February 25th: What would be the most challenging thing for you to give up for 40 days?

Survey Says:
Exercise! JK. waffles.
Sweet tea
Talking.
Love
my husband, my beagles, earl grey tea
my husband, pasta, and caffeine
laughter
Sleeping
Chocolate
Meat
and showering.
Killing homeless people. Believe me, the world would notice.
Not locking people up for drunk driving!

Survey Says:
I often wonder how these responses would differ if the previous responses weren't visible for each new post. Do we suppose the same duplicates would be naturally occurring? I'm thinking not.

February 24th: Do you have the same favorite color you had as a child?

Survey Says:
Yes! I love pink and white. lol
No. Though in recent years I have re-introduced my favorite childhood color (pink) back into my wardrobe and such after many years of boycott.
I don't think so - pink and purple were my faves, and now blue.
Yep - Dark Green.


Analysis:
Hm. Small but varied pool of answers. Interesting. For the record, I used to really love the color that crayola 64 used to call "Sea Green." Not so much now.

February 21st: What is your favorite breakfast food?

Survey Says:
Pizza (2)
Sex. Oh, I mean cereal with bananas.
Waffles with fruit
BACON!
Home fries
Fresh fruit. cinnamon raisin bagels. Kix cereal.
Pancakes with hot maple syrup and steamy butter...
Veggie omelettes with crispy potatoes
Varies. Eggs Benedict.
Morning Star Farms Veggie Bacon, white toast, home fries, cheese omelette or two eggs sunny side up. coffee.
Power Smoothie.
biscuits and gravy (2)
Cheerios
swedish pancakes
Wine

Survey Says:
I do believe this is the most responded to question of all time. Or at least of the last few years of RQOD. Note to self: People like to talk about food.

February 20th: If you could choose one word that you'd never have to hear again, what would it be?

Survey Says:
No (2)
"Strategery" or "Nuke-u-ler"
irregardless
broken
deficit
bling
whatever
Can it be a phrase? If so, "What's up" because I never know how to answer.
Cancer (2)
War and hate
panties

Survey Says:
I think if I had to choose one word to describe this series of answers, it would be "Satisfying."

February 19th: What's the most interesting place you've ever been lost?

Survey Says:
Catskills
Seventh Circle of Denial
Rome
in my thoughts
Lake Tahoe
Alaska
Topanga Canyon in LA
Hanoi Vietnam
Switzerland

Analysis:
COOL! This makes me want to go wander around other continents and get lost in my thoughts. Or something less cliche.

February 18th: Word Association: what is the first thing you think of when you hear the word "duty"?

Survey Says:
Changing diapers
Doody

Analysis:
Okay, then. I should have known better with this one too. It was actually inspired by my impending Jury Duty. Alas, foiled by homophones.

February 17th: What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

Survey Says:
I ask myself if I'm late for work.
Meditate
Blow at the puppy licking my face
Pee
Make sure that both legs are working before walking to the bathroom.
Stretch and snuggle. Be nice if was with someone haha
Roll over and go back to sleep.
Hit snooze.

Analysis:
Okay, yeah. That's about the normal range. Perhaps I should have asked this one on a Monday!

February 16th: If you had a top 25 Experiences List, what is the first thing you can think of that would be on it?

Survey Says:
Hiking through the mountains in Wales (or my wedding...am I cheesy?)
My birthday trip to LA.
Having a child
Performing in Russia
Meeting you!
Walking on a frozen lake

Analysis:
I was informed afterwards that this question was too challenging. Perhaps I should remember not to ask anything that requires thought on a Monday. and in response to the, uh, responses:
Yes, you're cheesy, but it's permitted, given the question topic.
and Aw, thanks. =)

February 13th: In five words or less, how do you feel about Valentine's Day?

Survey Says:
Pinkish cliched awkwardsomeness
I love conversation hearts!
Another reason to eat. Fabulous!
wasn't there a massacre on that day?*
I really don't. LOL.
Pagan ritual.
Questions is my valentine**
My valentine is my car.

Analysis:
So given how charged this could have been, I'm satisfied with this series of answers.

*disqualified for use of more than 5 words. Follow the directions people.
**actually grammatically correct, given the situation, as "questions" is, in fact, the name of something.

February 12th: If you were a toy, what would you be?

Survey Says:
Oh, duh. (2)
I love Beyonce's song if I were a toy.
#1 most loaded question I've heard so far.
Atomic Energy Lab
a lego
A cheap yet surprising cracker-jack box toy


Analysis:
I suppose I should have known better. *sigh*

February 11th: If your life were a book, what genre would it be?

