Category: Friday Fives

1. Hello you beautiful fucking thing, how are you this fine day?

Tremendous. I have two doses of Moderna in my arm, the sid effects have passed. I have a job I like and it is spring outside what glorious Rocky Mountain weather.

2. What is the scariest/creepiest thing that happened to you as a kid/teen?

In our 4th/5th elementary school building there was this creepy, dangerous catwalk that ran behind the gym walls and stage that was part of the gym. We would sneak in there, before school or at lunch or sometimes after school to explore – we usually got caught and it was always scary when we did and especially when we got caught.

3. If you came with a warning label, what would it say?

Caution very ticklish. Really, really ticklish, followed by lots of giggles.

4. What makes you say “ah shit… here we go again” whenever it happens?

The traffic – it’s back. Like most folks, I was homebound for the pandemic starting in March, 2020. But I starting driving into the office in November – something that probably saved my sanity as I need people and interaction . And over the the last three or four weeks, the traffic density has been growing to the point that the northbound commute from Arapahoe road in Centennial is nearly at pre-COVID19 levels – so many cars. Folks have come out of hibernation.

5. What traits from your parents have you seen in yourself?

I have my dad’s mannerisms in the way I stand, smile, sit and use my hands. It is almost creepy.

1. Do you like the thrill of a chase?
Well, yeah – who doesn’t!
(So sure the chase – I recently binged “The People vs OJ Simpson.(Yes, I know a bit late to the game. ) This was a very well-done mini-series. I remember watching the chase while working as a newspaper reporter at “The Colorado Statesman and then at home – I distinctly remember that entire weekend as I had to travel from Denver to GrandJuction that evening after work to attend a birthday party for my grandma – maybe her 0th? I don’t remember that part. Anyway, the chase consumed me.)

2. What winds you up?
Too much caffeine – usually coffee in the am and then iced tea in the afternoon.
(Later on, while working at the paper, our office shared in our capitol hill building the offices of a television transcription service – Journal Graphics. They worked with CNN and provided transcriptions to the news channel’s programming. They were furiously transcribing all facets of the trial itself and all of the tertiary coverage. It was fascinating talking with the transcribers as they provided insight theories and observations from the trial.)

3. Are you a loud talker?
Yes, especially if I have had a few cocktails poured into me.
(But really, watch the Netflix run of TPVOJS and you really should come away with the belief that OJ was sooooo guilty.)

4. What comes easy to you?
Talking to strangers and talking in front of people,

(And he was pretty fucked up – a fantastic ego-driven personality unwilling to look forward at his life and circumstances and so able to ignore his own actions and create his own new reality. )

5. What did you dream about recently?
Some sort of work dream and counting out time cards for use in the time clock (we don’t use time cards. )
(But now, looking at it, OJ is in jail, Jeffrey Toobin, who wrote the book that the series was based upon is in the media doghouse for jacking off during a pretty public Zoom call. We have Matt Gaetz proposing lots of ego-driven reality recreations related to his sex scandal and it is as if we the audience and the media never learns from our mistakes on giving credence to the scandals and instead, maybe we should learn to just walk away.)

1. What’s your go-to “comfort movie?”

Finding Forester A Gus Van Zandt movie with Sean Connery – always makes me cry a little bit.

(Really though, can we talk about this big ship stuck in the Suez Canal – a huge tanker ran aground and now is affecting the global economy!)

2. What’s your go-to “comfort food?”

Macaroni and cheese – either that or a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. (Growing up we always called them toasted cheese sandwiches).

(So this ship got stuck due to some huge desert wind storm on the Egyptian side of the canal and is now perpendicular to the walls of the canal and no ships can get through – I am consumed with this thing.)

3. What’s your go-to “outfit?”

Clothes for me are a uniform – jeans, t shirt, maybe a a long sleeved thermal under the Tee. That’s comfort.

(You see, the way these canals work is there is a pilot who takes charges and actually has the command/helm of the boat as it floats through. These pilots make hundreds and hundreds of runs the through the canal each year – it was always doubtful that this was pilot error. )

4. What song are you currently obsessed with and just can’t stop listening?

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. He was nearly death so his symphonies were written to be performed very loudly – take Beethoven symphony and play it loud with some headphones -it will rock your ears.

