Ask me anything! (I 'm ready for some attention.)

[MaryBear]

[Sanity Claws]

1. How did you pick your screen name?

Are you related to Panda Bear?

[MaryBear]

6. It was a process

I liked "mama bear" but I think that was taken

so I went with "grandma bear" but somehow people knew I was old - not that being old is not ok but i like being a little more age-neutral

so I changed to "MaryBear" because it includes part of my name.

I like the soft cuddly ferocious female bear image. Recently learned of gay connection for this image and choose to keep it for my own.

No relation to panda or other bear at DU so far as I know.

[ThomCat]

23. Most of the Bears at DU are guys.

But I'm sure you're a very wonderful bear too. :P

[MaryBear]

25. In fact, I am a marvelous bear.

When meegbear was in SF, he told me about the guybear imagery. I claim the female bear image: soft, cuddly, ferocious.

[ThomCat]

31. Awesome.

:hug: I'll now remember you whenever I see discussions by/about bears. :7

[MaryBear]

33. Remember me in a good way.

ThomCat what is your name about?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

37. i named him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:bounce: :bounce:

[MaryBear]

39. Do tell

all!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

41. well he need to add to his postcount...so i'll wait till he tells...

[ThomCat]

70. And somehow I broke 600 today

I've posted 150 times in the past week and a half. Though I have no idea how I managed that.

I'm just not that talkative. :)

[ThomCat]

45. It was a gift from LionessPriyanka.

My first DU ID was just my first initial, last name. It was boring, and awkward when making introductions at meetups.

I put up a poll to have people help me pick a new one. Priyanka suggested ThomCat. It's a classic name and I'm a cat person (I've always said that I want to come back in my next life as one of my own cats.) So it fit, and I've been ThomCat ever since.

[ThomCat]

46. Awww. She told you first.

I type too slowly, and I'm at work.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

48. but i didnt give her the whole story....

i waited so you could add to yourpost count...


how are your cats by the way?

[ThomCat]

50. Fat, lazy and very happy.

Just as all cats should be. :D


Do you still have any of those adorable kittens? I don't even know if you have any cats right now? I meant to tell you that I'm SO glad you're still in NYC.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

i have a more specific wish for my next life,

i want to be a lap cat to a dyke... (i.e. i clearly envy my cats)

[ThomCat]

57. LOL!

That is rather specific.

Woman have boobs that cats can knead their claws into. I deprive my cats of that I suppose. But I don't know if they really care about my sexuality.

Mine can't even figure out gender (except for the missing boobs). They're convinced that I'm Mom.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

59. so hope they have had the option to say "go mom!"

a lot lately :evilgrin:

[ThomCat]

63. Not nearly often enough, but occasionally!

:blush:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

65. yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!

go thomcat!!!!!!!!


:bounce:

[MaryBear]

60. At least they know a good thing

when they sit on it -- boobs or no. May the mother in us all be welcome and welcoming.

[MaryBear]

51. Any other connotations

to the name that apply?

[ThomCat]

61. A few. :)

I definitely sing as horribly as a Tom cat.
I'm definitely cuddly and a little bit furry.
I've been known to be as randy as a Tom cat.
But I don't play the field the way Toms do.

[MaryBear]

64. any particular reason

for last one?

[ThomCat]

68. 2 reasons.

Nobody would ever believe this, but too shy. As much as I talk, and as social as I can be, I freeze up around the guys I'm interested in.

I walk with crutches. I've been told in bars and clubs, point blank, that I'm broken so I should just go home. That kind of thing makes you appreciate the people you do connect with, so I never, ever cheat.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

72. any man who has you in his life

is a very lucky man....

there are some people who just exist to bring other joy, you are one of those. i can spot them (and then keep track of them)..its a very very rare trait

i know only one other person like that, my friend mark, sadly he is in australia

[ThomCat]

84. See below.

I've recently joined the ranks of the Bi.

[MaryBear]

75. Whowee! Good thing they didn't hide their feelings!

Couldn't feel good in the moment but imagine if they didn't tell you and led you on.

Why crutches?

Are you connected now?



edited for typo

[ThomCat]

83. Yes and no.

It's good know know up front who the @ssholes are, but still...

I was in an industrial accident 15 years ago that messed up my knees. On good days I only need a cane. On bad days, or when I expect to be on my feet a lot I need the crutches.

I am currently seeing someone. It's very odd to say this, but I have a girlfriend at the moment. (Why does that feel like I'm coming out again?) One of my oldest friends from College.

She got sick of my bad luck with guys and decided it was time to jump me for a while. :blush:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

85. same thouight applies. and i know what the coming out again feels like.

are your cats confused?

[MaryBear]

89. Holly Near

has a funny routine about coming out as lesbian and then as with a man.

[CottonBear]

27. Did you know I'm another girl DU bear?

I too, did not know of the gay connection until after I'd joined DU. :eyes: Oops! (No offense to our beloved DU guy bears :loveya: )

My name is taken from my filly's barn name (Cotton) and the Bear shaped cookie jar that I save change in to pay for Cotton's upkeep. The jar is called the "Cotton Bear!" Also, my hubby's nickname is "Bear" which is taken from his unsusal French first name.

