1. Who has authority over you? My parents.
2. Where do you go to get a feeling of community? Online with my Richard Marx pals and some of the other cool Bloggers I've met. 
3. What do you do, or have you done, in your life that "goes against the tide?" Um, my entire high school life could be this. 
4. Guilt can be a powerful weapon. Those who have mastered its power can very good at getting what they want. Have you ever used guilt to get you what you want? Have you ever had it used on you? How did you react? *seals lips shut*
5. I was walking through the mall Friday night and saw a lot of teenagers who dressed really wild and just acted like idiots - not caring who was looking or what others thought. And I remember being that way, having that kind of freedom. I must have looked like a fool then too. Did you ever do anything in public with your friends as a teenager that you would never do today? Tell me about that. Ok, when I was 15, my friend, Melanie, and I would make prank phone calls to people's answering machines. Until one guy caught us and was an ass about it all. And yes, there's ways you can be strict without being an ass. I know we were in the wrong but at 15, you want to have fun with your friends. You'll do what you have to do.
6. I don't watch the television show "Survivor," but I did notice they allow each contestant to bring one "luxury item" to the deserted island with them (make-up, a book, etc.). If you were to go to an island for three months, what five "luxury items" would you bring and why? A solar powered CD/MP3 player with a battery backup built in, a MP3 disc of all my favorite songs (MP3 since you can have more data on a disk than CD music files. ), a water filter, a month supply of toliet paper, and baseball equipment. 
7. If you would have had a choice, in which time period would you have like to have lived? Why?Ok, maybe have moved my birthday two years back. I seemed to be grouped with kids born in 1976/1977/early 1978 except when it came to school, I was grouped with the 1979/1980 kids. Heck, I would have been happy born in early 1978. And I know it's not much of an age difference but personality wise, there is a hugh gap between the two age groups. But give up the life I live with running water and video games? Nah, not for me. 
BONUS: Where do you dare me to draw the line? Here will be fine!
Posted by Shawn at September 30, 2002 11:17 AM in Monday Mission.
1. No one has authority over me. You always have choices and with those choices come certain responsibilities. I chose to come to my mother's house to live for two years so I could concentrate on training. With that choice comes certain responsibilities. I don't like it but I do it cuz I see the bigger picture. No one MAKES me study, do homework or respect the law(i hate the word obey. i obey no one and i answer to no one!). if i want to be a productive member of society, i do what i can to avoid landing my ass in jail. that's how i see it, anyway. but real 'authority'? F*** authority.
2. I feel a sense of community on the track. Even though everyone's doing their own thing, about 99% of the people will smile at you and make you feel like you belong there, whether you are a newbie or seasoned athlete. A smile from a runner--male or female--can go so far.
3. At age 5, I could think for myself and had already established my own faith and guidelines by which to conduct my life and constantly questioned everything and defied everyone. That does not fly in a fundamentally religious household! So I was basically always a rebel. I got punished severely for it, every single day of my childhood and here I am, battle-scarred but still holding fast to my belief system. I can assure you, tell me not to do something and just to piss you off, I will do it. Likewise, ask me to do something and if I don't think I want to, I will stand in place and stare you down and say "F*** no. Do it yourself." This is different in any situation where I have certain roles to fill in a position--professional or personal. If I do something, it's because I want to or I think it will bring joy to the person I'm doing it for or it would keep me from getting fired and so forth. But I only choose to do something(or not to do something) if I know I will be satisfied with the outcome.
3. Guilt is a powerful weapon. I try not to use it(I have before and it doesn't make me feel good) However I grew up with it being used on me constantly. I know how that feels; maybe that's why I tend to avoid guilt-tripping anyone.
4. I've never done anything that's disrespectful or destructive to someone else or their property(no egging, no TPing, no prank calls, etc). I wouldn't want it done to me. I've done things that friends have found insanely funny--most of 'em dares that involved possible danger to myself-- but not at the expense of another person or their property. I am NOT mean.
5. Well, I wouldn't be on an island for 3 months, that's for sure!
6. Whatever time period(distant future, if ever!)brings me and my best friend together, sharing our lives under one roof...lol!! he's just the best!! Seriously though, I am living in a pretty great time period. I no longer fear for my life, wondering if i will make it through the night, the next day or even my next birthday. That to me is more than enough, not to mention all the wonderful things going for me right now(added bonus).
Bonus: Draw the line anywhere that prevents you from asking another goddamn Survivor-ish question!