Survey Says:
Biography and/or humor
Fairy tales!
Romance!
Self-help
Romantic Tragedy or Romantic Comedy
Adult fiction.

Analysis:
Aw, what a nice variety of lives. Insert here some sort of metaphor about the world as a library.

February 10th: What is the best TV game show of all time?

Survey Says:
Supermarket Sweep
Press Your Luck (also informally known as "No Whammies" by those who don't know its actual name) - 6
SNL's Jeopardy
Biggest Loser
The Crystal Maze (GB)

Analysis:
Wow. We had a clear winner on this one. Press Your Luck, I hereby present you with a posthumous award for favorite TV game show as voted by my friends on facebook.

February 9th: What is your favorite literary device?

Survey Says:
Um...the iphone?
Biblical allusions
the booklight that's included when you buy a Snuggie
Chiasmus.
Conceit
Personification
Pathetic fallacy as it relates to weather
any literary device with which I can stab February repeatedly.
Anthropomorphism, no doubt.
Onomatopoeia is my favorite word.
A meme, duh. Those who think it's trope are a joke.
Oxymoron, metaphor and allusion. and Foreshadowing!

Analysis:
I'm so excited that this many people have favorite literary devices that I have no response by to jump up and down smiling gleefully.

February 6th: Parody, Satire, Slapstick or Other (please specify)?

Survey Says:
Satire (3)
Parody (1)
Other (1)
Satirical Mocumentary
Slapstick (0)

Analysis:
Really? Though I realize this is true every day, this one is really reflective of the people who responded. Or potentially, of the types of people who are my friends.

February 5th: What is the first CD you ever owned?

Survey Says:
The Back to the Future soundtrack
Biggie Small: notorious
Alanis (2)
Boyz II Men
Use Your Illusion

Analysis:
I think I expected more of a response on this one. Come on, now, everyone has a first CD. Mine was Aerosmith Big Ones.

February 4th: What is your favorite type of punctuation?

Survey Says:
Parentheses
I'm torn between the tilde and the umlaut
not sure.
Squigley line
apostrophes
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
period
dashes
definitely the umlaut

Analysis:
I'm somewhat surprised by the sheer volume of responses I received. Though given my personal passion for punctuation, I suppose I ought not to be surprised by others' enthusiasm for it. Yay Punctuation! AND for those of you who are as excited as I am by semicolons and the like, I do believe there is a national punctuation day on September 24th. Shortly after talk like a pirate day. Check it out: http://www.nationalpunctuationday.com/

February 3rd: What is the strangest thing you've ever thrown at someone/had thrown at you?

Survey Says:
A cat.
More up than at.
A watermelon
"I threw flour on Lindsey Lohan. Just kidding."
a napkin
glass of water.
a stuffed panda
an olive
I threw a dog at my neighbor. ok, not really.
a beer.
underwear.

Analysis:
Hehehe. Abundant inside jokes (with a variety of people, I imagine) notwithstanding, this is pretty funny. Ah, slapstick.

February 2nd: If something is neither here nor there, where is it?

Survey Says:
42?
with the socks that disappear in the wash (2)
Out there
At Sea World.


Analysis:

Yeah, that was fun. Potentially too philosophical for a Monday, though. Noted.

RQOD January 30th: What is the best superbowl commercial of all time?

Survey Says:
Budweiser Frogs
Clydesdale training with the dog
Cat herding (2)
Online trading where the guy has money coming out of his @$$.
Chicken crossing the road budweiser
Mr. Galackiwiecz

Analysis:
Not surprisingly, almost exclusively Budweiser. Definitely the most memorable.

RQOD January 29th: Which is your favorite sports team, and is it your hometown team?

Survey Says:
Oddly not - I was always a Bulls fan.
Pittsburgh Penguins for life, Steelers. Hometown? Close enough.
Mets! Sort of my hometown.


Analysis:
I think this demonstrates the need to phrase my questions in a more user-friendly and single-pronged fashion.

RQOD January 28th: Which is your favorite ninja turtle?

Survey Says:
Michealangelo (3)
Donatello (2)
April (not technically a turtle)
Leonardo (0, but I know he was my brother's favorite, so we'll go with 1)
Raphael (2)

Analysis:
I'm somewhat surprised by the lack of Leonardo. I'm sure this says something depressing about our generation and the leadership therein.

