Tagged by Polly P. I.

Oh, frack! Polly P.I. tagged me with one of those chain letter things, that is, a meme. Got to be current and use the latest jargon so I don't sound hopelessly dull and boring even though I'm sure in answering these questions, I'll come across as just that plus moronic.

Just wait, Polly! Payback's a bitch.

Okay, here goes.

1 - Imagine it’s 2015. You are visiting the library at a major research university. You go over to a computer terminal (or whatever it is they use in 2015) that gives you immediate access to any book or journal article on any topic you want. What do you look up? In other words, what do you hope somebody will have written in the meantime?

First, I'd check to see if the diseases that have devastated my family have been cured or at least have had medication created to effectively treat them. I'd hope to read that peace had reigned in the Middle East for many years. Then I'd check out my kids, my writer friends, and me, of course, to see if we'd "made" it.

2 - What is the strangest thing you’ve ever heard or seen at a conference? No names, please. Refer to “Professor X” or “Ms. Y” if you must. Double credit if you were directly affected. Triple if you then said or did something equally weird.

Oh, boy. Could I write a book on this! I am one of those people that total strangers will walk up to and tell their entire life history, including the parts that should remain secret! Plus, I always seem to be a witness to weirdness. Even saw the Stones once in a New Orleans restaurant and one of the women with them spent a good hour under the table. Guess she must have dropped her fork.

Let's see, a couple of stories fit for public consumption? Well, this isn't the strangest but it always makes me laugh when I think about it. I was at a writer's conference and in the hotel bar late one night having a drink with a writer friend I see about once a year. In walks an agent (details censored upon second thoughts) and an editor (details also censored upon second thoughts). They get a table in a dark corner and proceed to get drunk and engage in what used to be called heavy petting--you know the stuff you used to see only in a parked car occupied by two horny teenagers. My friend and I nursed our drinks, stared, laughed, and talked about blackmail. The agent and editor were too preoccupied to notice their audience. Alas, I was too chicken, uh, that is, too much of a lady, to say anything about it the next day when I had an appointment with the agent.

At another conference there were two women, very pale, thin, and each with long, lank black hair. An editor there "hid" from them by talking to me at the cocktail party. He said they'd submitted a 1500 page hand written manuscript for a science fiction novel they'd co-written in which the hero was named Paramecium and all the other characters were named after bacteria.

3 - Name a writer, scholar, or otherwise worthy person you admire so much that meeting him or her would probably reduce you to awestruck silence.

Gosh, there are so many. Today though, since I just reread Lightning again, I'd have to say Dean Koontz. I think the man is a master at his craft. I love his books for the characters, the often lyrical prose, and deft manipulation of science fact with fantasy. He created the cross-genre novel with the puzzle of the mystery, the ideas of science fiction, the struggle between good and evil of fantasy, the dark moodiness of horror, and the intelligent love relationship of a good romance novel.

4 - What are two or three blogs or other Web sites you often read that don’t seem to be on many people’s radar?

Conversations About Famous People isn't an unknown to most women in the blogosphere, but maybe men haven't cruised by yet. It's hilarious. If you ever look in the mirror and go, "Yuk!" then cruise over to that blog and take a look at some candid photos of the "beautiful people." You'll feel better asap.

efoodie, the everyday gourmet What can I say? I love food--cooking and eating.

Diary of an Adult Runaway She's living in Paris! I adore Paris.

Okay, now I have to tag 3 other poor souls?

Distressed Jeans at Conversations

Kathleen O'Reilly

Natalie R. Collins of Stalking Kelly Ripa