Bipolar Questions Version 5

cats

favorite breakfast food

Parrots. [bpcyclist, my husband is still only about 1/4 of the way through Infinite Jest after about five years of it being his "swim hole reading material". He only reads it then, and usually falls asleep with the book open, while sunning himself. He inevitably rereads part of it each year. He likes the book, but the finish day will seemingly be sometime in the indefinite future. The task will go on for infinity.]

Q: What was the longest amount of time it took for you to finish a book?

Unless my mood is out of control I usually read pretty fast. When things are off it can take a very long time. I've been working on one book for over a year but haven't touched it in 6 months. My interest in it just grows and lapses but someday I'll finish it.

Has your therapist ever given or loaned you a book?

Yes. I thought it was going to offer a more enlightened view on a topic I was interested in. However, it reiterated some of what I believe to be some of the most self harming and defeatist beliefs of the modern age. I was really sad and hoped my therapist no longer believed in the passages she highlighted. At least she didn't recommend it to me. I saw it and it caught my eye and I asked to borrow it.

What is one of your core beliefs that has added great value to your life?

Love and being as is

Favourite song by Dire Straits
(or Mark Knopfler ?

No. They (therapists who judged as “a success” or not after 6 sessions.....) did have very self harming and defeatist beliefs though

I was reading a book called “the positive bear” and after a particularly traumatic session when he said I was not making “significant” progress I came home and tore the books up

Do you think dreams are real?

Hi Fuzzybear. Night dreams? No, they're not real. Daydreams? Not real, either. Dreams of achieving or having certain things or reaching certain goals? Yes, they are real.

I'm not saying that night-time or daydreams aren't influenced by things in life (i.e. stress), but they aren't real. I, personally, don't believe they should be regarded as premonitions. I do, however, think that certain dreams, especially recurring dreams, could be helpful to analyze in some Freudian manner. Perhaps that could help to stop them, if they are unpleasant. Just my thoughts on the topic.

Q: What song makes you think of happier times? And why?

Holiday

scorpions - when Papa bear and I used to visit a seaside place ...

Question, favourite concert you’ve been to

Favorite Concert: It's a toss-up between Elton John (1995) and Paul McCartney (2017)

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor?

Macadamia nut Haagen Dazs.

Do you think you could be a vegan?

No. I truly doubt I could manage veganism. I do think I could manage becoming a vegetarian, but I wouldn't fully like it. Once my psychiatrist suggested I try eating two of three daily meals vegan, in order to lower my cholesterol. It didn't last more than 48 hours. Part of the reluctance also stems from my love of cooking and baking. To become a vegan, I would have to overhaul that to a distressing degree. I remember trying to search for gourmet vegan meal options, and coming up with none. Zero! I can and have made wonderful vegetarian dishes. Another issue would be my husband's garlic allergy and his slight pickiness about food. There are some veggies he won't eat. He doesn't care much for beans, either. He's a bona fide Czech man. He likes meat and cheese! Both of these complement beer and wine, too. Also, I like dairy a lot. I tried those milk and cheese substitutes and they SUCKED, in my book. If it is all a matter of vegans disliking the abuse of egg-laying chickens and milk-producing cows, then I would support increasing the cost of these products so that these animals could live in a pleasant environment. I'm all for buying local, and eating less meat each week. My brother raises chickens, and they are the happiest chickens in the NY-NJ-PA tri-state area, as long as fox or hawk doesn't get them. [I can't force them into veganism.] I don't feel bad taking chicken's eggs. The chickens don't mind giving them up. They told me that, and I speak "chicken". If for some reason something happens on earth that people are forced into veganism, I hope it happens after I kick the bucket. By the way, my psychiatrist is neither a vegan nor vegetarian.

Q: What is your favorite healthful meal? And your favorite not so healthful meal?

A: Healthy stir-fry Unhealthy (at the moment): Pizza with pineapple

Q: Do you have social commitments or is socialization random?

A: I do so little socialization as to make it really negligible. I am currently in a financial straightjacket and have almost no friends. So, I keep myself busy. It's fine. I'm good by myself. It's no problem. I've always felt alone, anyway. I'd much rather have one solid friend than twenty crappy ones.

Q: Best concert of all time for you? (Mine, probably, maybe, uh, Whitney Houston, before she got sick--incredible!!!)

I have never (and will never) go to a concert

I don't like crowds

what is one thing you want to do but are scared of doing it

Moving to France.

Q: Do you enjoy driving or long drives (even as a passenger)?

We used to drive from Portland to West Texas over three days every summer when I was little. Those trips were kind of fun, seeing the country, on the road. So, yeah I think I do enjoy long drives.

Q: Do you like country music at all?

MASSIVE no on that. Can't stand it.

Do you like to ride (if you ever have, I haven't) scooters?

*********
Mr. Robot

Makes me sick to the heart, Oh I feel so tired. And the way the rain comes down hard, that's how I feel inside.

--The Cure

I have never ridde a scooter, which is funny, as we have 8 trillion of them in this city.

Q: What countries in Europe are your favorites to visit?

I've never been to,Europe. I'd love to see Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands, France...

Have you ever been out of the country you live in?

Yes, I've been to numerous countries and loved all of them

Question: Do you have a best friend?