The Saturday Nine

1. Has anyone in your life talked in their sleep?


Oh, God. Tripp and I both do. Tripp says hilarious stuff, and you can draw him into conversations by asking him questions. VERY entertaining.

2. What do you like about fall?

The colors of the leaves. The crisp air. Chilly beaches, memories of pulling in the net at Caswell Beach and finding it full of spots.


3. Do you have an addictive personality?


Terribly so! I will get on kicks of eating certain things and I'll eat it every day or every couple of days for weeks. I get in little crazes about something and I'll find out every possible thing I can about them. It's a miracle I never got addicted to anything really illicit, I guess!

4. Who was the last person to do something extra special for you?

My husband Tripp. He made me pancakes twice this week. :)

5. Would you ever take someone back if they cheated on you?

I have, and it was absolutely the worst thing I could have done. Therefor, I would find it very difficult to do it again, but if it were Tripp...I'd feel awfully betrayed, but I probably would. Feb. 11 we will have been married 21 years. It would be wrong to throw that away.

6. Are you happy with where you are in life?

Eh...I guess. Without going into a lot of detail here, I'd like to move on to a high school English position next year.I have a friend and even a relative at Terry Sanford High, which is where Bryant is graduating from next June. I'd love to teach there.

7. Do you believe that you can change someone?

Not entirely. Believing you can change someone to make them a suitable mate is ridiculous. But it is possible that people will change by being influenced by someone, good or bad. I've seen it happen with good kids who get involved with bad ones. I've also seen it go the other way, happily.

8. Have you ever wished you could've had someone but you couldn't?

Yes. Leave it at that............wha'd you have to bring THAT up for? Geez.

9. Would you ever fight someone over your significant other?

How, as in a battle over his affection? NO. I might beat some ho. But not so he could sit back and gloat and go "That's right, ladies. There's enough to go around!" Now, to protect him? Oh yes. I'll fight someone to protect anyone I love, and we know I'll always cuss somebody out for someone I love.

The Saturday Nine

1. What celebrity would you just want to shake some sense into?

Shit, who don't I want to shake?
Let's start with an old favorite:


She's crazy, Brad. C R A Z Y. Nuts. GTFO, and take your genetic kids with you. I'm not saying desert your adopted kids. Just take your blood with you.

2. What do you think comes after death?

Heaven or Hell or Purgatory. I also think that there are unfortunates who are stuck in between. These are called ghosts.


3. What is the first book that you can remember reading by yourself as a child?

Black Beauty. I was obsessed with horses as a kid. I don't remember a time when I could not read. The first memory I have of reading was going to the beach, standing on the front seat of our 88 Oldsmobile (as you did back in the Sixties) and reading the sign on Long Beach Road for the Red and White. I must have been three or four. I did not realize at the time that reading would become one of the passions of my life, and indeed the foundation of my career.

4. What was the first rock concert that you attended?

Rock? Oh, duuude! I truly, truly cannot remember. I daresay I have been to about 300 concerts in my time. One of the first would be Wild Cherry, who I saw in 1975 at the waterfront in Southport, NC at the 4th of July Festival.

I can tell you the best rock concerts I have ever been to: Stabbing Westward, July 1998. That was the first time I ever saw them, and there was a HUGE buildup in Wanda's and my mind. Let me just say there was no disappointment. Ozzfest 08/01 Walnut Creek Pavilion Raleigh, NC, with Tool. Non-rock concert would totally be Steve Martin, August 27th, 1979. The next night he did his last standup show ever. E V A R. It was one of the most perfect nights of my life, honest to God.



5. If you were to suddenly become famous, would you choose a stage name? If yes, what would it be?

I would so totally still be Marisa Bryant English. If you could imagine how many times I have dreamed that name on the cover of a published novel, you'd understand.



6. What is the one thing that you wish the media would stop talking about?

Freaking Swine Flu, or H1N1. It's always something, like Rosanne Rosannadanna used to say.

7. If you could be part of any band, which one would it be and who would you be and why?

Well. we'd have to reform Stabbing Westward and I would totally be Chris Hall.



8. Do you live close to your immediate family members? If not, how far away are they?

I live next door to my momma, daddy, sister, and aunt. My parents and my aunt are all in their eighties and need our help. My sister lives with my parents and helps take care of them, which is a debt I can never repay to her.

9. Last seasonal question (promise): What did you do on New Year's Eve?

I played a VERY bad game of



Andy whipped my ass and everyone else's, but he cheated.

2010

Man, I never imagined being in this year.

When I was a kid, I used to think about 2000, and marvel at how I'd be 36 on that fateful New Year's eve. I used to ponder who would still be alive; never considering who would be new in the world, like my own son.

I didn't even get crazy last night, and I slept from about 3 AM to 12. I fell back asleep when Tripp took a nap about 3 PM and slept 'til six. I guess my Hell-raising days are behind me now!

I have not made any resolutions. Really never have. I hope this year is better. I plan on visiting a psychiatrist this year to get on the right drug or mix of drugs to straighten me out once and for all. What had worked for a long time is no longer helpful. I've been dealing with emotional illness, depression, and anxiety disorder for over twenty years and I don't intend to spend the rest of whatever time I have left feeling the same ways.I owe it to myself and my family (especially my son).