Friday, October 05, 2007

Flutter me by....


A week ago, I asked Flutter for some questions.. and she delivered. I now deliver my answers. :)

1) In 10 words, tell me, why Thailand?

Acceptance, beauty, community, warmth, compatibility, shared values, feeling of home.


2) It's dinner time, you have unlimited funds, unlimited time and a huge house. What do you make and who do you invite to eat with you? Why?

I think in this case I would invite all of my regular commenters. The reason being is that all of you are such an interesting collection of viewpoints, lifestyles, cultures and ages. There would be endless things to discuss and I would make sure we had a large round table where we would toss ideas around like a beach ball, one to another. Those who couldn't be physically present would be invited by teleconference.

The meal would be decided by all of you. The only thing I would ask is that it is a sober event. I would take a poll on my blog to determine the menu and provide everyone with transportation from their various locations.

And believe it or not, this is not a political answer. I seriously would like to do this.


3) You have 5 plants and 5 plants only to build the perfect garden, what are they and why?

Roses, wisteria, azaleas, crepe myrtle and lavender.


4) If there was one pivotal event that you could change in your life, what would it be and would you change it?

Well, gosh. That's a hard one. What would I change? Perhaps I would change my genetics. So I guess that means I would change the circumstances of my birth. I come from a long line of people with various types of mood disorders from dysthymia to bipolar. I would love to be free of that.

On the other hand, while my moodiness can be a problem, I can also create passionate writing. It is during those times when I am able to write something that will reach inside someone's chest, grab their heart and squeeze. I don't mean this in a sentimental way either because I'm not particularly sentimental. My objective is never to make people feel good for a moment before they move on. My objective is to wake people up. I want to communicate to others that there is a different way to live, a different way for us to exist in the world. I want to shed light on things that most people never truly understand if they haven't lived it. If I was of a consistent mood all the time, I wouldn't be able to do that.


5) Describe the perfect day.

Oddly, I don't believe there's any such thing as a perfect day. Fantasizing though, I guess I'd have to say that waking up to discover there has been a worldwide revolution, one that eliminates exploitation of human beings by other human beings and a worldwide commitment to relieving the causes of suffering would be a perfect day for all of us.


Thanks for the questions, Flutter. :)

Some of you might have noticed that this is being written at 3.00 a.m. There is a reason for that. It seems that my first cold of the season has come early. That means that I sleep intermittently throughout the day and night for three or four hours at a time... and am awake at weird times like this. Yesterday, I slept nearly all afternoon and evening, got up, left a few comments, drank some water and went back to bed until now. It will likely be this way through the weekend.

Please feel free to leave questions for me or for each other in the comments section. To the best of my knowledge, this sort of thing hasn't been tried before and it would be curious to see how it works. Just come back periodically to see if anyone has left a question for you.. and answer it (if you are so inclined, of course. Um. err.)

It's just an experiment. Just as before, it might work well.. or it might flop.

I hope everyone has a good weekend. :)
~*

28 comments:

Susanne said...

I like you idea for the feast. (Actually I like this interview thing a lot. It gives new perspectives on people I have been reading for a while.) And that meal brings me to a question for you: Are you vegetarian? That's something I'm thinking about on and off if one can be a Buddhist and an omnivore at the same time.

(Obviously it is possible, my question is more along the lines of ethics.)

Girlplustwo said...

i like the meal idea too (mostly because i was invited)...

seriously, i want to know the perfect menu..

Open Grove Claudia said...

Boy, I think my questioner is broken this Friday. I'll think on it though! ;)

I'd love a dinner party like that!

Janet said...

Your garden sounds lovely.

As does your dinner party. I agree that the conversation would be fascinating.

PS "What, me worry?" I'm older than you think. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Wow, I really like the idea of waking up, opening my shutters to smell the perfumes of my garden, discovering that there had been a worldwide revolution on the very day that I was going to a dinner at Chani's house...in Thailand.

(Sorry you're sick, but it's kinda nice that you have the option of following you're body's clock instead of the one on the wall.)

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Really deep and interesting questions, which I would expect from Flutter, and wonderfully thoughtful answers, which I would expect from you.

Apparently, being sick has not dulled your wit or your soul's mission. Feel better soon!

I can't imagine you different in any way, Chani, because your beautiful writing that squeezes hearts and opens minds could only come from the sum total of all your experiences, genetics, and other influences.

Your idea of the perfect day is typical as you seem quite incapable of taking enjoyment for yourself while others suffer. I think you just may be a bodhisattva, and don't bother to deny it. I've made up my mind.

Liv said...

I think I might bring you an oak leaf hydrangea for your garden since you got a small number of plants from Flutter. After all, you are feeding me, right?

Addicted to crafting said...

Just a little note to let you know I've visited you and I'm looking forward to read you more!

:)

Christine said...

i want to know if you can cook thai food at all. what is your favorite thai meal?

take care of that cold--soup with lots of hot, hot sauce will clear those sinuses!

thailandchani said...

Susanne, I am not a vegetarian. There are times when I consider going in that direction... you know.. to give it a try. It is far more ethical than eating animals. We are incurring karma, imo, for eating our animal companions. One day, I will make that decision and stop eating meat.

~*

Jen, the perfect menu (in this case) would be chosen by you guys. :)

As for my perfect menu, I am a very simple eater. I don't like much fuss or complication. I'd go for a bowl of rice and vegetables.

~*

Claudia, I think it would be great.. and with a round table so that people won't group up independently.

~*

Janet, it would give us an opportunity to create what we talk about... a loving, caring, accepting community.. even if it was only for an evening.

