Paraskevidekatriaphobia: Fear of Friday the 13th

Paraskevidekatriaphobics — people afflicted with a morbid, irrational fear of Friday the 13th — must be pricking up their ears just now, buoyed by seeming evidence that their terror may not be so irrational after all. But it's unwise to take solace in a single scientific study — the only one of its kind, so far as I know — especially one so peculiar. I suspect these statistics have more to teach us about human psychology than the ill-fatedness of any particular date on the calendar.

Friday the 13th - The Most Widespread Superstition?

The sixth day of the week and the number 13 both have foreboding reputations said to date from ancient times, and their inevitable conjunction from one to three times a year portends more misfortune than some credulous minds can bear. Some sources say it may be the most widespread superstition in the United States. Some people won't go to work on Friday the 13th; some won't eat in restaurants; many wouldn't think of setting a wedding on the date.

Just how many Americans at the turn of the millennium still suffer from this condition? According to Dr. Donald Dossey, a psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of phobias (and coiner of the term "paraskevidekatriaphobia"), the figure may be as high as 21 million. If he's right, eight percent of Americans are still in the grips of a very old superstition.

1. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? Open.

2. Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotels? Yup.

3. Have you ever "done it" in a hotel room? Yeah, the management gets a bit upset with you if you do it in the lobby most places.

4. Have you ever stolen a street sign before? Nope.

5. Do you like to use post-it notes? Si, I love posting them in all different colors on my books..

6. Do you cut out coupons but then never use them? No. Most coupons are just a scam to get you to buy a product that's too damn expensive in the first place.

7. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees? Neither.

8. Toilet Paper off the top or the bottom of the roll? Off the top..and don't you go changing it either

9. Do you always smile for pictures? Always.

10. What is your biggest pet peeve? The word peeve.

11. Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out? I prefer them out. Don't like feeling confined.

12. Favorite School grade? Kindergarten. Creative freedom... and COOKIES!!

13. Have you ever peed in the woods? In the woods... near the woods... on the woods even.

14. Do you ever dance even if there's no music playing? Yup.

15. Do you chew your pens and pencils? No...ewwwww

16. How many people have you slept with this week? No one.

17. Do you like popcorn from those big tins? Yup, like the cheddar tasting popcorn tin kind.

18. What is your "song of the week"? Fergielicious

19. Is it okay for guys to wear pink? Sure.

20. Do you still watch cartoons? Nope.

21. What's your favorite scary movie? The Wizard of Oz

22. Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some? Yeah right. Like I'm gonna tell you guys and let you just go and dig it up. Sheesh! I wasn't born yesterday.

23. What do you drink with dinner? Chocolate milk.

24. What do you dip a chicken nugget in? Honey mustard sauce.

25. What are your favorite foods/cuisine? Cuban food!

26. What movies could you watch over and over and still love? The Wizard of Oz, Forrest Gump, A Christmas Story.

27. Last person you kissed/kissed you? My son good morning.

28. Were you ever a boy/girl scout? Nope.

29. Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine? SI SI SI SI.

30. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper? Last week.

31. Can you change the oil on a car? Nope.

32. Ever gotten a speeding ticket? Yep.

33. Ran out of gas? Yep.

34. Favorite kind of sandwich(es)? BLT. Yum Yum.

35. Best thing to eat for breakfast? Pancakes, 2 eggs over easy, bacon, orange juice and coffee.

36. What is your usual bedtime? 10 pm.

37. Are you lazy? I try not to be, but damn it feels good.

38. When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween? Lots of stuff. Gypsy, Princess.....

40. How many languages can you speak? English & Spanish.

41. Do you have any magazine subscriptions? No. Not anymore. I do all my reading on the net usually.

42.Which are better Legos or Lincoln logs? Legos.

43. Are you stubborn? Yup

44. Who is better...Leno or Letterman? Don't know. Haven't slept with either of them.

45. Ever watch soap operas? My life's a soap opera.

46. Afraid of heights? Only while I'm falling from them.

47. Sing in the car? You bet. Loud and proud.

48. Dance in the shower? Nooooo... that's dangerous ya know.

49. Dance in the car? Yup.

50. Ever used a gun? No, never.

51. Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer? Last Christmas.

52. Do you think musicals are cheesy? NO NO NO I love musicals.

53. Is Christmas stressful? Not to me!

54. Ever eat a pierogie? MMM yes.

55. Favorite fruit pie? Dutch Apple Pie.

56. Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid? A Broadway actor, an architect and a missionary

57. Do you believe in ghosts? Just the ones that haunt my past.

58. Ever have a Deja-vu feeling? Why does this question seem so familiar?

59. Take a vitamin daily? When I remember to.

60. Wear slippers? Si

61. Crunchy or Smooth? Crunchy.

62. What do you wear to bed? PJs.

63. First concert? Teena Marie.

64. Wal-Mart, Target or K-Mart? Tar-jay

65. Nike or Adidas? Puma.

66. Cheetos or Fritos? Cheetos.

67. Peanuts or Sunflower seeds? Sunflower.

68. Ever hear of "gorp"? What is that???

69. Ever take dance lessons? No.

70. Is there a profession you picture yourself doing? Singer/Songwriter.

71. Can you curl your tongue? Yes and my curled tongue can curl toes too.

72. Ever won a spelling bee? Never been in one.

73. Have you ever cried because you were so happy? Yes.

74. Own any record albums? Yeah.

75. Own a record player? Nope.

76. Do you burn incense? Of course. You can't eat em.

77. Ever been in love? Yes.

78. Who would you like to see in concert? Me.

79. What's your favorite sound? Rain on a tin roof.

80. Hot tea or cold tea? Cold.

81. Tea or coffee? Coffee.

82. What's your favorite planet? *sniff* Pluto. I miss you buddy.

83. Can you swim well? Uh, can't swim.

84. Can you hold your breath w/o manually holding your nose? Yes.

85. Are you patient? What's that??

86. DJ or band, at a wedding? DJ. Wedding bands usually suck.

87. What day were you born on? A Saturday.

88. Ever have plastic surgery? No. Would if I could afford it probably.

89. Which are better black or green olives? Black.

90. Can you knit or crochet? No.

91. Best room for a fireplace? The bedroom of course. If you're lucky her clothes will get "accidentally" tossed in there at some point.

92. Do you want to get married? Wishful thinking I'm afraid.

93. If married how long have you been married? Next question please.

94. Who was your HS crush? Lionel Lima.

95. Do you cry and throw a fit to get your own way? Yeah.

96. Do you have pets? Nope.

97. Do you want kids? Not any more!!!

98. What’s your favorite color? PURPLE

99. Do you miss anyone right now? Yes.

100. Who do you want to see right now? My mom