Okley-dokley, tonight, I'm a little frustrated with the whole lack of a job and lack of book sales thing. So in order to dismantle my inner time bomb, I thought I'd play a little game.

Imagine you're asleep, and once you awake, you find yourself face to face with St. Peter at the pearly gates. St. Pete sees the
frightened look on your face and immediately puts his hand on your shoulder, calming you. He leads you away from the pearly gates to the most beautiful park you have ever seen. He motions for you to sit down, and asks if you would like something to drink. Since the environment around you is already intoxicating, you ask for a glass of iced tea. St. Peter gladly grants your wish.

At this point, St. Peter begins telling you that you have been given an opportunity that people have only blogged about: You are allowed to see five people - from any time in history - either one on one or all together... but you can only ask each person one question.

Who do you ask to see, and what do you ask them?

This is a prettty tough one for me. In fact, my answer could change on a daily basis. Nonetheless, I'll give it a shot:

"Sir," I would say after much thought... "I would like to meet Pope John Paul II."

After JPII walks in, I would try really really hard not to ask him if he'd like a glass of iced tea, or if he was comfortable, or something like that. I would eagerly look him in the eye, hoping to glimpse the soul of a modern day saint.

"What do you feel," I'd ask his holiness, "is the most admirable trait to have as a human being?"

And I'd hope like hell that I had a pad of paper and pencil available. Oh yeah, and I'd hope that I could understand the language he spoke to me in!

My next guest might be Leonardo DaVinci.

"What would you say was the secret(s) of your success?" I'd ask him.

Once I gained some of Leonardo's insight, I'd have St. Peter bring Winston Churchill over.

And my question for him would be "What makes a great leader?"

With Albert Einstein, I'd ask what his greatest accomplishment was.

My last one is somewhat of a copout. It would be extremely difficult for me to be with a friend or family member who had passed on, and only be able to ask them one question. I would want to talk for hours and hours. Days and days. And I'd want to laugh and cry and swap story after story.

That said, I'd probably ask to see my dad's mother. She's been on my mind lately, and I would like to ask her to tell me my family's history - from her point of view.

It might not be fair to ask such a question, but hey, it's my game!

And then, when I awake, I hope the answers to my questions are exactly what I need to become re-inspired... and employed.

in the CD player:
"Roxy Music", by Roxy Music
"Hinterland" by Strange Cargo
"Insides" by Orbital
"Ricochet" by Tangerine Dream