Hi peeps! It’s been a long day, I’m exhausted. No energy to be creative for TMI Tuesday so I ripped these questions (and modified) from a dating website.

Yes, I’m listening…

Jack’s Answers

1. Who has been the biggest influence in your life?
Once upon a time I would likely have said my father. We don’t always see eye to eye, but he taught me a lot about hard work and how to provide for a family. Granted, I didn’t entirely follow in his footsteps – he was a blue-collar worker whereas I’ve usually worn a white collar when I’ve worn a shirt at all – but the lessons he taught me, whether intentional or not, really stuck. However, as of right now, and presumably going forward forever, the biggest influence on my life is my daughter. Everything I do is with her in mind, because I know that my actions will invariably influence her. I know you were hoping I’d say something more exciting, such as Peter North, but there you have it.

2. What kinds of things really make you laugh?
Cerebral comedy. The films of Edward D. Wood, Jr. Dennis Miller pre-9/11. Precocious things my daughter says or does. The Onion. The Three Stooges. Monty Python. Mad Magazine in the 1980s and 1990s. My own demented sense of humor, including the occasional really funny photo inserted into a TMI Tuesday post, though I admit that, with increasing frequency, these are almost as random as a cutaway gag on Family Guy.

3. What’s your favorite place in the entire world?
Bed? I’m going to go with bed. It’s the ideal place for sleep and sex, both of which are activities I enjoy and of which I can’t get enough. While bed is not the only place for either pursuit – far from it! – beds were specifically designed for sleeping and for fucking. I can’t think of a single location doing more to engender good will than that.

4. Who is your best friend? What do you like about him/her?
I’m going with Jill. She gives me security, keeps me grounded, feeds my ego, and makes sure that I’m physically (and emotionally) satisfied. She helps me raise our daughter, takes an interest in the things that I enjoy, cooks and bakes in a way that makes it difficult for me to lose weight, and manages to keep up with me sexually, which is no easy feat. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more traditional “best friend” answer, I’ll go with some random guy from high school. Let’s call him Marty. He had a bitchin’ IROC and his older brother used to buy us beer, so I keep him around.

5. What’s your biggest goal in life right now?
To be happy. That’s all. I don’t need to retire at forty, learn to fly a plane, have a mansion on a sprawling estate, learn to use the Force, or win an Oscar. I just want to be happy (and hopefully healthy as well). It isn’t always easy, as I suffer from depression, and while it’s more or less in check, when it rears its ugly head it can be hard to focus on the positive.

6. What was your family like growing up?
Typical suburban family of three. Father was a blue-collar worker, as stated above. Mother was an administrative professional who volunteered her ass off at my school. A couple dogs, too. One large rescue dog and one smaller dog that quite literally followed my Dad home one day.

Bonus: What is one thing about you that would surprise us?
I once went sixteen months with an open warrant for my arrest.

Jill’s Answers

1. Who has been the biggest influence in your life?
My father. He’s a very positive influence on me. My father is the type of person who practices what he preaches, never fails to follow through, and when he has something worth giving, whether it’s money, food, or even time, he gives it to others. He’s always done the right thing. He makes you feel special and the center of his attention, whether you’re someone he’s known for years, or he’s meeting you for the first time. I grew up in a very large family, so he’s got lots of practice making my siblings and I feel important to him, though that’s because we always were. I’ve always felt like I could go to my father for advice, or anything that I needed.

2. What kinds of things really make you laugh?
My daughter and Jack. My students, though not necessarily intentionally. Friends, which remains one of my favorite television shows. Don’t judge.

3. What’s your favorite place in the entire world?
Ireland is pretty great. I’ve only been there a couple times, and never for as long as I would have liked, but it’s definitely one of my all-time favorite places on earth. Ireland carries with it good memories and happy times, plus overflowing pints of Guinness, often with shamrocks etched in the head. Really, though, any place where there are people I care about and I feel supported and loved is a favorite of mine. But as far as actual physical places go, I’ll choose Ireland.

4. Who is your best friend? What do you like about him/her?
Jack is my best friends. I like that I always know I can count on him. He has my best interests at heart, gives me reassurance, and will never let me down. I married him because he was a supportive, loving guy not unlike my father, whose relationship with my mother was very much the ideal for me as I grew up. While Jack’s and my marriage is not nearly as conventional as I imagine theirs is, we have just as much love between us.

5. What’s your biggest goal in life right now?
To make it to Spring Break, when I’ll get a much-deserved vacation. Actually, forget that. My goal right now, as of this minute as I’m writing this, is to make it through tonight. We’re meeting a new friend for drinks and a very likely threesome this evening, and although I’ve never had a threesome that wasn’t fun and satisfying, beforehand I’m always anxious. I worry about awkwardness, embarrassment, feelings of jealousy or negativity. I worry about having my boundaries respected. I’ve experienced enough non-monogamy with Jack to know that my fears are probably unfounded, but it’s just the way my mind works. Fortunately I know that I can count on Jack to put me first.

6. What was your family like growing up?
Growinig up, my family was crazy, loud, fun, loving, supportive, and wonderful. Even stressful at times, but usually in a good way. My immediate family was very large (that’s Catholics for you), and there was always someone you could turn to for advice, a non-judgmental ear, or otherwise for support. Whatever you needed, someone in the family could provide it. When I got older I thought I didn’t want it and tried to get away from it, but I was wrong. I couldn’t live without my family nearby.

Bonus: What is one thing about you that would surprise us?
I really can’t think of anything. This is where I go to share who I really am. However, there are plenty of things about me that would surprise those I know offline, and to whom I am arguably closest.

How to play TMI Tuesday: Copy the above TMI Tuesday questions to your webspace (i.e., a blog). Answer the questions there, then leave a comment below, on this blog post, so we’ll all know where to read your responses. Please don’t forget to link to tmituesdayblog from your website!