(So no, they are employing lots and lots of bulldozers and front-end loaders to widen the canal while at the same time using a whole bunch of tug boats in an attempt to dislodge this thing. It ways over 19079 gross tons and is too big to go through the Panama Canal. – this is a big boat.)

5. What’s something that isn’t therapy but feels like it?

Taking really long hot shower with your eyes closed – try it for about 5 minutes.

(But really this is a big boat. A cadre and Japanese and Dutch engineers, from countries with lots of canals and locks, have been sent to the Suez. The latest plan is to empty off the cargo in an attempt to re-float it – this could take several weeks. It is like watching paint dry but i am refreshing this page all day long looking for any progress. )

1. What is the WORST song lyric of all time?
“Simply having a wnderful Christmastime.

2.What is the BEST song lyric of all time?
Got a wife and kid in Baltimore, Jack. Went out for a ride and never came back.

3.What sounds are “music to your ears”?
The sound of a champagne cork popping.

4.What is your favorite Tom Petty Song?
American Girl

5.What are the some of the best live music performances on YouTube?
There is this great version of The Weight with Robbie Robertson and muscians from around the world that I will pull up and watch sometimes. Great performances.

1. It is been a year since the quarantine lockdown. How did you do?

Well, I didn’t get sick – that was a bonus – even after going into the office for four months. So I give myself a Covid grade of “A”

2. What was the best thing about being at home all the time?

Finding some really good TV. And perfected another original cocktail –

Earl and bubbles

2 oz. Gin

1 oz of Earl Grey tea concentrate (steep about 7 or 8 teaspoons of loose Earl Grey tea in hot water for about 5 or 10 minutes to make it really really strong – an ouonce here is a guess, maybe just a bit less – this is a strong flavorful concentrate.)

Raspberry ICE soda

Lime

Ice

Stir and enjoy.

3. What was the worst thing about being at home all the time?

I do not do well working from home. I procrastinate and go into a deep depression. I need to be around people to keep my energy and moods up.

4. What/where are you going to go/do first when this thing is all over?

Probably something, like head off to Fruita/Mack, CO to visit my mom an’em

5. What’s next

April 9, 4:15 – Moderna shot number #2. Bring on the vaccine!

1. There is a glitch in the Matrix – what did you discover?
An underground command center nestled inside a Volcano and Ernst Blofeld and his white cat continue to manipulate the world as the leader of Qanon.

2. What movie is so disturbing, you would never watch it again?
“The Blair Witch Project.” i don’t watch horror movies generally but went with the the team to the debut release weekend and it scared the shit out of me. No need to do that again.

3. What TV series did you love, but got canceled after one season and why did you love it?
“Deadline” starring Oliver Platt about a fictional New York Newspaper. That show really could have gone somewhere. Alas.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadline_(2000_TV_series)

4. What would you do if Barack Obama knocked on your door with a suitcase in hand and said “Hello, I need to spend a few weeks with you.”
I’d point him to the couch as I don’t have a spare room then find out what went so wrong that he can’t afford/take advantage of the thousands of Airbnb sites in Denver.

5. What’s your best “Holy Shit that actually worked!” moment.
I look at this as “What is your best life hack” question. Best life hack No knead bread – the easiest way to let someone think you know how to cook. I made some for my mom at her house and it was a “Holy Shit it actually worked” moment as she didn’t think it would be any good.

1. Which basic skill are you REALLY bad at?

Laundry. It bores me. I really should be better at it. I have counted the steps. From my clothes hamper in the bathroom to my washer/dryer – three steps. Get it together, man!

2. What are the best activities to do when you are high on weed?

Masturbate. – I thought everyone knew this.

3. What’s an obscure interest of yours that you just want to ramble about but rarely do because no one knows what you’re talking about?

Using Linux as a personal laptop operating system – it is a pretty deep in the reeds kind of conversation.

4. What binge worthy YouTube channel would you recommend someone else watches?

Astronaut.io

Via Recomendo ” It’s a website that plays a few seconds of random YouTube videos with almost no views. After a few seconds, it starts playing another video. It’s addictive. Many of the videos aren’t in English.” Which makes it even odder.

5. What is the funniest movie if Joe Pesci played the main character instead?

Elf starring Pesci instead of Will Ferrell as Buddy, the mutha fuckin’ elf.

1. What thing you must experience at least once in life?

Having a birthday meal at Casa Bonita – I have done this multiple times as a youth and as recently as in my 30s. The joint is a thing to behold. Maybe, after this damned pandemic, I’ll organize a fitting soiree there.

2. Which TV show got too big for its boots?

Game of Thrones – a Harlequin Romance tale with swords and dragons. i tried and tied and tired but could never get its lure.

3. What’s the most outdated piece of tech you refuse to get rid of to this day?

Maybe not the specific tech answer but my 2008 Hyundai Tucson a V6 AWD/ 4×4 little SUV that always gets me there – rain, snow sleet the dead of night, the thick heat of summer sun – TROGG (its name) RULES!!!

4. What are some cartoon characters from your childhood that you look at differently as an adult?

Foghorn Leghorn – maybe a cartoonish admiration of a more racist time in the chicken coop. Also. Jonny Quest was kinda gay.

5. If you run a small country, what would be rule #1?

Failure to use the blinker on the vehicle during lane changes is punishable by loss of transportation privileges.

1. What’s your weather?

Very very, very cold. And weird winter weather this year in general. It has a Seattle feel to it.

2. Where are you on your way to?

Some one needs to take me to the liquor store.

3. Are you good with directions?

Generally. I know where the mountains are and that means west and from there I can generally figure most naything out. I am an Eagle Scout – I know how to use a map and compass (turning into a rare skill.) And in this modern world, there is always GPS.

4. Do you know your neighbors?

Not really. Most of them pretty much keep to themselves. May it is due to the pandemic?

5. What do you smell?

Coffee. Freshly brewed coffee. Boyer’s Spoonbender if you must know.

What are the five things you have learned since the Covid19 pandemic.

1. People want to believe in fairy dust and not science.

Science is not a black and white issues and there are always nuances, vairances and degrees – which most folks seem to be inpatient about. I think it is endemic of our capitalist society – you are making money or you are not – almost a Ferengi-like precept to the solution of all problems. When thrown a variables such as a global novel virus pandemic all the capitalist precept are thrown out the door and we stumble and like children act up in defiance because we are scared and confused. So instead of taking the tried ant rue advice to mask up, social distance, stay home and wash our hands we revolt and throw tantrums.
Trust the science and accept the variables that come with it.

2. Sourdough no knead bread is delicious and easy.

In fact I think I will make some this weekend. Stir up a loaf using metric measurements, measured out with a scale – stir with a wooden spoon then toss in the back of the microwave where it won’t get disturbed for about 18 – 20 hours. Pull it out – punch it down an dlet it rais again for an hour and back in a 474 degree oven for about 40 minutes. You will feel like a professional baker.

3. Costco sells these tubs of Bitchin’ Sauce

A kind almond cheese sauce that takes eggs and tuna salad to whole new levels. Vegan and yummy.

4. There is just too much media to occupy the mind

Streaming apps on the Roku, music apps on the phone, reading apps and ebooks, magazines and cookbooks both in print and online. I am a home body and anybody who knows me knows that and having all the entertainment I can muster at hand, all the hobbies I can retake up or begin isn’t the same and being around people. These last 11 months have been enlightening. I don’t miss commuting to work on public transit (although for the past two and a half months I have been making the I-25 shuffle down south on nearly empty roads.) But I also go into heavy depression when left at home all alone working virtually at my home office. I need to interact in real life with humans for energy and to feel an actual purpose. Maybe there is a direct correlation to these feelings and this sense of depression and loss that is also a cause for the actions of others as reflected in number one up above.

5. The pandemic has damaged and maybe ended some of my friendships.

Maybe too much time alone and no real connections has caused decades old friendships to fade due to not tending to them – maybe those friendships weren’t real after all. Maybe this fall when life makes an attempt at normal some of those fractures can heal. Time will tell.