As wens asked me to do! XD
Survey: Sherlock Holmes and Me. Or, Let's Play Twenty Questions-- Sherlock Style.
I. First things first...:
1. How and when were you first introduced to Holmes?
2. What first attracted you to the stories and to the characters?
3. Five favorite stories?
4. Favorite characters besides Holmes and Watson?
5. Favorite Holmes adaptation? Why?
6. Who's the first Holmes you ever saw on screen?
7. Favorite Holmes?
8. Favorite Watson?
9. Favorite pastiche (if this applies) or Holmes-related book?
10. Favorite Holmes illustrator?
II. And now, the more interesting questions (enough about Holmes; I wanna know about you):
1. In what ways do you think you're most like Holmes?
2. In what ways do you think you're most like Watson?
3. Do you have anything in common with some of the other characters? If so, what?
4. What are five best things about being a Holmes fan?
5. Have you ever had a Holmes geeky moment? If so, 'fess up!
6. Have any of your online names ever been Holmes related? If so, name at least one.
7. Do you have a song that reminds you of any character in the Canon, or of a favorite story?
8. Do you ever find yourself musing that you were born in the wrong century?
9. What are some of your favorite Holmes-related possessions, or possessions that remind you of Holmes?
10. Are any of your possessions named after characters in the Canon? If yes, what are some of them?
My answers:
Part 1
1. Now you'll have to forgive my fuzzy memory. But if I'm right, I first met Sherlock Holmes through a book fair at school (you know, like those little Scholastic book fairs where they would sell Goosebumps and Babysitters Club books), but it could have been a mail-in book order. Regardless, it was a book purchased through school. I saw a cover to a book, with a giant dog on it. It was blue and black and the dog had yellow eyes and white fangs and foam on it's muzzle. It took up the whole cover! I was really into scary stories and scary movies and such, and I know I was no younger than 9 when I saw it. I thought it was the coolest book ever. So I bought "The Hound of the Baskervilles." I can't recall my initial impression except that I loved it as the cover shows - it is a well worn book. I re-read it not too long ago, it felt like going back into my childhood.
2. The cover attracted me first but after that it was definately the characters. I have always been a curious person. Not too curious but I have alot of questions. Holmes was curious too, to my little kid mind. And he was asking questions and getting answers. He made being a detective cool - more cool than Law and Order did. And it was set in Victorian London. Another time, another place! It was just all the right elements for my imagination. And it still is.
3. Five favorite stories? I can't say I've actually read five. Some fan right? well I do like: The Hound of the Baskervilles, A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle, and A Scandal in Bohemia. I have read five! I've read more but these have left an impression on me. ;)
4. Toby and Mrs. Hudson.
5. The Great Mouse Detective. I am a Disney child through and through, that corporation probably owns part of my soul. I don't remember when I first saw this movie, but I loved it. And I am pretty sure I knew it was based off good old Sherlock Holmes to a degree. I don't think I need to say more since it was one of the first purchases my mother and I ever made on ebay way back in the days of middle school for me. I've watched it countless times and for a while I had a crush on the poor mouse detective.
6. Hmm...it must have been Basil Rathebone. If it wasn't him it would have been Jeremy Brett. Both were seen with my grandfather I believe.
7. Favorite? Oh geez...well...I would have to say Jeremy Brett because of his acting. He just gives Holmes life and does the mannerisms I imagined he would (especially the smiletwitch as I call - the barely there smile where it looks like his face twitched!). But Basil Rathebone has the Holmes voice for me - or he did. I haven't heard him in a while. I guess my perfect Holmes has yet to be found - he's a bit different in my mind's eye.
8. Edward Hardwicke. He just has the Watson feel to me. Sure he looks older than maybe Watson should but he has that Watson feel to him.
9. Um I don't think I've read one.
10. I don't have one.
Part Two
1. Geez...I don't know if I am. I'm probably not. But I do play detective and well, I notice things others don't. Favorite example: My friend Allyn mentions how she really wanted this book but she had never seen it in the book store we were at so she was going to wait till she could get her hands on it later(much later). So what happens? I find it, right next to us. Ok so maybe it was more fate then me having good deducting skills. But I do think rather logically. I've been trying to copy Holmes and Spock since I was little so my brain can think very cause and effectively. Also, my last name is Holy. When I was 9, I thought it was the coolest thing to find someone else with an odd last name. Holmes and Holy. Holy Holmes Batman! Yes, my childish mind works in odd ways.