RQOD January 27th: What was your first job?

Survey says:
Mowing lawns - 2
Lifeguard
Singer/Hostess
Student!
Selling lemonade
Receptionist/sweeper at a hair salon
Dental assistant
Nynex (now Verizon)
Babysitting - 2
Cashier

Analysis:
I'm somewhat surprised we didn't get any fast food responses. This could be that the fast food first job is simply a misconception on my part. alternately, it could mean that people who first worked in a fast food restaurant aren't as willing to share this information. I, for one, have tremendous respect for fast food workers, as the drive thru is actually quite challenging. And I need me my Filet o' Fish in a timely manner. Fast food folks, I am indebted to you.

RQOD January 26th: What is the most unusual pet you've ever had?

Survey Says:
Sea Monkeys
pet pumpkin
caterpillars
Sea Horse
Chia pets
2 cats, 2 dogs, 3 hermit crabs, 1 conyer and 10 tanks of fish simultaneously.
pet rocks
guinea pigs
our pet child (read: hermit crab)

Analysis:
and a partridge in a pear tree? No, seriously, I want one of those. I bet they'd sell really well around Christmas time. Then there would be lots of craigslist ads selling partridges come mid-January.

RQOD January 24th: What's the funniest word in the English language?

Survey Says:
Turkey. It doesn't seem funny at first, but say it over and over really fast and it starts to sound really funny. Funny-odd not funny haha.
Curse words, as a category are funny for how they affect
Shenanigans
Wedge.
Penis.
Jerkface - 2

Analysis:
Huh. I must say, this was not nearly so offensive as I'd anticipated. Also, not really as funny. Huh.

Skiing, Snowboarding or Sledding?

Survey Says:

Skiing - 2
Sledding - 2
tubing - 1
hanging out in the lodge with cocoa - 3


Analysis:
Okay, then.

If you could be a superstar at any sport, what would it be?

Survey Says:
Football (QB)
Chess Boxing
Chinese Acrobatics
Football meets Quantum Leap
Figure Skating



Analysis:
I must admit to being pleasantly surprised at the creativity represented in these sports. Ten points, responders, ten points.

If you could experience any historical moment in person, what would you choose? (RQoD 1/20/09 - Inauguration Day)

Survey Says:
March on Washington - MLK
Crucifixion of Christ
Something from the Tudor dynasty
Seeing the great pyramids being built, or seeing Rome when it was the "center of the earth"
I wish I could be in DC today!
Lincoln at Gettysburg
V-J day in NYC
Mission control during Apollo 11
Telulah's* 7th Birthday
Big Bang

Analysis:
An eclectic range of personalities represented here, indeed. The specificity leads me to consider RQoDs about where you'd like to be in a certain event. Forthcoming.

*Names changed to protect this person.

If you were a cartoon character, who would you be and why? (RQoD 1/19/09)

Survey Says:
Bugs Bunny because he has fun
Batman for the cool car, gadgets, and butler
Jessica Rabbit
Jane Jetson - kicky outfit, good looks for a mother of two, nifty house with cool features, and she drives a spaceship to run errands
(Second of Jane Jetson)
Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne
(Second of Tony Stark)
Captain Planet - cares about the workd and has planeteers.


Analysis:
I'd be curious to see how responses would differ if the previous responses weren't publicly posted...
Personally, I think I'd want to be one of the XMen. Storm is really frickin cool.

If you could give someone else a superpower, what would it be, and to whom?

Survey Says:
I would give my little sister the ability to be VERRRRRRYYYYY quiet.
I would give all people in the Midwest the ability to generate heat from within! It is just too cold out there!
I'd give President-Elect Barack Obama the superpowers of Superman, so that he could do his job super-fast, use his super-breath to re-freeze the polar ice caps, use his X-Ray vision to find bin Laden, and then pull a Superman IV move and throw all the nuclear weapons in the world into the sun. That would be super-awesome.
i would give people the ability to see through the sarcasm.
I would give my dogs the ability to talk. (2)


Analysis:
Huh. Okay, then. I'm actually somewhat disappointed to end on a Disney-esque talking pets note, but so it shall be. A cool question, though, if I do say so myself.

What is the best vacation to take in winter?

Survey Says:
Hawaii
Miami
Hibernation in bed for a week
Anywhere warm and sunny!
Wisconsin (today's high: -6)
Skiing.
Iceland... for the hot mineral baths at the Blue Lagoon and unobstructed view of the cosmos 23 hours a day
Ft. Lauderdale, where the Orioles hold spring training.


