Friday Five -- all about March 6

It's been ages since I've done a Friday Five. I perused the list of possible offerings and came across this list, posted a few weeks ago. I know it's a little belated, but I thought the question format and the trivia aspects were intriguing. So I couldn't resist. Like they say: better late than never!

1. On March 6, 1869, Dmitri Mendeleev presented the first Periodic Table of the Elements to the Russian Chemical Society.
   What memories do you have of your high-school chemistry course?
2. On March 6, 1899, the Bayer company registered aspirin as a trademark.
   When did you last take medication for pain?
3. On March 6, 1853, Giuseppe Verdi’s opera La Traviata premiered in Venice.
   How do you feel about opera?
4. On March 6, 1947, American film director Rob Reiner (Meathead!) was born.
   Which of these Reiner-directed films have you seen, and what do you think of them?
   • The Bucket List (2007)
   • Rumor Has It… (2005)
   • Alex & Emma (2003)
   • The Story of Us (1999)
   • Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
   • The American President (1995)
   • North (1994)
   • A Few Good Men (1992)
   • Misery (1990)
   • When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
   • The Princess Bride (1987)
   • Stand by Me (1986)
   • The Sure Thing (1985)
   • This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
5. On March 6, 1972, American basketball-player Shaquille O’Neal was born.
   How do you feel about basketball?

1. I'd have to say that the most memorable part of my high school chemistry class was our teacher, Mr. Fife. He looked exactly like Santa Claus-- from the bald pate to the white beard to the spectacles to the belly that shook like a bowlful of jelly! It was trippy to see him walk around in Santa garb near the holiday season. He was short and stocky, but his presence was large-- he had a sense of humor but he was also no-nonsense. I have vague recollections of my classmates being cutups as well, but nothing stands out as truly memorable.

I do have to add that college chemistry had some interesting classmates as well. My favorite memory was the day I tricked my lab partner into putting her nose directly over a flask of pure ammonia and inhaling. The LOOK on her face! I wonder if she's ever forgiven me for that ;-)

2. Ah, blessed OTC drugs :-) Last time I took anything was probably a week or two ago-- the last time I was sick and laid up with a fever and chills. Then it was Tylenol and ibuprofen to the rescue! I never take aspirin anymore, though. When I'm sick and in constant need of medication just to get by the day, I try to consume Tylenol sparingly, because I don't want to overtax my liver.

3. The extent of my opera viewing consists of little snippets here and there from TV or movie characters going to the opera, like Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman". So, I have no opinion, other than to say that I would like to go someday, if only to see what it's like!

4. I've seen: American President, A Few Good Men, and When Harry Met Sally. Don't ask me to pick a favorite. I love all 3 of them, they definitely rank high on my list of all-time favorite movies! And I would highly recommend them if you haven't seen them!

5. I feel the same way about basketball as I do about any sport-- boring! I've never understood why people can spend hours glued to the tube, watching an entire sports game unfold. I can understand catching occasional glimpses and keeping up with the scores, but to watch the entire game!? Or should that be: gameS!? I would much rather participate in a sport than watch it. And I'm neither athletic nor sports-inclined. That being said, of all the sports to possibly participate in: baseball, volleyball, football, basketball... probably basketball is the best of the bunch. And I don't even like it that much, which goes to show you how I feel about other sports! I like basketball "best" because I can fake out playing-- just run up and down the court with the crowd and nobody will ever know that I never really laid a hand on the ball ;-) As you can tell, I'm speaking from junior high and high school gym memories :-)

How about you?