2. I have emotions? I'm more like Watson than Holmes because like Watson I get upset if you call me stupid. I'm an ordinary person like Watson, but I'm smart too, like Watson. He wasn't stupid, he noticed things. And I dislike drugs too!
3. um Mrs. Hudson? I yell at people to clean up. XD
4. Umm...you get to meet cool people like wens. You can point out things to your friends and get called Sherlock. You can geek over these books without being considered a geek. Your friends will find you awesome Holmes related items for you. Holmes rocks. Ok yeah I don't know five great things for this hahaha.
5. Oh yes, yes I have. I've had several. Watching the first episode of Meitantei Conan aka Detective Conan aka Conan aka Case Closed as it is called here in the US. I sat there with Shinichi, going "I KNOW! HOLMES IS THE COOLEST!!" as he tried to explain to his friend Ran how awesome Holmes was in all his geeky Holmes fanboyness. We both went "BUT RAN!!!" when she shot him down. For my brother's...third or fourth grade talent show, we performed an original Hounds of the Baskervilles sketch. I wrote it myself. It was all humorous and was made up of all the stereotypes. We had the audience in stitches. And yes I was Holmes. This past Halloween, I was yet again Holmes. But this time I had my trusty stuffed dog Watson. The two of us hunted down criminals with a group of trannies. It was great. Watson even got clevage. But the best Holmes geek moment was when my friends and I were watching an episode of Jem and the Holograms. I recognized an issue of the Strand magazine right away and flipped out. Then I thought I was fooled when Holmes didn't show up - the three Musketeers appeared for some reason. But Holmes appeared! And I screamed. He even winks in the cartoon. So my friends got a kick out of my victory scream. I've had countless Holmes geek moments but these four were the best. Oh I almost forgot! I actually wrote a letter to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson and sent it to Baker Street. As of yet, no reply. Damn. =/
6. No they have not, not that I can recall.
7. No not really.
8. No not really.
9. My favorite Holmes possession besides my old copy of the Hound of the Baskervilles, is probably my Holmes action figure my friend Kristin bought me. After that I really cherish my Detective Conan memorbillia and other Holmes books.
10. Yes, my stuffed dog is named Watson. I call him Wattie for short so I don't confuse him with the real Watson.
And now for wens general question: what do you get out of Sherlock Holmes?
I get a good story. I've never been an avid book reader I think. Not when I compare myself to several of my friends. Their book collections dwarve mine by far I think. But Holmes reminds me why reading is fun. I spent a good deal of my youth lost in mystery novels and pretending to be a detective because of how much Holmes affected me. The stories are some of the few today that will hold my attention. I just love them.
edit: 12:50~1:00am
I'm sure I left stuff out in that survey. You guys, my friends, can feel free to add your two cents on what you've seen of my Holmes geekiness and what not.
Being a girl...is not always fun. >/
I did do my hw and I did play my guitar. I'm getting better at the fingerings I think.
Ki got to see her folks today. I kinda got invited to go with but I declined. I wanted her to have time alone with them. They got to meet Tiff (who I'm not sure I've even "officially" met but I think I have? I don't know much about her hahah XD but what I do know makes her very cool) and hang out which was also cool!
I guess, I'm worrying. See, at Keio, there is this huge break between semesters. And I would love to come back state side and see friends and family. But I don't think I have the finances for two round trip tickets to Japan. Plus, there is a big load of paper work you have to do to even leave the country when you are there because of our visas or something. And then you probably still have to pay rent on your apartment. It seems like a big mess looming ahead.
And...I don't know what to do. I've NEVER been away from my family for a whole year. Or my friends either.
I won't think too much on it now.
I feel like such a non-Holmes fan now. I also feel like...I could be a better friend for Ki. Not leave her here by going to Japan. But she has other friends here now too. So I'm glad she'll have people to do stuff with.
I also...don't want to live in the dorms anymore. I don't know anything about apartments so we'll see. It'll have to wait till after Japan as I call it.
Another thing, Ki mentioned how she really wanted her folks to like Tiff. I guess for a second I was jealous because I don't remember getting hugged when I met them. But it was a different context. And a differnt point in Ki's life. She's grown up in their eyes. And I'm proud of her too. I'm not jealous now, it was a momentary "well did I get hugged?...I don't remember...maybe I did? I don't care anymore." thought process.
Cramps SUCK. As does going to school.
well bedtime.
man now I want to read my Holmes books.