meet me out in the open field
together we'll watch the stars align
a few will shoot adding to the thrill
as we wish them yours and mine

in the years to come we'll speak of this
with heartfelt memories
as we reminisce over a kiss
and call it meant to be...

I sat down to make a list
Of things that I don't need
Starting with this heart you see
That beats inside of me

Without love to help it bleed
There is no need for it to beat
So these things that I don't need
I'll toss them off into the breeze

Next I moved onto my mind
When all it does is to remind
Of the days and of the times
When I was yours and you were mine

The ears my dear that used to hear
Your sweet voice when you were near
Plus my eyes that made it clear
There's not much to see without you here

Then took a look at both my hands
My two arms that used to wrap
When all is done and all is said
What I once held there's nothing left

The feet on me that used to move
When I walked beside of you
They're not much use to tell the truth
When without you what can I do

Easy enough to see in what I say
Why I would throw myself away
No longer whole is how I'm made
Without you here to make my day

With the nickname glow worm
A jingle jangle jungle flunky
Experiment gone completely wrong
Radiation Monkey

Ran out of the backdoor
This monkey on the lamb
Glowing footprints across the floor
Running fast this lab rat

See him in the hills at night
Swinging wild amongst the trees
Don't get too close cause he might bite
Radiation Monkey

With the strength of 20 men
He started robbing grocery stores
They say he has the brightest grin
Banana smudges left on doors

Where they lift his fingerprints
Taping off of the crime scene
Geiger counters loudly tic
Radiation Monkey

A menace to society
This florescent ape that's escaped
A radiating personality
Waiting for you to make his day

Wanted posters all over town
Doubling up the bounty
They'll take him live or in the ground
Radiation Monkey

Lessons lived are lessons learned
Latch the windows, bolt the doors
Mistakes are made then hard earned
For stupidity there is no cure

In the lab behind those doors
Is where genius and crazy meet
They might lose a few but they'll make more
Radiation Monkey's

An Interview Of Mike On His Absence And Dramatic Return- Conducted by Himself

M. So Mike I hear you've been gone?

MH. Why yes I have!

M. Why the absence?

MH. I just needed some time to clear my head.

M. That should have taken no more than a couple minutes

MH. Ahhh...no, I was gone a couple weeks. I was going to stay out a month but this site is so addictive! I'm sure our listening audience can attest to that!

M. Audience? No ones listening to this...

MH. But you said...

M. Me?

MH. Yes you said when we were talking that I was going to be on the radio.

M. Dude you're me...

MH. I know!

M. You're blowing my mind here...Can we just get on with this?

MH. Sure...What I was trying to do was really just find myself.

M. Find yourself...were your lost?

MH. No just needed to try and do away with some of the junk in my life.

M. I'm starting to wonder if I'm you then why is this the first time I'm hearing about it.

MH. That is odd isn't it..

M. Almost as odd as interviewing yourself.

MH. Almost

M. So any good poems written while you were gone?

MH. To tell the truth I couldn't stop writing...If they're any good only time will tell.

M. How do you think the interview is going so far? Am I doing alright? Asking the tough questions?

MH. I think you're the best...That's why I only let me interview myself!

M. Speaking of interviews I've got another one scheduled I really need to run...

MH. Really? With who?

M. Oh it's you but you the World Famous Nuclear Physicist!

MH. But I'm not a...

M. Hey...It's what we call in journalism as a lead in... Keeps them coming back for more.

MH. But I'm...

M. Don't worry, we'll make something up...

MH. We always do...

M. Ain't THAT the truth!

MH. Shall we do it over lunch?

M. Sounds good...you buying?

We need another Martin Luther King
Today now more than ever
Someone to take the faithful leap
That will bring us all together

Who sees the plight of man for what it is
All one race, no color
Where together in harmony we all shall stand
Sister to sister, brother to brother

A leader with a vision set on a mission
With open arms and callused hands
That will peacefully fight for all that's right
Over every square inch of this land

To lift us out of this world in doubt
Not silent on what really matters
Raising our voices in joyful sound
A world where we love each other

One who hears the righteous call
And says here I am send me
For freedoms sake above it all
Like Martin Luther King

CONSUMED by the world
and all of its ills
the continuous plight
that won't leave my mind still

CONSUMED by the arrogant
air that's expelled
drawn into tender lungs
where the innocence melts

