23 April 2008

Questions Round 3

So, here we are, day three of the CofaCMG question/answer session. Thanks for participating everyone! Today's thought-provoking questions come from Momma, author of Poetic License. Her questions are:

1) If you could do any one thing to make the world a better place, what would it be?

2) If you were a superhero, what would your name and power be?

3) What is the other path your life might have taken?

Nah, you guys aren't making this difficult or anything. Not at all. I mean, you're wanting me to think and stuff. Jeez.

OK, here goes:

1) Let our kids be kids. Treat them with respect but also with discipline. Educate them (reading, writing, arithmetic, manners) and don't allow them to be brainwashed by a cult of personality/religion/government. If they have owies, give them hugs and kisses (this includes teachers - this whole "We can't hug or kiss the child because that could be construed as sexual harassment" argument is bullshit). If they have concerns and fears, listen to them. Talk to them and treat them as you would an adult because that is what they will be someday. But also give them order. If there is no order, no consistency, then there is pure chaos and that's when you end up with the holy terror. By following those simple steps for the next few generations, I think we could have a planet filled with a population of well-adjusted human beings. It all comes down to our kids. If they're brought up in an atmosphere of fear, hate, and misinformation, then they will become fearful, hateful, uneducated Michael Bolton listeners.

OK, that last part? About Michael Bolton? Made that up.

*Stepping down off the soap box.*

2) This one is easy. My nickname among my friends is Super Geek. So, I would be Super Geek, bringing sci-fi and comics to the masses! Plus? I would be able to fly and make myself invisible. Yep, that's me! And? Solve all world problems with the quadratic equation.

3) If I had followed my education rather than my heart, I would probably have a Ph.D. in physics, specifically plasma physics and aeronomic research. I would be teaching/researching right now and/or trying my damnedest to get a spot in a NASA astronaut class. I did a summer of undergraduate research in the above field and my advisor wanted me to return for my masters and Ph.D. studies. Instead, I followed my heart (a.k.a. Ty-man) and became a wife, technical writer, and mother. I can't imagine my life any other way!

14 comments:

RiverPoet said...

Oh, well done! Super Geek it is!

And I am with you on #1. We have completely screwed up the way we raise children in our country. We might as well be putting them into Communist day care: no hugs, no coddling, just lots of pushing to be adults before they are ready. At the other end of the extreme are permissive parents, trying to reason with little Walter in line at the checkout.

Q#3: I've often wondered what you *might* have done with your degree. Being the first in my entire large family to get a degree, I feel a bit of pressure to achieve. I wondered if you felt that, too. And girl? I didn't know you were a technical writer! ME, too! We must chat...

Peace - D

Unknown said...

Super Geek works, but I like Wonder Biatch better. :-)

The Ferryman said...

Aren't female geeks "Geekettes" or "Geekesses"?

Donna said...

Oh yes, touch is so important . . . and so forgotten. And kids being kids? Yeah, mine drives me crazy - bouncing off the walls - but I'm so glad he's active very much a child. I've gotten flack for considering not sending him to school this year because I fear conforming him to regular routine of school at 3 is just going to break his spirit - and I'm not ready for that.

Oh, and the whole school thing, it's amazing what's sacrificed without second thought (sorta).
Hey, school will still be there in a few years.

Liz Hill said...

I have to agree on the kid thing and Super Geek is a great name!

Avitable said...

Super-Geek is coincidentally the name I use for you when I have wet dreams at night.

Not Afraid to Use It said...

Great answers, Heather! I love the Super Geek in you.

And as for your other path in life. Damn woman. You put all of us to shame.

Ok, Where Was I? said...

Like your answers. Super geeks are hot! Ok, I just read your comments and apparently avitable agrees. If you had a PhD in physics, you might not have a blog b/c you'd be doing a bunch of physicsy stuff--good choice!

Coal Miner's Granddaughter said...

Momma - Yes, tons of pressure! My dad wanted me to get at least a Masters, something I have yet to do. Someday... And tech writing? It was a natural fit!

Teri - Hee hee!

Fab - Geek-gurls, baby!

Donna - Public schools today completely tick me off. There's no rhyme or reason to what the administrators do.

Turnbaby - Woo hoo! Thanks, hon!

Avitable - Wow. I have no response... :-)

NATUI - The shame part is I look back at the plasma physics paper I co-authored in 1993 and it is just beyond me...

OK, Where Was I? - Well, I probably would have a blog but it would be boring-as-hell physics stuff! :-)

Avitable said...

Hah! I dumbfounded you!

Gypsy said...

Great questions AND answers.

Coal Miner's Granddaughter said...

Avitable - Not for long! :-)

Gypsy - Thanks hon!

highlander1463 said...

Cool post Heather. Do you teach calculus? I could use the help with my physics degree.

-P

Coal Miner's Granddaughter said...

highlander1463 - Thanks, hon! Um, wish I did teach it. I'm so rusty with it, I'm falling apart! :-)