22, shampoo girl

"How's it going? That's it? I don't know how's it going. [To her boyfriend] Hey, honey, how's it going?"

32, chef

"It's going great."

20, line cook

"Ruthless is how the hell it's going. Lost the keys to my house twice in the last week. I'm falling apart. I'm the most unhealthy person in Baltimore, and that's a direct quote."

26, homemaker

"It's going very well, very happy with everything."

3 in June, toddler

"I'm 5."

82, senior citizen

"I'm sorry. How's it going? What's going? How's it going? Pretty good. Is that it?"

34, bike messenger

"It's going well."

46, computer programmer

"Really well. Is that it? We just ended our season in first place."

56, crossing guard

"You know what I'm going to say to that? Fantastic. What could be better?

20, warehouse worker

"I'm doing good."

54, material analyst

"OK. That's the question? OK."

65, part-time public-school assistant

"It's going OK. I got a diagnosis of bone cancer. Things are looking better. The medicine is real expensive--$1,300 a month."

74, retired

"How's it going? Depends on what you're talking about. Some things are going good. Some things are not."

54, tow-truck operator, B&B Towing

"Working hard. Children are grown. Pretty good shape. In a forward manner, not a backward manner."

28, health information associate

"Pretty good. Not bad."

27, waiter

"Let me see. I want to say it in one word. 'Beautifully.' I wonder if my mother would be proud of that."

30, unemployed framer

"Not good. Just had my finger injured at work, and I have no workmen's-comp claim because I was working after hours. Now I have no job. They fired me."

47, musician

"Going great. Playing music. Doesn't get any better. I thought you were going to ask me about the war or something."

37, department of public works laborer

"Rough, but I know it will get better. I'm gonna do some things later. I have faith in God. He's gonna pull me through."

25, unemployed since Sept. 11--formerly worked at the World Trade Center

"It's cold. I'm freezing."

19, "Looking for a job--that's my job."

"All right, cool."

54, registered nurse

"Ha ha. How's it going? Jeez. It could mean so many different things. Although I feel like I'm doing real well, it's still a difficult time dealing with 9-11. Seeing everything that's going on over there with the soldiers. I'm having a hard time. I'm not sure about others. I feel like I've wanted constant contact with my husband. I'm looking forward to spring to give us new hope and new life. I've never had to deal with this before. It's a very difficult time in my life. Especially seeing my children go through this. That's something I thought they'd never have to deal with. Things will never be the same."

35, priest at St. Jude Shrine

"Great. Best time of my life. I'm in a wonderful city spreading faith and hope and reaching out with God's love."

37, credit-department associate for auto-parts dealer

"I don't know. That's what I usually say when people ask me how's it going."