~*

De, it does create a certain appeal, doesn't it? All of us.. sitting around a table.. in Thailand.. with good food and good conversation. :)

As for the clock thing, you know, when I read that from you, I remembered back to when I finally hit the wall. When I hit it, I hit it hard. Basically, I went to my doctor and said, "Get me off this gerbil wheel or shoot me. Either one is an acceptable option in my book."

I can never go back to that. Ever. I would rather leave this earth than go back to living in a rut.

~*

Susan, I'm blushing. :) I am so NOT a bodhisattva! Believe me. I'm not. I'm the most imperfect person I know. Samsara gets me down... too much. Thank you for saying something so kind though. Really.

~*

Liv, of course I'm feeding you. What would you like?

The hydrangea would be great! You and Flutter are creating my garden in Thailand. :)

~*

NNG, thank you. Thank you for coming by. :)

~*

Christine, yes, I cook Thai food. The thing is that I cook everyday Thai food. Most of what we get in restaurants is Thai party food. You know, the kind of things people make only on special occasions.

Everyday Thai food is very simple.. vegetables, meat or fish, and rice. You take a bowl of rice, pour on some fish, meat or vegetables ~ put some sauce over it and eat.

I use a lot of cucumber sauce and fish sauce.. things like that.. because my stomach really hates it when I get carried away with spices.

~*

Peace,

~Chani

~*

S said...

That meal.

It would be so much fun.

meno said...

Despite the fact that it would be a large group, i would still like to attend the dinner. And i will pretty much eat anything except bell peppers and organ meat.

Blog Antagonist said...

A meal with bloggers. How. Flipping. Cool.

But it couldn't be too many. Small groups are best, I think. Like maybe 2o.

I think an international pot luck would be fun. Each person bring their favorite ethnic dish. Wouldn't that be yummy?

Snoskred said...

I agree with you about the 5 plants. I have wisteria and lavender - I must post a photo of this beautiful lavender I bought - and I want to get a crepe myrtle next.

My questions for you -

How is your garden going? Can you make a post with some photos for us all?

If I had a magic wand and I said I'm going to fix all your health issues and get you your dream job, the job you always wanted to do, and you'll be able to do it just because you like doing it, they'll pay you whatever you want (which you can give to charity, if you want to) and not have to worry about any training or anything - you'd just automatically have whatever skills that job required, what job would it be? It could be working from home, too.

Snoskred
www.snoskred.org

thailandchani said...

Snos, the garden is a bit barren right now with the season change. It's not as pretty as it will be in spring.

In answer to your question? It would be "author". I would be the next Elizabeth Gilbert. That is what I would be.

~*

BA, I love your idea of a potluck.. with everyone bringing something ethnic. That would work out very well. :)

I suspect it would only be 20 or so. That's as many regular commenters as I have... 20-25

~*

Meno, okay then.. no green peppers or organ meat. It would have to be developed around that. :)

~*

SM, yes.. it would be great. If only.... :)

~*

~Chani

KC said...

The dinner sounds great. Let's do it!

Mary said...

Dear Chani,

You said, "My objective is never to make people feel good for a moment before they move on. My objective is to wake people up." Wow. You do that very well. You could be a great radio or TV "talk show" commentator.

I would gladly accept your invitation for dinner. I'm not hard to please - I eat almost anything. I love the idea of "throwing beach balls around" - sort of like "The View", but without the hoop-la and drama.

I love dry white wine but I love sweet tea with lemon much better ;o)

SUEB0B said...

I don't think a dinner with all us bloggers could ever be sober. And I'm not talking about alcohol!

thailandchani said...

KC, how I wish! Of course who knows what might happen when I get to Thailand. One thing is for certain: Those I've gotten to know here will always have a free place to stay if they decide to visit Thailand. :)

~*

Mary, I have done talk radio.. in the early 90s. It was a kick! I didn't have a large audience or anything. I just substituted occasionally at a small northern Colorado station ~ but I loved it!

Like "The View"... exactly!

Sweet tea. I could go for that! Definitely!

~*

Sueb0b... Yes, I doubt it would remain sedate or sober for long. Just as long as there was no booze, I'd be comfortable. :) (Even as a former drunk, I just can't stand being around drunk people.)

~*

Peace,

~Ch

crazymumma said...

poor sick you. I would put a warm compress on your forhead and make you a broth, and rent you a movie. really. I would.

Lavender. Have I talked to you about my lavender walkway?

Amy Y said...

Great interview!

Fell better soon!

Aliki2006 said...

I love the idea of that meal, too, and Thai food is my all-time favorite!

Catherine said...

Oooh, if I'm invited, I vote for Thai food...best food on the planet...

Hope you feel better...

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Snoskred said...

Chani -

You did NaBloPoMo last year, so this year why not try NaNoWriMo and see if you can be the first Chani? Not the next someone else. ;)

I have a story idea myself which I'm thinking of writing.

You can be an author, all it takes is committing to writing, right? Could you join a writing group like Emily is in? Perhaps one on the net?

Just a thought -
Snoskred
www.snoskred.org

flutter said...

Thank you for answering me, friend! The meal sounds like a blast. I hope you feel better soon :)

Cecilio Morales said...

1) "Acceptance, beauty, community, warmth, compatibility, shared values, feeling of home."

Sounds like Bethesda, Maryland, to me.

2) Snos, you can be such a snotnose sometimes! You really could use being a better someone else, a second Chani ... nay, a third.

Snoskred said...

Err, what do you mean by that? Cecilieaux?

Snoskred