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This is the third installment of the “Interview Zan” series. I’ve already received five requests for interviews, so unfortunately…no more requests! (However, because I’m mean and unfair like that, if you’re interested in sending me five questions to answer, I’ll be glad to do so. I’m enjoying this series!)

My third interview comes from Janet from Slice of Pink (you can see the answers to her questions here).

1. Do you fold your underwear or just stuff them in a drawer?

I don’t fold my undies. (Are thongs foldable? I think if I tried to fold them, they’d just unravel or twist around anyway.)

2. If you could commit one crime and completely get away with it, what would you do?

I’d take all the money from that place where they print U.S. currency.

3. What one book should be required reading for every American?

Although it’s a good question, it’s impossible for me to answer this. You see, I’m not very opinionated. There are many books that I’ve enjoyed (memoirs tend to be my favorite), but there isn’t one that stands out so much that I’d have to say, “You must read this!”

4. What was your favorite toy as a child?

The biggest thing that stands out to me is that me and my sisters (I have a few brothers too, but they didn’t come along until later) didn’t play with many — or possibly any — electronic toys. If we had them, I don’t remember. My favorite childhood toys (yes, I’m making it plural) were Barbies, Lincoln Logs, and TinkerToys.

5. You get to create a national holiday. What does your holiday celebrate? When is it?

National Cupcake Day would be observed on my birthday, June 9th. Everyone gets the day off work and is required to eat a cupcake. (If you’re making them yourself, you’re not allowed to use any of that easy, from-the-box mix! Only from scratch. They’re way better that way.)

There’s a five-question interview that’s been making the rounds on various blogs. I actually volunteered at a few different places for people ask me questions, so I’ll be posting my answers over the next few days. I’m supposed to reciprocate and offer to interview anyone who asks me to do so, but in the interest of time I’m limiting my offer to the first five people who leave a comment and request an interview.

My first interview comes from Brian (you can see the answers to his questions here).

1. What inspired you to start blogging to begin with?

I decided to start my blog in September 2002 when I was about to leave my home in Virginia to move to California. Instead of updating all my friends and family separately via email, I figured a blog would be a good way to have my adventures and experiences in one central place. At the time I didn’t know how long I’d be living in California — if it would be permanent or just a short time. I ended up staying for about four months, moving back to Virginia in December 2002 so I could return to college the following semester (in-state tuition is much more affordable, which was a big factor in that decision).

2. What is the best part about blogging for you?

Hands down, it’s the feedback I receive. Blogging allows me to practice my writing, which I love to do (and I think my writing has evolved for the better in the past 6+ years I’ve been doing this). But if it weren’t for the comments I receive, I really doubt I’d spend as much time on this blog as I do. Also, the feedback and comments have led to many in-person meetings, allowing me to become offline friends with a number of fantastic people.

3. What’s one restaurant you haven’t tried that you’ll be going to this year?

Just like I’m not very opinionated when it comes to music and movies, I don’t have one restaurant in mind either. I am, however, open to trying just about anything — if someone invited me to go somewhere new, I’d say, Hell yes, let’s go. And I’d be super-excited about it. (I would like to try an Indian restaurant, though. Any local suggestions?)

4. If money was no object, what is one thing you would buy for yourself besides a house or a car?

A trip around the world. If money was no object, that’s definitely what I’d do. Immediately. I wouldn’t worry about how long I’d be staying in one place, or where I needed to be next. I’d stay until I didn’t want to be there anymore, and then I’d go somewhere else.

5. Have you ever wanted to play a professional sport?

I’ve never aspired to play a professional sport. I’ve never excelled at one sport in particular, so I didn’t possess enough talent to even dream of reaching that level. I’ve also never played on any school teams, or in any amateur group leagues. I’m not opposed to it…I just never have.

If you’d like to participate in this interview meme, leave a comment below and ask me to interview you. (Reminder: I’ll choose the first five people who ask.) Here are the rules:

1. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions. Be sure to link back to the original post.
2. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
3. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Part 1: My History, Pre-Surgery
Part 2: Surgery and the Hospital
Part 3: After the Surgery

Part 4: Today (Three Years Later)

I mentioned in my first post that if scoliosis is caught early enough, before the curve gets too bad, some people elect to wear a back brace (sometimes for years and years). If it works, it can stop the curve from progressing and surgery might not be needed. It may seem wrong to say this, but surgery or not, to this day I’m not upset about the fact that my scoliosis wasn’t caught earlier than it was. With my awkward adolescence, including thick glasses (before I graduated to contact lenses), braces, being taller than everybody else, etc., a back brace would have been a crushing blow to my already deep feelings of insecurity.

There are both pros and cons to having had the corrective surgery, but I definitely don’t regret having done it. The best part was when I realized for the first time that I could stand up straight (this was after the pain had worn off), and I could actually feel that I was standing up straight. Pre-surgery, I would try to stand as straight as I could but I still felt like I was slanting to one side. Now when I sit down, both of my shoulder blades hit the back of the chair at the same time, as opposed to only one side.

The other good things? My scar has faded. It went from bright red, to dusty pink, and now it’s a thin white line. The first few inches of the scar is visible when I wear certain tops, but it mostly stays out of sight since my hair is long enough to cover it. After the surgery, I couldn’t bend forward more than a few inches. Now I can easily reach down and touch the floor. If I’m lying down, I can sit up straight without pain.

The things that will never completely go away? The rods corrected the protrusion of my right shoulder blade, but the shifting of everything in my back caused one of the ribs underneath my right shoulder blade to stick out instead. It’s not as bad as the shoulder blade was, and not as obvious, but I can tell (not only by the way it feels, but by the way it looks) that it’s not normal. I could have another procedure done to correct it, but that would mean surgery again. Unless it really starts to bother me, I’ll just live with it.

Right after the surgery, most of the area around my scar was numb. Today there is an area underneath my right shoulder blade (where most of the curve-correction took place) that is still numb. The surgeon said this is normal; some people regain feeling, but others don’t. It’s weird not being able to feel my nails when I scratch my skin, but I’ve learned to live with it.

My back will make small popping sounds; I can straighten my back and it will pop multiple times in a day. It doesn’t hurt, though. If I try to carry something heavy, or if I’m sitting for too long on a bench (or on the floor, anywhere that doesn’t have something for me to rest against), my back will bother me. But I don’t have to take any painkillers, so it doesn’t get too bad.

Pre-surgery, I remember somebody questioning if the rods would set off metal detectors. I have been through multiple metal detectors and the answer is no. I don’t have an abundance of extra flesh covering my back either, so if I’m safe, I assume everyone else would be, too.

That’s all that I can think about right now. If anyone has any questions, now or in the future, I’ll be happy to answer them.