Analysis:
I'm only slightly surprised that skiing wasn't a more popular answer. I suppose nationwide record lows may be directly proportional to daydreaming with a "Some Beach" by Blake Shelton soundtrack.

Polka dots, checks or stripes?

Survey Says:

Checks: 1
(Specifically gingham*)
Polka dots: 2
Stripes: 0
All together: 4
(Highlights from all together reasoning include: throws spies off your track and blinds an attacker, and I once had a sunburn in all three)
None of the above: 2
(As a skin condition? None of the above! and "Solids" as an alternative)
Birthday suit.



Analysis:
First off, it was a sad day for zebras, candy canes and the american flag. Sorry, stripes.
Secondly, I must reiterate how much I enjoy the creativity I see in responses to seemingly pointless questions like this.

*Also, ten points on mention of gingham, which is up there among my favorite patterns/fabrics. For those of you who are unaware, gingham is the table cloth-like red checks meets plaid pattern. It's apparently also a fabric.

What is the most ridiculous reason you've ever gotten in trouble?

Survey Says:
"We were learning a dance in preschool in the YMCA gym. The teacher was counting the steps aloud as we did them. The other kids started counting with her. I was counting in my head. The teachers took this "non-participation as defiance and made me sit in a corner. 26 years later I'm still bitter."

knocking over a portapotty when someone was in it

"I was wrestling with a friend at home and accidentally threw him into a wall. Ended up making a huge hole in the drywall and my parents were none too pleased!"

"While still in HS, I was stopped and grilled by the cops - because some guy wiith a similar color/type car was exposing himself to people in the shopping center where I worked!"

When I was something like 9 or 10, my middle sister and I were having an argument. As I walked out of the room, she yelled, "@#$% YOU!" I yelled back, "SHUT UP!" Guess who got sent to her room?

Okay... A friend cut another friend's rubber giraffe into small pieces. I got detention because I knew about it.


Analysis:
Okay, so whoever is doing the disciplining in this country needs a stern talking-to.

Who is the first friend you remember having? (RQoD 1/12/09)

Survey Says:
Hold on...let me check facebook
This little girl Dawn, who apparently used to bite me...
A girl named Summer, who lived up the street.
Brian McKouen in Nursery School... Still friends.
Catherine, across the street.
Jessica Elise Turner...my red headed best friend from Kindergarden through 3rd grade.
Its a tie between Sara and Shauna (neighbors, sisters) and Annie Habel in Marshfield Massachusetts.
Antoinette and Freeman were the 1st ones I truly remember. We went to the same day care at...3 yrs old? Shemeka was my 1st neighborhood friend. Kendra was my 1st elementary school friend I made. :-)
i use to live in Kansas City when i was about 4 years old and i use to play in the kiddie pool with these two girls. I can't remember their names but i remember having them as friends.


NOTE: This question was not entirely random, as it is dedicated to the memory of old friends.

Analysis:
"Who can say if I've been changed for the better, but because I knew you, I have been changed for good." ~Wicked

What is the best way to spend a snowy day? (RQoD 1/9/09)

Survey Says:
"Next to a crackling fire with a cup of hot chocolate and someone you love. Or at least that's what hallmark would say!"
What he said!
Inside watching the snow, sledding when it stops
Skiing. Walking in the snow. Dancing in the snow. Singing about snow. Building snowmen. Making snow angels. Having a snowball fight. Taking sleigh rides. And after all that curling up next to a fire nestled in a big fuzzy blanket with a friend or a book while drinking cocoa with lots of whipped cream.
A nice walk followed by movie watching with hot chocolate and comfort food.

Analysis:
I might have been able to ask "what's the perfect winter date?" and gotten the same answers?

What percentage of the time do you say what you're thinking? (RQoD 1/8/09)

Survey Says:
Less than I realized, but quite a bit more than people would prefer, I'm sure
I have no idea.
I don't - I can never say the right thing at the right time.
Too much of the time
-8%


Analysis:
I think the fact that this is the least responded-to question on a non-holiday since "how many US state capitals can you name" is quite telling in itself.

What question do you often want to ask, but never say aloud? (RQoD 1/7/09)

Survey Says:
What's wrong?
What is it you really want from me right now?
WTF?
Which negligent parent told you it was ok to behave like this?
What am I doing here?
Do you actually like me?
Do you have any idea how stupid what you just said was?