CONSUMED by the anger
CONSUMED by the hate
by the wicked of days
in which we play

CONSUMED by what i think
is expected of me
by the social acceptance
i foolisly feel that i need

CONSUMED by comments and arguments
thrown in my face
CONSUMED by the lack of love
the overabundance of hate

CONSUMED by the thoughts
that circle my head
that leave me exhausted
till there's nothing left

In the arms of struggle
While bedding down with strife
Trouble loves to cuddle
In this life we find

Finders are reminders
Losers always weep
Nothing is as easy
As you thought it'd be

Climbing corporate ladders
You'll slip on missing rungs
Saddened is the debtor
Buried deep in loans  

Those that are in the know
Learn to play for keeps
Life ain't as easy bro
As you'd hoped it'd be

Nothing is as easy
As the fickle hand of fate
You can count on early
Never is it late

At first glance you don't
But now you kindly see
Nothing is as easy
As 1 and 2 and 3

You take what little's left
A smidgen of the truth
And with that bitter bit
Is it good for you

You shuffle right along
To the never-ending beat
Where nothing is as easy
As you thought it'd be

What might have been
We'll never know
The secret kept
In the letting go
If we'd held on
To way back when
Then perhaps we'd know
What might have been

What might have been
Has earned its keep
In the who knows when
Of history
With vision blurred
Through sifting sands
Not knowing where or when
What Might have been

There ain't a whole lot going on
With these thoughts here on their own
Dig deep enough you're bound to find
There's not much to see inside this mind

You might catch my eyes in mid-blur
When the rusty gears start to turn
Not sure what that means in the scheme of things
It might just be the grind that helps me breath  

No there ain't a lot found back to front
Inside this mind, that's going on
How many fingers am I holding up
Table for one, out to lunch

To the party, my thoughts are running late
When they gave the last door prize away
Soon enough you find the well is dry
With the rusty bucket of this mind

It's a hit and miss on the bait and switch
When you have so little to work with
A turn of the cards a toss of the dice
There's not much going on inside this mind

You've been the constant beside me
The calm inside of my wild sea
That pushes and pulls the blue in my soul
The forever peace to my needs

You've been the flowering fragrance
The treasure that says you can keep it
The silver and gold as life unfolds
The first sliver of light come to greet it

You've been the miracle in the making
The gift of the day for the taking
The stronghold of hope that never let's go
The grace that is made in the saving

You've been the goodness in the deed
The perfect tone to my phones ring
The fine-tooth comb that combs out my alone
You've been the constant beside me

World War 3
Well slap my knee
Another something
To put us on edge

The way they jump the gun
Is just plan dumb
Will someone
Pull us back from the ledge

As they dig in deep
The latest catastrophe
They try to feed
Into our heads

Treating us like sheep
In their keep
Whether we baa or bleat
To slaughter we're being lead

We all follow along
Whether we whistle or hum
Mostly out to lunch
Believing every word that is said

And here we are World War 3
Well slap my knee
Another something
To put us on edge

Never judge the outside of a man
If you've no idea of what he holds within
The places he's going or the places he's been
Never judge the outside of a man

Never judge a book you haven't read
If you haven't taken the time to bend the cover back
Or dog eared a page to contemplate what it says
Never judge a book you haven't read

Never judge one or the other
The outside of a man or a book by its cover
It's what's on the inside that you can rely
Never judge one or the other

Here at the gate
Of what was and what is
Ready to take
The very next step

With one foot forward
The other in line
Curious as to what
Next I will find

When I come to the gate
Of what is and will be
With the ever-present thought
Of what's next for me

With one foot forward
The other keeping steady pace
Making my way
Through gate after gate

In order to save some money
Which in hindsight wasn't smart
Me and my buddies got together
To make our own fireworks

And as luck would have it
We found all we need under the kitchen sink
The whole time looking to do this cheap
Instead, we came out free

Knowing this day would draw a crowd
As soon as the rumor mill filled up
So in our vast wisdom with a few cells missing
We mixed the batch up in Jimmy's tub

Not being exact on science
As illustrated in that magazine
We felt no need to measure
And might have gone a bit extreme

As soon as the stuff started bubbling up
That thought did cross our minds
Remember at the start, saying it wasn't smart
And that little mention of hindsight

With the size of the flash, little wonder we're not ash
And still have all our fingers and toes
It's hard to explain the size of the bang
And why now Jimmy's house is one big hole

But we did put on a show not soon forgotten
That could be seen from outer space
And where Jimmy's house used to be
There's now a community pool in its place

So come and join us on this holiday
Burgers, beer, and of course fireworks
In fact, we're heading to Davy's house now
To mix a few things up...