[MaryBear]

28. hurray for female bears!

[ThomCat]

49. That is cool!

I joined a co-ed fraternity in college, and the women in my pledge class named me pooks because they said I was as cute as a pookie bear. I almost picked that as a name but I think it was taken.

I didn't realize we have such a community of bears here. :P

[CottonBear]

55. I like the name Pookiebear! Cute!

:hi: :)

[MaryBear]

62. Me too. Interesting contrast

pookie bear thom cat

[taterguy]

2. How many CDs / albums do you own?

[MaryBear]

7. Not enough!

[miss_american_pie]

3. What are you going to have for dinner?

[MaryBear]

8. Today is not my day to cook,

but herstory tells me it will be chicken.

[LeftyMom]

4. How is Gus today?

:hi:

[MaryBear]

9. Hey!

You outed my dog! Gus is just fine.

Oops! I outed my dog! You didn't say Gus is a dog!

[LeftyMom]

13. Well, whoever outed him,

could you give him a little scratch behind the ears from me?

[MaryBear]

14. Can you tell me

how to post a pic?

[LeftyMom]

16. Sure

The easiest way is to create an account at photobucket, upload it there and then paste the first link that will show up under the photo on your page there into your DU post.

[MaryBear]

73. OK I did that but now how

do I get the actual pic to show here?

[LeftyMom]

76. Okay, you have the pic on photobucket?

There should be three links under the photo. Copy the first one and paste it into a message here.

[MaryBear]

79. ok but i just see url - hey! it worked

[LeftyMom]

80. oh look, it's Gus!

:D

[MaryBear]

105. Er,

yes. Maintaining anonymity is hard with a creature like this. Come on over and he'll arf when you leave, LM.

[edbermac]

5. What is the Meaning of Life?

[MaryBear]

10. Well, give me a minute

and I'll tell you.

But first, define "meaning."

[mwooldri]

82. Well, The Ultimate Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything is...

42. But any Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy fan should know that one.

[MaryBear]

90. Um. Is this a test?

[cassandra uprising]

11. Do you have a favorite poet?

If so, who?

[MaryBear]

21. not so much a favorite poet as

a favorite form -- haiku

and i am not particularly knowledgeable about poetry -- i found it boring when i was supposed to learn about it in school

-- but i like my own work (she said shyly) at least some of it.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

12. What is the wingspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

[MaryBear]

15. About the same

as its body speed.

[cassandra uprising]

18. .

:spray:

I was thinking of that same quote but I couldn't remember what kind of swallow.

[4morewars]

20. An African swallow...

or a European swallow ?

[Michigander4Dean]

17. Going hunting with Dick Cheney soon? nt

[MaryBear]

22. was that hunting with

or hunting for?

[4morewars]

19. Ever been to a Grateful Dead show ?

If so, how many ? And did you like it ?

[MaryBear]

24. i never have and wish i had

their music grew on me over time

[ThomCat]

26. Is it Friday yet?

I'm already waiting for the weekend.

[MaryBear]

32. sorry ThomCat

It is only Wednesday but that is good because by Friday this thread will be long gone! Are you in California?

[ThomCat]

34. I'm in NYC.

But if all goes well, I'll be back in California visiting SF and San Jose later this year.

[MaryBear]

38. Well, be in touch and we'll have a DU get together.

[ThomCat]

53. You got it!

:thumbsup:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

29. tell me something truly odd about yourself

[MaryBear]

35. Truly odd?

Well, I tend to hang on to caring about people for years and years even when I don't see them

[CottonBear]

30. Are you a native California girl? n/t

[MaryBear]

36. Oh, yah!

You?

[CottonBear]

54. I'm a native NC girl, grew up in Chattanooga,TN and now live in NE GA.

I'm a mountain girl at heart but I love the ocean too! Both of my grandparents lived on the ocean and my family had a lake house in addition to our mountain house. I grew up boating, skiing and fishing (both fresh and salt water).

I love California. I have friends who live in Mendocino County near the town of Westport. It's beautiful there!

[Jack Rabbit]

40. Who is your favorite evil DUer?

[MaryBear]

44. That is between me and my dog, Mr. Rabbit.

[Jack Rabbit]

56. Okay, who is your favorite Sheltie?

Or is that between you and your rabbit?

[MaryBear]

66. Too often.

[Strong Atheist]

42. Since you asked...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=4477973

[MaryBear]

67. Ummm

Sorry I can't respond. The link is locked. Besides, ... oh... temptation loses. No response here.

[Strong Atheist]

69. Cool. I was just being my usual nosy self. nt.

[ThomCat]

71. I tried to respond to that poll too

and couldn't.

I think it's a sign that nobody else should answer that particular question. :)

[Strong Atheist]

74. Oh, I wasn't looking for responses on the poll, since it was

l***** a long time ago. I was looking for a response to the question itself, but the lady indicated she didn't want to answer it, which is fine by me (its just a thing I ask about on occasion ... I do get answers sometimes...).

