Time for a new Captain’s Quiz with a theme that’s all about the new. Paul has issued forth a new challenge over at The Captain’s Speech and it’s time to answer the call. As always, I encourage you to head over to Paul’s blog and participate in his Captain’s Quiz. The more the merrier!

10 Questions

1. In the first High School Musical movie, Troy and Gabriella sing a song called, “Start of Something New”. What are three things you would tell kids before they start high school?
   First of all, it’s not going to be as bad as you think. Secondly, it’s actually going to be worse than you think. Finally, try not to think about it so much.
2. The first iPhone came out in 2007 and thousands of people lined up to get one. What is the longest you’ve ever stood in a line? What was it for? Was it worth the wait?
   At first I was thinking the longest line I’ve been in was for the Hypersonic XLC roller coaster at King’s Dominion the summer it first opened. Two hours in line to spend about three minutes on the ride… definitely not worth it. But as I thought about it, I realized that I actually did stand in line to buy something once. Several times… Because after arriving late to the Harry Potter party, I read the first three books and then decided I was willing to stand in line at the mall for the midnight releases of books 4 through 7. The longest of those lines was for Deathly Hallows, for sure. It was at the now non-existent Books-A-Million in Roanoke, VA. I waited for a little under four hours… I know, not exactly a record breaking feat. But it was definitely worth it. I got the book home and didn’t sleep until I finished reading it.
3. On the game show, The Price is Right, they often give away a brand new car and most contestants jump up and down in excitement. If you won a new car on TV, how would you feel?
   Honestly, I’m not sure I’d be thrilled. I’d probably be excited to win something, but once the adrenaline rush wore off, I’d likely be bummed that I didn’t just win cash. What kind of car did I win? What kind of property taxes will I have to pay for that thing? What will that do to my insurance premiums? Yeah… that’s where my mind always goes win I see someone win a car on a game show.
4. Four teams in the NFL have the word “New” in their name: New Orleans, New England, and New York (x2). What are three words that have “new” anywhere in the word.
   Renewal; Newspaper; Stonewash
5. In what year did your favourite artist/band put out their latest album? How many songs are on that album and how many of them do you like?
   Confession… I don’t pay much attention to the latest music, even when it involves my favorite artist. I’m not someone who hangs on a musician’s every tweet to find out when I get to jump onto iTunes and download a brand new album. That said, I’m a fan of Jason Mraz’s music. A lot of that could be that we have a similar vocal range, so I like singing along with his songs. But I’m pretty sure he’s released three albums since the last time I listened to anything new from him. The last music I’ve got from him on any of my playlists comes from Love Is a Four Letter Word, released way back in 2012, and there are several songs on there that I really enjoy: “Living in the Moment,” “The Woman I Love,” “I Won’t Give Up” (which I sang at my cousin’s wedding), “93 Million Miles,” “Frank D. Fixer,” and “In Your Hands.” So that’s six out of the 13 that I like on that one. That doesn’t necessarily mean I don’t like the other seven songs on the album. It could just mean I haven’t listened to them or may be less familiar with them. Just like there’s a good chance I would really like his latest albums, which I still have yet to hear anything from. Like I said… I’m horrible with keeping up with new music.
6. Many items (books, cars, video games, clothes, etc.) can be bought used, instead of new. Tell me about some used items you’ve purchased.
   I’ve bought two cars in my life and both have been used. I’m sure there’s a certain appeal to buying a new car, but I never saw the point. Especially considering how much a car’s value depreciates as soon as you drive it off the lot. A good used car that’s been certified by the dealership seems just as good for a lot less than something new. Well, that used to be the case. From what I’ve heard, used cars are insanely expensive these days, thanks to supply chain shortages. I’ve also bought plenty of used books and DVDs in my day. One of my favorite book sales was at the North Carolina fairgrounds for the state book fair. It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. So. Many. Books. And they were super cheap. I walked away with a dozen books for a total of $9.00.
7. What foods are just as good, if not better, as leftovers?
   Hamburger Helper, without question, is better reheated. I think it’s because letting it sit in a plastic container in the fridge overnight lets the cheese sauce thicken up to a nice consistency. Then when it’s heated back up, it’s even better than when it’s fresh out of the skillet.
8. You need a new pair of shoes. Describe the process of finding the perfect pair.
   Annoying… The process is annoying. I’m not one who enjoys going shopping for anything, really. But at least when it comes to shirts and most pants, I can just go and grab the size I’m looking for and be done with it. Well… I say that… but with pants it really only works if it’s a brand that I’m super familiar with how they fit. Shoes aren’t as simple. Shoes always have to be tried on. Yes, I know my shoe size, but different styles and different brands always provide a different fit. The last time I decided I needed a new pair of sneakers I went to the store and got a pair of Nikes that seemed to fit okay when I tried them on. Then when I got them home, they fit horribly and gave me blisters on my heels. Then I decided to just go online and look up the exact style of Asics shoes that I’d been wearing for the past year or so, knowing that I liked how those felt from start to finish. Bought the Asics from Amazon, sold the Nikes on Facebook. And everything was right in the world.
9. Would you rather have a new friend, a new book, or a new TV show to watch? Explain your choice.
   People tire me… so, not really looking for a new friend. I bore easily when it comes to TV shows. And if my bookshelf shows me anything, it’s that I absolutely love buying new books. Even though I have a dozen or so that I have yet to read, I will still buy a new book every time I step foot inside a Barnes & Noble. It’s a sickness, really.
10. The Newlywed Game is a game that married couples, as well as friends, play to see how well they know each other. The last person you texted/sent a message to, is your partner. How well would you do at this game?
    This might be embarrassing, but the last person I actually sent a message to was my mother. And I’d say we know each other pretty well… but I think it can also be surprising just how much we wouldn’t know about each other. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in mid-conversation with her and she starts talking about someone she knows, mentions them by name, then talks as if this is someone I should be incredibly familiar with. In reality… no clue who she’s talking about. Sometimes I just nod along, pretending to know who she’s talking about. If I’m feeling confrontational, I’ll definitely speak up and let her know I have no idea who this person is. Then she describes the person in such a way that there’s no way I could ever place that person in my memory because the memories of that person do not exist. My sister does this to me, too. I don’t think we’d win this game.