Can you pinky me this promise
One day all of this will change
Little boys and girls across the world
Will never be afraid

Can you pinky me this promise
A time of no more wars
That the raise of fist that started this
Will instead be the hand that serves

Can you pinky me this promise
That we'll all go color blind
Rubbing shoulders with all those that
Bleed red on the inside

Can you pinky me this promise
That love will rule the day
Those whom hate holds will let them go
And let love have its say

Can you pinky me this promise
That all this will come true
No more anger left in the heart of man
Can you pinky this promise soon

Hey kid, whatcha doing here
Has it already been a year
Father time is all grown up
2020 I wish you luck

Years gone by to tell the truth
Have been more than a bit rough on you
It's time to pass off the baton
To the new kid on the block

This new kid to come along
We hope to fatten him all up
With the best of everything
All the goodies life can bring

We'll treat this year like no other
Save the baby and bathwater
Keep him around until he's old
Polishing the silver, shining the gold

As every year we hold out hope
That this one's not all that she wrote
Oh and if you don't mind,
One more thing

Will you get the phone...
I think I hear the New Year ring

here is where it starts
here is where it ends
here's to new beginnings
here's to passing friends
here's to childhood memories
all the best of them
here's to heartfelt promises
may they never come undone
here's to what we give away
that which we weren't meant to save
here's to what we don't have now
but hold out for another day
here's to all the advice
we chose not to give
here's to the ear that's meant to lend
in the art of listening
here's to the days that gently glide
as in a well-oiled machine
here's to the love that never dies
here's to you and me
here's to the times of happiness
may they always stick around
here's to the bouts of sadness
that make happiness that much more profound
here's to the here and now
set, died, and cast
all that we are allowed
may these days forever last

the man on the tight rope
is doing his best
to hold onto false hope
as tight as he can

with his days unbalanced
being blown in the breeze
life's always a challenge
when you're weak in the knees

the man on the tight rope
is too frightened to turn
while in mid-flow
his rope slowly burns

felling all by himself
above the vast crowd
he would have done well
to sit this one out

the man on the tight rope
deathly afraid of the heights
if he'd only tried harder
he might have made it further in life

i find overtime i strive
for mediocrity
if i never try and reach that high
no one expects too much from me

what occurs in lessons learned
take it all with a grain of salt
i might get burned when it's my turn
but i won't have far to fall

overtime what i tend to find
is i barely skip a beat
when in this life i find i strive
for mediocrity

You, without a clue
At the wrongs that you do
To what you put yourself through

Out on the streets
Of insanity
Is getting so old with nothing new

In your choice of drug
Being whatever shows up
You've never been the picky kind

Whatever uppers they have
Or downers you get
Just as long as you get high

Satan holds out his hand
As you pay him parched rent
One day the balance will come due

And you unconcerned
When it comes to your turn
That it will be the death of you

So you continue to beg
For whatever you can
Dragging calloused feet on the streets

As we all wonder about you
You without a clue
At the depth of your insanity

why do they call it a sneeze
when it's clearly achoo
or call you a nut
when you have a loose *****
they say do not speak
unless spoken to
i sometimes don't
but most often do

why does a mosquito buzz
when it comes in for a bite
why does light always rhyme
with the darkness of night
if they've had enough
they say go fly a kite
why is the cut off for cats
stop at nine lives

why if the world spins so fast
we don't all fly off
why does the doctor go there
then asks you to cough
why does your age mostly show
to those but not you
why is the grass green
why is the sky blue

are the sun and the moon
the best of good friends
do they stay up late nights
after we've long gone to bed
and who's in charge of the sugar plums
that dance in my head
that have gone to my hips
that are making me fat

just a few things
i ponder in life
the over and under
the may and just might
the good and the bad
the wrong and the write
the wondrous blunders
as I plunder through life

Thought they had it won with ease
When along came Trump
Goodbye 2016
When along came Trump
They have yet to figure out
Why he won there's little doubt
A nation lost, a nation found
Hold on tight it's going down
When along came Trump

