You're standing in a room with no shoes on. To your left you see a mini-figure scale Lego model of Helm's Deep with your name on it. To your right an open door. Between you and Helm's Deep, is a thick layer of Lego bricks. Between you and the door is the plushest softest carpet imaginable. What do you do?
Remember that scene in Die Hard, when Hans Gruber has just revealed himself to John McClane, and the thugs come out of the elevator? McClane is pinned down, and Hans has his dudes shoot the glass so that McClane has no way out.
If this is the set you are speaking of (conveniently still listed on my Amazon Wish List):
then yes, I will be running through the LEGO shrapnel to retrieve it.
It's Thursday so Ask Away!
Haven’t done one of these in a long while, but seemed like as good a day as any. The ask box is open. Feel free to leave your queries, comments, recipes, life advice, whatever, in the virtual receptacle above. I’m even braving the elements and turning anon on.
Operators are standing by.
Favorite Joni Mitchell and James Taylor song? If you even like them ?
I very much enjoy both. I grew up with parents that loved music, and being born in 1972, I was exposed to some fantastic stuff.
Joni Mitchell : “A Case of You” hands down. Amazing lyrics and a beautiful, beautiful melody.
James Taylor : “Something In The Way She Moves” has always been a personal favorite. And, I have to admit, the song “Our Town” that he wrote for Pixar’s Cars also ranks pretty high on my playlist. It’s such a lovely and simple song, and he performs it with this muted sorrow that just gets me in the feels every time.
Questions?
Logging and editing, editing and logging. Trying to find the right narrative to go with for this piece.
Feel free to fill my ask box with queries, thoughts, recipes, the meanderings of your mind, whatever floats your aquatic vessel.
I Was Tagged!!
So, last week, Kelly tagged me in one of those question tagging posts. Well, Kelly is awesome, so how could I say no.
Anyway, here’s what I’m supposed to do:
Rule 1: Post the rules.
Rule 2: Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then make 10 new ones.
Rule 3: Tag 10 people and link them to your post.
Rule 4: Let them know you’ve tagged them.
So, without ado that goes further, here we go!
Who is your favorite Beatle?
George. Unbelievably talented guitarist and songwriter.
Do you have any family traditions around the holidays?
Tons! I’m sure everyone will be surprised they all revolve around food. Layered Jello at Thanksgiving, Oyster Stew and opening presents on Christmas Eve, stockings on Christmas morning, laid-back munchies on Christmas night. It’s all about spending time with loved ones and food.
Do you still talk to any childhood friends? Best friend?
My best friend from 1st through 5th grade was a kid named Jimmy McMonagle. