1. How closely do you think good manners are related to income and social status? Very much so. Maybe not social status but stable consistent income, not just gobs of money, as well as a stable family with a stable routine, tend to raise families with good manners and social skills.
2. Can the idea of good manners inhibit people’s natural sense of fun and inhibition? I don’t think so. Sure we may hold back sometimes but maybe sometimes not always going for the uninhibited comment, action or reaction is a good thing.
3. Do people have more manners now or in earlier times? As an entire society – yes, we are all more mannerly, more considerate to one another. When we watch the news and we see the craziness going on, we think all is lost but we live in the best times this world has ever known with the highest economic prosperity for everyone. Sure there are inequities that can be addressed but we are not living in the dark ages anymore.
4. Do you say “hi” to people even if they are strangers? Why? Why not? Yeah, I do. I don’t do this in the city but in rural Colorado visits I also wave at the cars and trucks that I encounter – a that is the socially polite thing to do.
5. Do you listen to other’s people conversations on the street? Eavesdropping is great – and in keeping with this week’s questions, not really polite. I miss taking the public transit into work for the eavesdropping and people watching each morning and evening.
The word creepy is what makes this a difficult question. Probably have to go with something from the animal world – like those fesh that live in the deep ocean and are allowed to live like parasites attached to the bodies of bigger fish. The odd and creepy circle of life.
2. What are you sick of explaining?
How I got the scar on my face as a young child. It’s why I wear a beard.
3. What purchase was worth every penny?
Sure there is my car – 12 year’s old and under 100,000.00. But I don’t drive much these days. Work from home and when / if we go back to the office it is bus and light rail to downtown. But I am going to go with my Bang & Olfsen A! speakers. Casting to them with a smartphone app I have the best stereo I have evr had with two little speakers with arena-filling sound. Magnificent.
4. What simple, daily habit changed your life?
Doing the New York Times crossword puzzle everyday. I am not perfect at it yet, but I do pretty good. Changed my life by forcing me awake and to think each morning.
5. What’s your biggest “I just dodged a bullet” moment?
Probably the time I was coming home from a work holiday party down in South Aurora and got pulled over by an Arapahoe County Sheriff and was allowed to go on home – rather than the inevitable DUI charge that I definitely deserved. Shame on me.
1. You can only add two things to freshly cooked rice, what do you add? Easy – a life long snack – rice, butter, and an ample glug of soy sauce. Salty umami
2. What was the worst thing you had ever smelled? Cow manure freshly laid down on a cabbage field in a farm in Stuttgart, Germany. There is earthy and, then there is overkill.
3. What meal is better as leftovers as opposed to the day it was cooked? Most Italian dishes but I am going with lasagne.
4. What is your best home-prepared entree that rivals any restaurant? I found this chicken chili stew recipe that has spicy chilies and savory spices like cinnamon and allspice. Served with toasted almonds and unsweetened whipped cream.
5. What is a kitchen aroma that sends you back to a special time and place? Freshly cooked bread reminds me of my mom’s kitchen growing up – she baked bread probably two or three times a month and it was divine.
While we are all working through virus shit – staying home and stuff – we may find our selves starring at the tv or the laptop, tablet, phone.
What are 5 YouTube or Vimeo music videos, performances, docs that you have been watching as we are all hunkered down.
This kid- he is a young 20 year old wanna be rapper who has slowly realized that there is other music besides hip hop and rap. Watch as he and his twin brother revel in the genius of Phil Collins. His channel is pretty addictive:
2. And while we are on the subject of twins – check out these subway buskers who have mastered The Beatles:
1. What’s your favorite “go-to” comfort food? Macaroni and cheese. Steaming hot plate of cheesy chewy goo. My sister makes with Rotel tomatoes with habanero peppers and adds cream cheese along with cheddar and Velvetta. It rocks.
2. What is your favorite “go-to” comfort cocktail? The gin and tonic has been my go-to drink for years. Easy and peasy.
3. Is there a cocktail that in no way will every be crafted/consumed? From my bartender’s cocktail recipe cookbook with no cover or copyright page, I support the following: The Frostbite 1 1/4 ounce White Tequila 1/2 oz white creme de cocoa 1 tsp. honey 1 -2 dash bitters mix in a blender with ice and serve in a cocktail glass.
4. What would be the worst name for a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor? “Toilet Funk and Nutz”
5. Earth is visited by curious aliens. What is the first food that should be introduced to and would represent the Earth? Single slice cheese pizza.
1. Where is the most beautiful nature in your area?
Tough question – I live in Colorado there is so much but there is a nice beautiful wilderness up near Crested Butte that has this spectacular meadow of wildflowers that will take your breath away.
2. Does your household grow some of its own food?
No. I am an apartment dweller with little to no southeast exposure so getting ample sun is difficult.
3. Do you recycle or repurpose a lot, a little, or somewhere in between?
I should recycle – I don’t. Again, as an apartment dweller the way to do it in my complex is not easy – it’s not like a house where you can wheel the recyclables to the curb for pick up. Maybe this will be a new “At Home” project to get better at this.
4. What do you think the most endangered part of the Earth is?
The oceans. The sea is the big band-aid that is supposed to balance out the environment and the atmosphere. When the band-aid is sick, we are all sick.
5. What is the single best way for an individual to help the environment?
Drive less. Take your tote bags to the grocery store and where available use renewable energy.
1. What is the single worst movie you sat through hoping it would get better but didn’t? The Abyss. We went to see it at “The Flicka” in Gunnison. Movies on the screen, movies to rent in racks in the lobby, and better than average bar food to take in with you to watch the flick. I took my parents, in town to visit their college-bound son. We ended up leaving in the middle. I have never left a movie in the middle while in the theater, The night` ended with some pie and maybe a milkshake.
2. What hit American tv show do you just not get the appeal of at all? Most competitive reality TV shows. I just don’t understand the appeal.
3. What was your favorite television show as a kid? Why? The Saturday night block – Carol Burnett Show – The Love Boat, then Fantasy Island. Classic must-see TV.
4. As a kid, did you get obsessed each fall over the Saturday morning network cartoon line up? Oh, yeah. There was usually a Friday night prime time special on the Saturday shows and we (my hood friends, Clancy and Greg and Jay and Rita and Julz) would watch and discuss. I remember getting excited about Lassie’s Rescue Rangers.
5. Add “and Hitler” to the end of the title of a book, movie, or TV show. What is it about now? “Blazing Saddles” The sheriff takes on the German dictator in a Wild West showdown.
1. What’s the newest thing you have learned to do? Make and use sourdough no knead bread. MMM good. Crunchy, sour and so easy.
2. What is the oldest thing you can remember learning in school? I still fall back on our odd reading by color system that was used in first through third grade.
3. What do you want to learn to do next? Learn how to sew hand made men’s dress shirts.
4. If you were to go back to school and get another degree, what would you study? Get a Master’s in Fine Arts in Creative Writing.
5. What is the longest (doorstop quality) book that you have read? Biggest book I read was “Infinite Gest” by David Foster Wallace.
