If I could be....

The PalmTree Pundit tagged me with the "If I were...." game. As she explains it, it's played this way: I pick 5 occupations on the list below and tell what I'd do if I had them. Then I tag 3 people, and they post the answers on their blog. Here's the list: If I could be a scientist...If I could be a farmer...If I could be a musician...If I could be a doctor...If I could be a painter...If I could be a gardener...If I could be a missionary...If I could be a chef...If I could be an architect...If I could be a linguist...If I could be a psychologist...If I could be a librarian...If I could be an athlete...If I could be a lawyer...If I could be an inn-keeper...If I could be a professor...If I could be a writer...If I could be a llama-rider...If I could be a bonnie pirate...If I could be an astronaut...If I could be a world famous blogger...If I could be a justice on any one court in the world...If I could be married to any current famous political figure... If I could be a chef, I'd be a very, very famous chef, who has lots of sous chefs and other minions helping out with the food prep and the clean-up. Then, all I'd have to do is look pretty and blend pre-measured, pre-cleaned, pre-chopped ingredients together in wonderful, and presumably tasty, combinations. Boy, wouldn't my family be happy? If I could be a painter, I'd paint in the old-fashioned mode of trying to convey truth and beauty to the viewer. In this, I'd be distinct from many modern artists who, untethered both from the medieval faith-based painters and from the later photo-realism painters who strove for beauty, are often indistinguishable from lizards with paint brushes tied to their forelegs. If I could be a writer, I'd indulge my long-standing dream, not to write the Great American Novel, but to write the Great American Best-Selling Novel. Could I live with myself, though, if I wrote potboilers? If I could be a justice on any one court in the world, I'd like to be on the United States Supreme Court so that I could have some meeting time with Justice Antonin Scalia. Even in articles meant to be critical of him, he comes across as intelligent, funny, principled and honest. I'd also enjoy a chance at undoing just a little bit of the more recent Supreme Court acts of activism. If I could be a world famous blogger, I'd still retain my anonymity, because I think it would be fun to move through my liberal community with all around me unaware that millions regularly tune in to catch my pithy, astute, erudite, well-connected commentary. And I now tag GW, Steve, and Phibian. Go to it, guys! Make me proud. UPDATE: GW, Steve and Phibian all took me up on the challenge and did indeed do me proud. Thanks so much!