They all tried to socialize
When along came Trump
A media that's filled with lies
When along came Trump
Has their heads in full spin
Tasting their own medicine
Did it once will do it again
2020 on the horizon
When along came Trump

Living life high on the hog
When along came Trump
Our government is crooked ya'll
When along came Trump
Voted in to clean the swamp
That is what the people want
He's the do in all the don'ts
Has the will to all the want's
When along came Trump

They were eating all the pie
When along came Trump
Would not share a simple slice
When along came Trump
He pulled out a knife and fork
On day one he went to work
Miss Liberty now is holding court
Open windows and open doors
When along came Trump

This train was rolling rusty tracks
When along came Trump
With the bridge out up ahead
When along came Trump
He took his art and made the deal
With the left still in mid-squill
Has them under his right heal
He'll bend them till he breaks their will
When along came Trump

i find myself in the middle
in what i'm going through
with the left wrong, the right too far gone
misconstrued attitudes

raising hands of you bet we can
in everything they do
someone must be lying
to tell you the truth

i find myself in the middle
where it gets hard to breath
as both sides of this conundrum
put a squeeze on me

with tear filled eyes i see both sides
are beyond reasonable belief
i find myself in the middle
is the perfect fit for

How can you say you love
And then proclaim your hate
How can you preach more than enough
Then take it all away

How can you not see
You're the one that's blind
How can you say that you are free
While bottled up inside

How can you dangle hold
Out hope for those
And then tie a noose
At both ends of the rope

How can you even stand
To live with yourself
And if you can't
How can you expect anyone else

How can you say
Follow me rightfully
When the way you've made
Is the deadest of dead-end streets

How can you ask the hand in dance
Drawing close cheek to cheek
When you're so far out of touch with those
That are in desperate need

How can you say with a straight face
You'll bring about a change
When you yourself have sold your soul
And given ours away

How can you even stand
To live with yourself
And if you can't
How can you expect anyone else

They tell me who
I'm supposed to be
Who I am
Other than me

Give me pills
To cure my ills
To calm me down
To stand me still

A special line
To make me mind
That I wait in
With those alike

They say I'm free
To be me
Inside this box
Of conformity

As they fill there funds
With another bill
And keep me numb
With another pill

They tell me who
I'm supposed to be
Who I am
Besides me

You'll never have the time
If you don't own up to the minute
Or recognize a lie
If you first don't see the truth
You'll never swim in this life's sea
If you don't dive head first into it
And you'll never be happy
Trying to be someone other than you

You'll never cry tears of joy
Till you've lived through the pain
And hope, you'll never ever find
If you first don't learn to loose
Or learn the wrong from the right
The way things have been lately
And how in no time the new
Turns out to be the used

Things will never add up
If love's not in the equation
To tell you the truth
A point too often moot
You can tell that you still have a heart
If you can feel it aching
And you'll never really be happy
Trying to be someone other than you

When I'm all by myself, just me
I like to sit back and conjure up dreams
Dreaming of newly-acquired and past memories
And places that I've never been

Dreams filter through as if they too knew
I'd love to sail away on the calm ocean blue
Where my body stays put as my mind continually moves
Sitting here with nothing better to do

Then in a beat with a wink and a series of nods
I might end up on a high mountain top
Or a desert mirage with no time for time clocks
Without once vacating this spot

When I see I have the need to take me a leave
I sit back, relax, and plant several seeds
From dark forests greens to bright city streets
Is where I often dream and earn this my keep

So if you see me with my eyes all a glaze
Please leave me be in my dream state of awake
I'll be back soon before it's too late
To dream yet another day

I shot an arrow
into the sky
pierced a cloud
that was passing by

Roaring thunder
causing pain
crying out
in sheets of rain

Which flooded fields
where flowers grew
I choose this one
to give to you

I can see from the front
That we can't take it back
All the years that we had
All the years that are left

All the tears that were spilt
All the laughter we spent
All the comings and goings
In the then's and the when's

As we move towards tomorrow
Where there's more yesterdays
The less that we save
In the giving away

From the time that was borrowed
Our pants pockets filled
With the lint of our sorrow
And the change that we feel