Bonus Questions

1. You just got a new job and must introduce yourself by sending a group email to your new co-workers. Write your introductory email as if you’re typing it while riding a rollercoaster.
   Dear Team,
   It is znai ahoena eoa ahgiosnhie and aoa; ehhfhivoa eoaa ioiha aoghieha ioe woid fnvpog ank aoeihf hjsoek ;aahi fnv ehnha oih fniowod keo. wizPiekia ie aiirhg hien a;eipjnj 8 wn vjhaqne aihq q ehifnioepake fi q;a ie fiopa. fjiepaP I can’t believe auto-correct did not recognize any of that. Anyway, I’m honored to be here. On an unrelated note, if you haven’t been on the Hypersonic XLC, you’re not missing much. It was not worth the wait in line.
   Sincerely…
2. A new restaurant is opening in your town. You decide to go there for dinner a month after they open. Write a review of your experience. (All the details: name of restaurant, food, layout, etc., are up to you).
   When I saw that a restaurant named after legendary Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer was coming to our area, I scoffed. Another sports bar and burger place. When I share my experience with you, not only will you want to eat there as soon as you can, but you will actively demand an apology from me for my previous scoffing. I was seated outdoors in a cozy patio area with umbrellas to block the excessive sun and an open fire pit that I was certain would add to the ambience of late evening dining. Upon asking the waiter for his suggestion of what to choose from the menu, he mentioned how good their hamburgers were. Again, I scoffed, but went with his recommendation. Reading this, you may be thinking to yourselves, “It’s just a burger…” Ladies and gentlemen of Yelp, it’s so much more than “just a burger.” I mean… that first bite… oh, what heaven that first bite is. The bun, like a sesame freckled breast of an angel, resting gently on the ketchup and mustard below, flavors mingling in a seductive pas de deux. And then… a pickle! The most playful little pickle! Then a slice of tomato, a leaf of lettuce and a patty of ground beef so exquisite, swirling in your mouth, breaking apart, and combining again in a fugue of sweets and savor so delightful. This is no mere sandwich of grilled meat and toasted bread, my friends. This is God, speaking to us in food. Ten out of ten… would recommend.
3. You are the creator of a new social media platform. Tell me about it.
   Welcome to GenZone, the social media platform exclusively for Generation Z… Or is it? Because the attention spans of our youth are rapidly depleting, text posts on GenZone will be limited to 20 words while videos will last no more than 30 seconds. Does one necessarily have to be a member of Gen Z to join GenZone? Absolutely not… but those Gen Z kids don’t have to know that! Are you a Baby Boomer who likes to write several paragraphs detailing your right leaning political views while attacking the current administration? GenZone’s algorithm will automatically pare that down to less than 20 words that are so ambiguous that your grandkids are none the wiser. For example, a well thought out rant about recent choices made by President Biden suddenly becomes, “No cap this dude finna screw us over.” Have a grandmother that signs all her comments with a sweet, albeit unnecessary, “Love, Meemaw”? GenZone will automatically eliminate that sort of foolishness because no Gen Zer will ever sign anything. They can’t, they never learned cursive. I know you may be asking, how do you hide someone’s age if they’re posting a video? That’s what filters are for! Are you a middle aged woman trying to keep up with the latest dance challenges on TikTok? Thanks to GenZone’s state of the art, bleeding edge filter technology, you’ll look just like you did when you graduated from high school, with the world at your feet as you stand on the precipice of beginning college life and still naïve enough to believe that accumulating mountains of student loan debt will be worth it in the end because you’re going to make bank as a social media influencer on GenZone. So ditch all those old fogies on Facebook and embrace your youth once more with GenZone!

Those are my answers for The Captain’s Quiz 7: Well, That’s New. You should seriously follow that link at the top of this post and play along. It’s super fun. I don’t even care if I win or lose. Actually… I care a little bit.