Asked by Samantha

Question #1: When I was younger, my family used to moved (seemingly) every year or two. We never owned the house we lived in, just rented. The house I am living in now I have lived in it since 1994, which is the longest I have ever lived in one home.

Question #2: Yes and no. I have been to college, never completed the original course (Major in Education, double minor in Music and Musical Instrument (Tuba)). Finally, I took a course at a trade school to get a diploma for Business Occupations (fancy name for a secretary). And it took me eight years to achieve that!

Question #3: hmmm… a way to access the internet without electricity? A wind-up computer? A clockwork modem?

Question #4: I don’t know if this counts. I sing at my church in the choir. I have a baritone singing voice, but in church, I sing the bass line. Earlier this year, I had that “creeping crud” that was going around and it wrecked my voice. I sounded like the kid Froggy from the Our Gang shows, with my voice going deeper and very much gravelly. Normally I wouldn’t bother singing, as my voice wouldn’t carry much in that state. One night at church, we were singing some of my favorite hymns, and I decided, “Why not?” I started singing, since I was in the congregation and not in the choir. I don’t even remember the name of the song, but I ended up singing the bass part one octave lower than the written music part (that’s really low singing, for those that don’t know anything about music). And I was singing my part at full volume! The looks I got could be summed up in one word: “WOW!” They never heard me sing that low before. And to be honest, never did I. Since then, I have been asked to do that again, and I have had to explain that it was a fluke of the sickness I had at the time. Would have been nice to be able to keep it, though.

Whew! Sorry about being long winded, but you asked for it, right?

(mdedmon)

1. Have you moved around a lot or have you lived your whole life in pretty much the same area? I’m a native Texan and lived there my whole life. I moved a few times within the state, but in 2004, my husband & I moved to Pensacola FL for his job. It sucks and we’re waiting for the perfect opportunity to escape.

2. Have you gone to college? If so, what did you major in? If not, have you considered going later in life? Yes – Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Tx. Music Theatre Performance Major. Singer, Actor & Dancer… Now I’m a Network Engineer. I design/install/maintain computer networks. I do the theatre stuff after hours for fun.

3. If you could invent something useful, what would you invent? Universal wall plugs that have A/C & D/C connections. All devices could be plugged into the wall without having to carry around those stupid power bricks for every device on the planet.

4. Have you ever surprised yourself by doing something that you thought you couldn’t? Would you suggest someone else try it?
Yes 2 things:

1) Sky Diving! Jumping out of a plane alone & by myself was the most exhilarating thing I’ve ever done and was the greatest experience of my life. WOW!

2) I’ve started drawing – I’ve never drawn in my life and I’m just starting to play with it. It’s scary as hell, but I’m trying and finding another piece of that artistic puzzle that is me…

Your story and art inspire me!

Thanks, Mikey

1. Have you moved around a lot or have you lived your whole life in pretty much the same area?
Dad was in the Air Force (USA) so we moved a few times while I was growing up . . I’ve lived in NC, OK, AK, MD, TN (college) and TX (back with parents). The longest was . . oh . . about 8 years in OK. Never had many friends or much contact with relatives so I’ve never put down any real roots. Makes it a bit hard for me to understand how important they can be to others o.o

2. Have you gone to college? If so, what did you major in? If not, have you considered going later in life?
Spent about four years in two different colleges. Major changed from English to General Ed . . had a bit of theater in there too <3 Never graduated though, troubles with my medication made me . . hmm . . unsuited for college life. But overall, I’ve had some really good times at school.

3. If you could invent something useful, what would you invent?
Some sort of LCD panel or interactive tattoo that would go on your arm and display if you’re dehydrated, need any vitamins, need less salt in your diet, etc . . with a psychedelic screensaver based on your biorhythms
4. Have you ever surprised yourself by doing something that you thought you couldn’t? Would you suggest someone else try it?
Talked to a guy in my transfer-student orientation meeting. He looked a bit lost, so I went over and said hi. (I’m pretty shy, so this was a shocker.) He’s one of my two best friends now – we just clicked :3 I was surprised at how easy it was to talk to him.

1. Have you moved around a lot or have you lived your whole life in pretty much the same area?
We seemed to move around quite a bit when I was child. I went to 6 different schools from 1st to 12th grades. My family moved to a small Delta town in Mississippi when I was in 8th grade, and my parents are still there 27 years later. My husband and I have only lived in 2 places since we’ve been together – Greenville, MS and Caledonia, MS.

2. Have you gone to college? If so, what did you major in? If not, have you considered going later in life?
Yes to both. I have a BS in History that I earned at 22. Loved the subject matter, but had no idea what to do with it, so I got my Master’s in Accounting at 35 after my 3rd baby was born, and I was working part-time. Best thing I ever did.

3. If you could invent something useful, what would you invent?
Something that would make cords disappear! I hate all the cables that hang from my TV (though my husband does a good job of hiding them), and all the cords associated with my desk top computer. I don’t know what I want done with them, just know that I don’t want to have to look at them.

4. Have you ever surprised yourself by doing something that you thought you couldn’t? Would you suggest someone else try it?
Eating alone in a restaurant. I know that sounds silly, but I have always been very introverted and very self-conscious, so the thought of going into a place by myself and eating alone was terrifying. However, I managed to do it and was so proud of myself.

To Mike Dedmon – why do you hate Pensacola? My family just returned from Pensacola Beach a few weeks ago from vacation and loved the area. I’m sure that living there is different than vacationing there, but it seemed like a really great place. Just curious!

1. Have you moved around a lot or have you lived your whole life in pretty much the same area?
When I was young lad we didn’t move at all from Galway, Ireland (being from a farming background), but when I became a “young adult” I moved to Dublin (also in Ireland) to study animation for 3 years which also included a internship at Aardman (of Wallace & Gromit fame). This was then trown down the crapper when I went to London to do comics. I later moved back to Galway and now have a studio (of sorts) here.

2. Have you gone to college? If so, what did you major in? If not, have you considered going later in life?
I went to Ballyfermot collage of animation in Dublin, I learnt studied 2D animation on preference with some stop motion. I was alright at it but nothing special (my best friend went to Pixar…. needless to say I was jealous and glad for the guy)

3. If you could invent something useful, what would you invent?
A device which could sketch out the pictures perfectly out of your head. Would remove the final barrier of the artist.

4. Have you ever surprised yourself by doing something that you thought you couldn’t? Would you suggest someone else try it?
First thing that comes to mind is fathering a not (very) hyperactive child but I have to say the most thing that surprised me that I did is pushing a friend out of the way of a bus. I have no idea where such courage came from but the bus stopped thankfully so I was ok. Still shocks me to this day that I did it. Would I recommend someone to do this?… I dunno ;P

1. A bit of both. Went to college in Maryland, lived in Japan, but very much in the same region of western NY state on either side.

2. Yep, and I majored in English. Creative Writing, to be precise. Or, as some may call it, unemployment.

3. Oh, I dug that time turner Hermione had…

4. I try to challenge myself at a lot of things. Sometimes I succeed. Making it to Japan felt like a success. Finding a wonderful wife felt amazing. Being a good dad. Making comics. I’d recommend it all