Bahbah Wahwah runs wild through J-Land

So it seems there is this interview thingy making the rounds through J-Land. I first happened on it at Phinney's (no link 'cause she's private) and thought what the heck. Interview me!

So here goes, starting with the rules because every game has got to have them you know.  Leave me a comment saying “interview me”. The first five to leave a comment requesting to be participants will be interviewed. I will respond by asking you five questions. You will update your blog/site with the answers to the questions. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions. (Write your own questions or borrow some) Fun and easy right?
 
1.  You spent a number of years in the Military.  What was the scariest time or event for you personally while you were a soldier?

It occurred at Basic Training. Part of the requirement for graduation is to scale a 40 foot wooden tower and repel down it. I am deathly afraid of heights! I hemmed and hawed all day long occupying myself with other activities like traversing rope bridges and cargo net ladders hoping that no one would notice that I had yet to repel down the tower. It was getting to the end of the day and I ran into my drill sergeant. "Have you been up the tower yet, Private?" He barked in his grisly, endearing way. "No Drill Sergeant." I squeaked in my weasel, please don't make me do it but I can't lie to you way. "Well, private. What are you waiting for? We have to clear out of here soon. Get up that ladder over there ASAP!" So off I went to face my demons.

Scaling the ladder alone had me shaking in my boots. The steps were positioned far enough apart that you had to hoist yourself up each rung. But, I pushed through and made it to the top. At the top, there were drill sergeants who checked out your rigging and guided you through the process. I was all set to go when the bulldog of a drill sergeant barked at me “What are you supposed to do now private?" I think he was losing his patience with me. He barked "stick your head over the edge and let 'em know you're coming private," he screamed in my face. Rattled and flustered, I immediately did what he said then took a step back from the edge. About that time, the drill sergeant began screaming hysterically in my face - something about what the hell was I doing as he looked down at where my hand had a death grip on his forearm. I followed his eyes down. It was then that I realized what I had done and jumped back, releasing my grip as he continued to bark orders at me to get my act together and swing my legs out over the edge.

Finally in the position of the "L" with my toes clutching a ledge of only a couple inches the drill sergeant told me to start my way down. I began tip toeing down. Apparently, that wasn't fast enough for him though! He began barking at me to "Bounce Private!" I looked at him like he was crazy but attempted maybe a three inch bounce then continued my tip toe down the wall. "No Private! Like a Basketball!" He hollered as he started whipping the rope that I was gliding down. Scared to death I gave a push off from the wall as instructed but lost my "L" positioning and SMACK came slamming into the wall with my body. Ouch! I got back into position and began tip toeing back down the wall. But, noooooo, that wasn't good enough. He continued to bark the bouncing orders. Somehow I made it to the bottom in one piece and no worse for the wear. But, the object of the course is to get a troop to overcome their fear of heights. Sorry to say, it didn't work on me. I'm still scared to death and can't believe I made it through even now so many years later as I think of it.

2.  Out of all the many places you've lived, where has been your favorite, and what made it so?

That's a tough one. I like Florida a lot. Mostly because of the beach and the laid back lifestyle of a beach community, but I'd have to say that San Antonio was my favorite. I liked the diversity of the area and the people. San Antonio has the amenities of a large city but with a small town atmosphere. I built a great life there for myself and still have dear friends there.
 
3.  Did you have a nickname as a child, (spill it!) and does anyone still call you by that name? 

Ha, ha, ha. That's easy! It was and is Robbie. My given name is Roberta. But, I've been called Robbie since I was born. I like it better than Roberta. I can't even identify with the name Roberta. It's not me. I'm Robbie.
 
4.  You are given a chance to take a cruise around the world.  ALL expenses paid.  Cannot bring a friend!  However: you'll be gone one year and your job will NOT be waiting for you when you return.  Do you go?

Nope! I love my job and the company I work for. I've worked enough places in my life to know that this kind of job and company are far and few between. They pay me well enough that I can save up and take a short cruise anywhere I want, if I want. So why throw it all away? A year is a relatively short amount of time compared to the years ahead of me. If something like that is meant to happen it will when the timing is right. But, it's not right - right now.
 
5.  What is the food you would never EVER eat, no matter how hungry you are??

Liver. Definitely! I can't even swallow the crap. My gag reflex kicks in and it won't go down.