1) Friday was April Fool's Day. Did you pull any pranks? Did anyone put anything over on you? I suppose I pulled a prank on myself but gorging on chocolate and giving myself a tummy ache. (I'm an idiot.)
2) The practice of playing tricks on one another on April 1 dates back at least to the 14th century and Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales includes a mention of it. Geoffrey Chaucer has been called England's greatest poet. Quote a bit of poetry for us. (It doesn't have to be English, or great.) Eeny meeny minie moe. Catch a tiger by the toe. If he hollers, let him go. Eeny meeny minie moe. My mother told me to pick the very best one and that is you.
3) Beatle Paul is a huge Elvis fan and is happy to own the bass that was played on Elvis' 1954 recording of "That's All Right, Mama." Tell us about one of your prized possessions. A ceramic cable car that once sat on my grandfather's night table. It wasn't a toy -- he used it to store his tie clasps, cuff links and licorice throat lozenges -- but he let me play with it (good grandfathers are like that). It's now perched high atop one of my bookcases.
4) In contrast to his easygoing persona, Sir Paul has been described by former band mate Ringo Starr as strong willed and "determined to get his own way." Do you consider yourself strong willed and determined? Or are you more easy going? I can be rather willful at work. Outside the office I can be too easy going. Recently I found myself apologizing to someone after busting them for hurting my feelings. I'm pissed at myself for that.
5) The Beatles once bought a Greek island, planning to live and record there, but sold it after a few months because it started to seem like a bad, expensive idea. Tell us about a purchase that gave you buyer's remorse. This futon. It was so pretty when it was new. And it seemed like a good idea -- a sofa whose cover I can just launder. But it hasn't worn well at all and looks like shit now.
6) Legend has it that the Beatles officially broke up in Disney World. John Lennon was staying at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort when he received and signed the court papers that dissolved the group. Have you ever conducted business while on vacation? Back when I was ambitious and had a career -- as opposed to the job I have now -- I was a bit too into it. About 12 years ago, before cell phones, my friends in the Keys caught me on the end of the pier, checking in at the office from a pay phone.
7) George Harrison loved puttering around in the garden and dedicated his autobiography to "gardeners everywhere." Do you have a green thumb? I don't have a yard, so I'm no gardener. But I am the proud mom to an office philodendron that just keeps growing ... and growing ... and growing. We have taken to calling her Audrey, after the real star of Little Shop of Horrors.
8) Ringo regrets not having saved more Beatles memorabilia, which he realizes now would be worth a fortune. Are you a pack rat? Dear God, yes! Right now I'm trying to winnow out my personal library, and parting with books I know I'll never read again causes me almost physical pain.
9) Random question: Which do you prefer, Girl Scout cookies or Boy Scout popcorn? Girl Scout cookies. Especially the peanut butter sandwiches.