When we find there's a hole
That continues to tear
Losing it all
To the forgotten years

i can't stand the sound of silence
it gives me time to think
because after all, it brings on the thoughts
of what's become of me

in thoughts of where i'm going
and those of where i've been
and how this hole inside my soul
needs more than needle and thread

and yet the sound of silence
will not leave me be
placing demands inside my head
the thoughts i shouldn't keep

I met a man in a playful tune
Who had a thought I thought I knew
He said to me goo goo g'joob
Does anything sound more real to you

We were out standing in a field
With fresh strawberries dancing at our heels
In a moment a bit too surreal
Continue on Bungalow Bill

We moved past a four-man line
As we slipped into dream #9
Being there for the benefit of Mr. Kite
When Lucy and her diamonds fell from the sky

A day in the life left tragically
Our mystery tour on a yellow submarine
The revolution of love has now left the building
In a puddle of memories out on the street

She held your hand to comfort you
The color of love now the color of blue
Till the bitter end, you sang passion true
Goodbye to you Goo goo g'joob...

We're all told to be careful
It's been known to break some hearts
In the mad rush to be helpful
The jealousy of love

It'll slip up on you in a frenzy
Ripping out your foolish heart
When you least expect you have the need
The jealousy of love

How many times have you been warned
Far more often than not
And yet here you are back at the door
The jealousy of love

Like a fruit, forbidden you
Bitter to the tongue
As it sits in wait to make its move
The jealousy of love

Caught up in the dilemma
Do you stay or move along
With no one the clear winner
The jealousy of love

If hindsight had two eyes
To look ahead
And look behind
I'm sure then
I'd realize at

How much I needed you

Before it is
I let you go
In the passion
Of the throe
I wish then
What I now know is

How much I needed you

Before my world
Came undone
Before I learned
The meaning of true love
Before I knew
How much the cost was in

How much I needed you

Now that it all
Is different
At the very
Bitter end
All I can think of
Is back then and

How much I needed you

December chill
Is the sound
All this past year
Has  allowed


The ups and downs
The ins and outs
The tears of loss
The Wayward found
The picking up
The setting down


December chill
Brings to an end
All this past year
Has thrown in

Every now and then
the darkness
Seeps through my walls
Drips from my ceiling
Covers my thoughts
Paints me into a corner
With me at a loss
Every now and then when
the darkness
Seeps through my walls

i just happen
to stop by
happenstance?
or
the right time
circumstance
you could be right
on this
coincidental rhyme

takes me where
i need to be
on this wild
imaginary stream
from point a
to point b
on through
z
in reckoning

in the light
of ties that bind
bring it all
into light
line by line
by
inticing line
on this
coincidental rhyme  

in the turning
of the page
secrets there
to give away
brought to you
this truth
face to face
as this rhyme
makes its way

wrap the finger string
and pull it tight
keep it there
to remind
of the day
you chanced to find
the jest
of this
coincidental rhyme

it's strange to think
my friends will die
and stranger yet
so will i

leaping to
the great beyond
will i leave
with a smile on

and will that smile
say goodbye
when i reach
the other side

waking to
the sweet by and by
is that when
i'll know i've died

will there be
room for me
when i reach
eternity

and what will i do
with all that time
when all my friends
and i both die

this is a little poem
with not a whole lot to it
before you know it's up and done
quits before it blows it

moves about along its way
haphazard merrily
there's not a lot it has to say
in desperate need of no upkeep

this is a little poem
in need of no one else
generally gets along
happily all by itself

although it's new to the scene
it doesn't waste much time
it's not here to dive in deep
it's not here to wine and dine

this is a little poem
to some, it's known as the peep squeak
one line at a time is how it rolls
one roll of the drum is how it beats

with packed bags at the ready
always ready to make its leave
this little poem
here and gone in a blink

You look at me and all you see
Is the simplest of clowns
In all I do acting out the fool
Whenever you're around

Not just the nose that's red of course
As I embarrass myself too much
Trying to impress with what little I have
This fool for you in love

With the atmosphere of a Circus here
I pull out all the stops
If you can imagine me in Center  ring
Giving it everything I've got

A clown that hopes you like bad jokes
And can't get enough
You can take that thought all the way to the BigTop
With this fool for you in love

Juggling with all my might, this crazy life
To bring you close to me
The Greatest Show on Earth for what it's worth
That you have ever seen

