign it. :) If you're busy reading something else, I'll just let you borrow it after the signing. Let me know!

    Kristin Rae said...

    ugh I wouldn't want to be a dermatologist either... ack.

    Patti said...

    I'm a mountaintop kind of person as well.

    RosieC said...

    Great answers. I know a lot of people who have problems with the word "moist". I can't say I understand it, but it's definitely a thing.

    Good swear word. Not my favorite, perhaps, but definitely one I use a lot...

    Adriana Noir said...

    I had so much fun reading your list! I had to nod a lot too...hate the squeaky styrofoam noises, and feet. Ugh I could not imagine being a podiatrist!

    Ann said...

    Nails on a chalkboard made a shiver run from my spine to the top of my scalp. What interesting answers!

    Hart Johnson said...

    Oh, I love rivers too! I was a river rat in a former life (as in white water guide, not as in the animal). I had to giggle at both of your profession lists--podiatrist? who thinks of that? *snort*

    Jen said...

    these are great answers! funny yet truthful!

    Southpaw said...

    Sofa? That’s made me laugh. Your final answer busted me up. You post remaindered me of another sound I hate – newspaper, when someone rubs to pages together to separate them. Horrible.

    Anonymous said...

    So...say, hypothetically speaking, someone had left a moist sponge on a sofa, and you sat on it, squirting moisture all over the cushions. Would that be, like, the worst possible thing that could ever happen to you?

    *smiles innocently*

    Old Kitty said...

    Awwww your last answer had me simultaneously going "awwwwwwwwwwwww" and "lol!"!

    Fab answers - especially your bestest swear words!! LOL!!!

    A podiatrist. Yep, you'd have to have a special calling to want to be one (no offence to fabulous podiatriste everywhere - you are all brilliant!!). Off I go now! take care
    x

    Corinne O said...

    moist and squirt make me laugh... yeah - they are nasty words. Not sure what's up with sofa... is there a story in there you need to get off your chest? Here... come lay on my couch and tell Miss Corinne all about it...

    I always wanted to be a CIA agent! My uncle was and it was always sooo mysterious.

    Great answers
    Corinne

    Mara McBain said...

    Ohhh loved your favorite sounds!!

    Sophia said...

    I don't know whether it's the connotations or what, but 'moist' is largely an unpopular word, especially amongst women it seems. Poor little word. I love your 'congrats on hitting 150' answer, what a great take.
    - Sophia.

    Unknown said...

    Summer in the CIA - sounds like a career change ;) I love your favourite sound choices too.

    Writer Gayle said...

    I burst out laughing reading the header on your blog. Mine would require a little twist: Something more like "Shut up and let me concentrate!"

    BK Mattingly said...

    I don't think I'd like to be a podiatrist or a dermatologist either.

    Brigitte said...

    Food reviewer!! most epic answer I've read so far! XD
    The only prison I'd like to be a warden of is the one in the philipines, I think it is, where they have the prisoners do all these dance numbers and put them on youtube.
    Great blogfest post. c:

    brimagination.blogspot.com

    M Pax said...

    A video game tester would be fun.

    Luna said...

    Great answers! I liked what you put for #10. That gives you plenty of time to work on all those professions or write a ton of best sellers.

    Cathy Olliffe-Webster said...

    How about chesterfield? Any better than sofa? Divan, maybe? How about couch?
    Hey, I HAVE kids and sometimes they drive me bananas! Happy Bernard Pivot Day!

    Shelley Sly said...

    I like your answers! The last one is great. 150, huh? And very interesting that you'd attempt to be a surgeon or a pilot -- two things I could never do. :)

    Heather M. Gardner said...

    Ugh. Styrofoam squeaking. Most evil. Thanks for sharing your answers.

    KatOwens: Insect Collector said...

    your most hated sounds totally gave me the chills. How can even reading about them cause a reaction???

    VR Barkowski said...

    OMG, styrofoam squeaking together. That makes me crazy! My cats seldom scratch on the walls, but they do scratch on the glass fronted cabinets. Eesh, just got a chill thinking about it.

    Theres just life said...

    Love your answers. Rain on a tin roof, woodpeckers, rivers, you don't live in the country by any chance do you.
    Your professions are great. I do scuba dive, love food, am very intrigued by the agent thing. but can you be a surgeon with out needles being involved, if so sign me up.

    Nice to meet you Summer, I will be back.

    Pamela Jo
    http://theresjustlifeyaliveit.blogspot.com

    Amanda Milner said...

    We have a few in common! I too could make a list of words I HATE but I put my top three as well. (ok, one I refuse to type, I despise it that much) We have the detestable word 'moist' in common.
    I also can't stand Styrofoam rubbing together. :P

    Al said...

    Great list.

    I don't get sofa though just implies relaxation to me.

    Jemi Fraser said...

    Great answers! Totally agree with the styrofoam & chalk noises - but I LOVE being a teacher! :)

    Talli Roland said...

    Deeeeeelicious! Such delicious word. :)

    Gail said...

    You can learn so much about people with these questions, can't you! I'm a new follower, found you through Nicole's blog and decided to join in to the fest at the last minute. Stop by and see my answers too. Oh, I'm a GA resident too, but I'm in a burb of the big ATL.

    Toyin O. said...

    Very interesting anwsers:)

    Toyin O. said...

    Very interesting anwsers:)

    Christopher said...

    Damned kids!

    Anonymous said...

    Oh, so you must of met my kids...sorry about that. You're funny!

    Nikki

    Lisa Potts said...

    All of the noises you hate gave me chills just reading them.

    HowLynnTime said...

    Ok - you got me on 10. I love that your 150, but the fact you ok with Evan going before you is hilarious!

    I mean it could be like ten minutes ahead and the cause of your own final hip breakage, but still It made me wonder....want a few years of widowhood so you can win a bet or a dare...or maybe you are just a little annoyed at this moment.....grin. ????

    I love woodpeckers on trees, we have one that is determined to attack my house and I like them less right this moment.

    Emily Davidson said...

    Loved the answers! I too would love to be a CIA agent, food reviewer or a deep-sea diver. The beauty of being a writer is that through the lives of your characters, you almost can!

    Lindsey Edwards said...

    You hate the word sofa? Really? What is it about the word that you don't like. I think of a mid-size plus set of cushions! LoL

    You and my husband both on the job of video game tester! I'm not much of a gamer, but I do love watching him play.

    Sophia Chang said...

    Summer, we are soulmates. The same thing turns us off, and I hope it turns you off as much as it does me.

    And if you really want to be a game tester, I can probably make that happen, but you will regret it after day one.