[MaryBear]

78. What questiion itself?

[Strong Atheist]

81. Shaved or unshaved? nt.

[MaryBear]

87. I was once convinced by someone wanting a prepubescent

female to shaved an area and regretted it. Itchy itchy uncomfortable.

[Strong Atheist]

91. Ah. I see. Good for you!

:thumbsup:

[MaryBear]

88. dupe

[SOteric]

43. Care for a little root beer and some hugs, Mizz Bear?

:toast: :hug: :hi:

[MaryBear]

47. It's been a very rough month, SOteric!

I sure could use them!

[SOteric]

52. For me as well, dear one.

Let's indulge!

[MaryBear]

58. Sorry to hear that.

SOteric do you ever get to SF or Sacramento? You're one of the DU'ers I'd like to meet -- particularly because you remembeer the root beer!

[SOteric]

77. I'm originally from San Francisco,

and I have two brothers still in the area. So, yes, I do get down that way every now and again. I'll drop you a line the next time I think I'll be in the Bay Area. :hi:

[mwooldri]

86. Since I don't know you (yet), what do you do for a living?

Since you said "ask me anything" and that "you need attention" ... hey I'm bored between calls at the call center I work at...

TIA, Mark.

[MaryBear]

92. I'm

a therapist. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

but i don't make a living.

[mwooldri]

94. ehe - I got given an ice scraper at work yesterday.

I guess we're all just "scraping" along!

Is it group therapy you do? I had a depressive episode last month, and my primary care doctor sent me to "the mental hospital" for an evaluation. The nurse said I should be in group therapy, so that's what I got assigned to. The psychiatrist disagreed and said all that's wrong with me is a chemical imbalance. They were both partly right and wrong: yes the nurse was right to put me into group - and I benefitted from it... but the psychiatrist was also right because after a few days of group I stopped benefitting from it. Interestingly the psych diagnosed me as bipolar. So I got that label to attach to me now too.

Mark.

[MaryBear]

95. Really?

I work mostly with kids who have been abused and/or neglected. I do individual and group work.

Bipolar is interesting. Mostly I know of it from friend/family who live with bipolar disorder. My understanding is that both meds and group therapy are helpful. The prob is when the person is manic s/he thinks they don't have a problem and drop out of group and/or stop taking meds.

Don't worry about the label, Mark. We all have one label or another. What's a little brain dysfunction, anyway? Take your meds, and go to group if you can find a good one. You can have a good life if you cooperate with treatment.

[MaryBear]

93. All right, I've had enough attention, but

don't stop now.

[castiron]

96. do you eat organic?

[MaryBear]

97. Interesting question.

I'm organic when I eat. Most of what I eat is organic. Do you mean certified organically grown and all that? yes, I do when I can get it and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. How about you?

[castiron]

98. Pretty much as much as I can.

And I spend a lot of moolah on it, too. It's a priority for me, although I ain't rich by any means. I've got a good supply, so I feel lucky. A few things I won't touch unless organic, but most things I'm flexible on because I do believe that eating slightly poisoned veg and fruit is better than not eating it at all. Meat's a different story. Gross hormone beef is a NO.

[MaryBear]

99. A practitioner of Chinese medicine once taught me

to soak/rinse meat in a vodka/water solution to kill "bugs," and then to marinate it before cooking. Any knowledge or opinions on that?

[castiron]

100. No, but I will ask my Chinese medicine practioner sister-in-law

next I see her. It sounds reasonable enough. Plus a good vodka marinade never hurt no one no how.

[MaryBear]

101. No user profile?

How come?

[castiron]

102. wha? Oh, do you mean that I have no info available for others to

see? I actually don't know why I don't! I think I was being angry anonymous lurker right after 2004 election and then never went back to it.

[MaryBear]

103. LOL!

Now you can be an angry known DU'er!

[castiron]

104. Weeeeee! Are We Not Angry? We Are Angry.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

106. Good to see you again MaryBear

I think I met you at the SF gathering in 2003, when you were posting as Grandma Bear. I'd wondered what had happened to you so it's good to see you back :thumbsup:

[MaryBear]

107. Thanks, socialdemocrat1981.

You might have met me at a San Francisco gathering. I looked up your profile and it is disabled??? Are you the fellow who was traveling - from Australia? Would you remind me who you are? Your user name is familiar but I'm not putting a face with it.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

109. Yes that's right -you have a good memory!

:thumbsup:

I was traveling through various states in the US and Canada and San Francisco was my third stop after having arrived from Australia and having spent time in San Diego and Sacramento. I'm Asian-looking in appearance with glasses and I was staying with Cally at the time.

:hi:

[MaryBear]

110. Thanks!

:hi:

[Lorien]

108. What's the bravest thing you've ever done?

[MaryBear]

111. The bravest?

I tend to speak my mind, and some say it gets me in trouble and I am courageous while others say I should think more and then talk! Usually when someone considers something I did brave, I just consider it something I had no choice about. I don't consider myself particularly brave any more than most people. To keep on keeping on is brave.

How about you, Lorien?