With painted smile wide as a mile
This clown making his run
All a part of me, you can clearly see
I'm a fool for you in love

Play for me a melody
Something in a far off tune
One that brings the sounds together
The way it's meant to do

A symphony to fill the need
Of those who have lost sight
As woodwinds permeate the air we breath
Setting music into flight

Play for me a rhapsody
One that takes me to cloud nine
Swoon me into ecstasy
As euphoria waits in line

With a hand held over my warming heart
As it flutters to the beat
Play for me a melody
That is ever so soft and sweet

This ain't vacation so quit your daydreaming
And get back into line
Ain't here to play, ain't got all-day
Stare off into the distance on your own time

Looking back you're pretty sure this isn't it
The thoughts you had as a kid
Adventure was at the center of how you would live  
Now all you are is a Working Stiff

The punch of the clock beats up those dreams
Every morning right at eight
Where long ago the towel was thrown
Along with everything else you've given away

You made your plans as life made your bed
When you dosed off and lost the list
Now all you are in all of this mess
Is nothing more than a Working Stiff

You watch it all as the camera rolls
This tragic comedy
For the life you want, hold all your calls
You'll have to wait until you are free

You've learned to accept, this life you're left with
As the curse of it is what it is
You may have lost where you're at on this fading map
But it still points to a Working Stiff

He's a man of second chances
Not much at keeping score
Won't hold you to what you're left with
If he can right it by giving more

He holds true to mind your manners
It's a choice in how you live
When asked his name he rightly answers with
Begin Again Finnigan

Mistakes should remain in the past
With every breath a brand new day
Never dwell on what you once had
But what is placed today on your plate

If you've got an ear to hear
His wisdom is cheerfully given
An attitude we all could mirror in
Begin Again Finnigan

Of course, he's had his days of falter
Otherwise, how's a soul to learn
With mistakes being the greatest teacher
When it comes to lessons learned

Sometimes it's hard to take to heart
But that's exactly what he did
Known by those around these parts as
Begin Again Finnigan

Must I be blind before I see
Deaf and dumb with ears that bleed
Call on the young to intercede
On what lies in front of me

Die to all before they hear
Wipe away the infants tears
Hold up the lonely widows fears
Note to self the way is clear

Bring about all that is left
Take this moment to clear my head
Whisper loud what others said
Laying in my unmade bed

Clear my throat and breath in deep
As memory escapes from me
I grab a few before they leave
And let those go that won't let me be

To keep in time strike up the band
See those in need help if you can
From the dead of night to the bird in hand
Every speck of dust, every grain of sand

If you don't mind could you find
I wish I may I wish I might
Give it away without a fight
That which is of pure delight

I know somebody
That has a crush on you
They may not say it
But I know that it's true
Cause all they do all-day
Is think of you
You being the galaxy
That around them moves

I know somebody
That you fill their dreams
During the day
And at night when they sleep
They never do mind
That you won't leave them be
As they really would hate
To see you ever leave

I know somebody
That you cross their mind
From this very moment
And every other time
It's been that way since the day
You came to light
Now the thought of you
Is all they can find

I know somebody
That has eyes for you
That become glued
When you enter the room
No force of nature
Could tear them loose
When this somebody's eyes
Are stuck on you

I know somebody
That you're the air that they breathe
Which must make you
Their greatest need
I know all of this
Believe you me
Down to a T
Because that somebody is me

i used to think this way
that everything would be okay
then life came along, took my needs and wants
now nothing is the same

i used to think i'd find
the rainbows end in life
held a *** of gold instead it held my calls
when reality spent my dime

i used to think the best
would happen at my bequest
but who could have guessed the things i asked
would turn out such a mess

i used to think in dreams
but now i think it seems
that life's cruelty has played its joke on me
and i think i'm in way too deep

At a glance, all you see is a dancer
Making her way across life's stage
With multiple questions to fill in blank answers
Never quite sure of what she should say

Dancing away all her troubles
That bubble up inside her brain
It's hard to keep count with the sound of doubt
Being the tune that continually plays

That's why she's a bit off in rythme
Explains the half-empty smile
Still, she'll keep on in her dancing
Until the day her feet completely leave the ground

Where she'll dance with the night to the stars delight
As they wait in line for their turn
To twist and to twirl with this Galaxy girl
With the answers to questions she’s finally learned