Analysis:
This was fun. I think, for one day, we should all just say these things out loud. I wonder how many people would survive it?

What is your favorite type of weather? (RQoD 1/6/09)

Survey says:
Spring! But in the summer, it will be fall.
Depends on the day: rain or snow if I'm inside, 65-68 degrees and nice if I'm out
San Diego
clear, sunny, 50-80 degrees F (like LA in April)
Cool, breezy and cloudy right before the storm

Analysis:
Okay, then. Not shocking, though I did expect a few more people to respond with rain-related favorites. Though, I suppose, I expected a few more people to respond at all.

My vote: Raging thunderstorms. Also, the moment right before one.

How would you complete the following sentence? "If I were someone else, I would be _______."

Survey Says:
Sir Richard Branson
James Bond,Thomas Jefferson,Barack Obama,Stephen Colbert, Tony Stark,Bruce Wayne, JFK,Jesus, George Washington, Bob Marley, Saint Peter
Better yet - all of those guys put together into one dude.
Why would I want to be someone else?
Myself
very confused
I like being me: 3
"giving myself seed money to start a project involving hot tubs and process drama."
Leonardo DaVinci, Benjamin Franklin, John Steinbeck, Neil Armstrong, Bob Hope AND Bing Crosby, Jimmy Stewart or Katherine Hepburn, in no particular order
and Tiger Woods

Analysis:
I would like to express appreciation for those who actually answered the question as posed. It was a fill in the blank for a reason, in order to enable both the expected lists of names as well as clever alternatives including "...very confused" (10 points for that on, MSH) or potentially "...disappointed, because I'm awesome." Not that these responses surprise me in the least, but I do appreciate it when responders take the time to answer the question I have so carefully crafted to encourage flexible responding.

What is your favorite thing about January? (RQoD 1/2/09)

Survey Says:
Taking down the Christmas decorations and spring cleaning
Time off from work
It's a full 31 days!
Obama's inauguration
Snow


Analysis:
Okay, then. Welcome to 2009!

What do you hope will be the theme song for 2009? (RQoD 1/1/09)

Survey Says:
Happy Days are here again



Analysis:
Despite the limited responses, I think this about sums it up.

If 2008 had a theme song, what would it be? (RQoD from 12/31/08)

Survey Says:
I am so glad it's over (I'm not sure this is a song, but the sentiment is acceptable)
Everything to everyone by everclear
Living on a Prayer
Tubthumping
Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedez Benz
Perfect Day by Hoku

Analysis:
This one was hard, I think.

How would you complete the following sentence? "I could ______ all day long."

Survey Says:
Cuddle with my dogs
" my answer would involve caviar, champagne, grapes, a peacock feather, a mink glove, silk sheets and a beautiful woman."
(This response followed by two concurrent votes)
lay in bed
work out
watch really stupid tv
laugh

Analysis:
Okay, this is about what we expected, even once we got the obvious ones out of our system. I did fully expect several people to offer censored responses, and was only mildly disappointed. Sadly, this question was inspired by my consistent ability to watch 24 hour marathons of "House."

White chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate?

Survey Says:

Dark: 3
Milk: 1
White: 0
Can't choose: 1
Hershey's kisses (though this didn't actually answer the question, I agree that their diverse chocolate options are appealing, and therefore approved it as relevant)


Analysis:
Huh. Some things aren't as interesting as anticipated.

Of what and/or whom is your favorite photo? (RQoD 12/26/08)

Survey says:
My dog
Myself when I was young
Me and all my boys hanging out together
"Body Trading"*

*this is, in fact, an excellent photo

Analysis:

Mostly, I think this is an excellent indicator that I should not ask RQoDs over the weekend. This was a good question, and only 4 responses? Seriously, people?

What smell do you associate with the holidays? (RQoD 12/24/08)

Survey Says:
Pine
Christmas trees
Pumpkin spices
latkes
Cinnamon candles
sugar cookies.


Analysis:
Mmm. December.

What do you still do the old-fashioned way, despite new technology? (RQoD from 12/23/08)

Survey Says:
Sending out Christmas, birthday, etc cards.
Spank my kids "the old fashioned way!"
Make old fashioneds
Dice and chop things for cooking
Nothing! I embrace invention and technology
Write letters
Journaling


Analysis:
I suppose I'm this is only partially as terrifying as it might have been. Then again, I'm somewhat obsessed with the past.