Happy 39th birthday to him today. Also, to him and all other Canadians, congratulations on preserving your national igloo. (Seriously Rick, it’s been over seven years now since 09.11. We need you back across the border highlighting our ignorance.) Time for the friday5.org Friday Five.

1. Who frightens you?
I can’t go with people I personally know here for obvious reasons, so I’ll go with Alaska Senator Ted Stevens for an answer here.

2. Who regularly surprises you?
I can’t really think of an answer for this one, because so little these days surprises me.

3. Who calms you down?
When I can have a good-length conversation with Mom, she gives me the best advice I can think of. I have some friends in the area who can do the same thing, but I don’t get to talk with them that much any more.

4. Who inspires you?
These days I try to focus more on inspiring myself than looking to others for inspiration. This is not as wise of a strategy as you’d think it would be.

5. Who admires you perhaps more than he or she should?
People admire me? That’s news.

(Hey, I’m still sick, so I’m not in the mood for long, drawn-out answers, okay?)