Least-favorite smells

Brook:

5. Baby powder-scented air freshener

4. Sour milk

3. B.O.

2. Dirty diapers

1. Vomit

Chris:

5. Lavender (reminds me of a girl)

4. Mildew

3. My own vomit

2. Fresh dog poo

1. Any cologne or perfume in excess

Favorite nonfiction books

Brook:

5. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

4. Chess for Dummies by James Eade

3. A Decent Cup of Tea by Malachi McCormick

2. Driven to Distraction by Dr. Edward M. Hallowell

1. Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh

Chris:

5. A Coach's Life by Dean E. Smith

4. Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond

3. Parliament of Whores by P. J. O'Rourke

2. The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton

1. Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America by John M. Barry

Things I do to reduce stress

Brook:

5. Eat ice cream

4. Take a nap

3. Watch TV (An episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on DVD always perks me right up.)

2. Read comic books

1. Play with my kids

Chris:

5. Order Chinese take-out

4. Nyquil

3. Walk the dog

2. Mindless TV

1. Run

Things I have to constantly remind myself

Brook:

5. Veronica Mars airs on Tuesdays now. Not Wednesdays

4. Small children don't understand sarcasm.

3. The garbage men pick up at our house on Tuesdays and Fridays. Therefore, if it is a day other than Tuesday or Friday, they are not coming.

2. Going to bed at a reasonable hour makes it much easier to get up in the mornings.

1. Bills are due every month.

Chris:

5. Call my parents.

4. Don't buy things I don't need.

3. Don't pay full price for books.

2. Be patient.

1. This is your life; accept it.

Places I don't want to visit again

Brook:

5. Memphis, Tennessee

4. Little Rock, Arkansas

3. Houma, Louisiana

2. Midland, Texas

1. Odessa, Texas

Chris:

5. Midland, Texas

4. Kentucky

3. Rockville, Maryland

2. West Virginia

1. New Orleans, Louisiana

Lesson's I've learned

Brook:

5. A goal without a plan is just a wish.

4. Your credit rating is important.

3. Worrying is a waste of time.

2. Pinching pennies is fine when shopping for dishwashing detergent or paper towels, but not for toilet paper or oven mitts.

1. Happiness is a choice, as is kindness. Both are choices worth making every day.

Chris:

5. There will always be detractors.

4. Be kind as often as possible.

3. Be willing to compromise.

2. Practice humility.

1. Don't fear challenges.

Favorite songs to sing along to

Brook:

5. "Army" by Ben Folds Five

4. "Here Comes Your Man" by The Pixies

3. "Space Oddity" by David Bowie

2. "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys

1. "One Week" by the Barenaked Ladies

Chris:

5. "Back on the Chain Gang" by The Pretenders

4. "Do You Want To?" by Franz Ferdinand

3. "Michelle" by the Beatles

2. "The Passenger" by Iggy Pop

1. "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John

Favorite stand-up comics

Brook:

5. Brian Regan

4. Sarah Silverman

3. Dave Chappelle

2. Steven Wright

1. Bill Hicks

Chris:

5. Emo Phillips

4. Sarah Silverman

3. Sam Kinison

2. Eddie Murphy

1. Mitch Hedberg

Things my coworkers don't know about me

Brook:

5. I'm an ice cream snob. (I only buy Ben & Jerry's.)

4. I played the french horn in junior high school.

3. I still dream of someday becoming a professional cartoonist.

2. My all-time favorite food is garlic bread.

1. I have ADHD.

Chris:

5. I have an affinity for classic Neil Diamond tunes.

4. I'm not as conservative as they are.

3. I hate spiders.

2. I still consider the Peace Corps a viable (though unlikely) option.

1. I contribute to a haiku website.

CDs (artists) in my car right now

Brook:

5. Belle & Sebastian

4. The Flaming Lips

3. Wilco

2. Kelly Clarkson

1. Weezer

Chris:

5. Belle & Sebastian

4. R.E.M.

3. Ambulance LTD

2. The Pixies

1. The Talking Heads

Best live concerts I've attended

Brook:

5. R.E.M.

4. Barenaked Ladies

3. Ben Folds

2. Dave Matthews Band

1. U2

Chris:

5. Edie Brickell

4. Stevie Wonder

3. Harry Connick Jr.

2. Air

1. The Pixies

Office pet peeves

Brook:

5. Clients

4. People who think coworker = best buddy

3. Office gossip

2. Incompetence

1. Whiners

Chris:

5. People who check voicemail over speaker phone with no regard to volume

4. Ungrateful recipients whom you helped

3. Older employees who begrduge policy changes (ADAPT!!!)

2. Over-eager new hires

1. People who don't know what you do but feel compelled to tell you how to do it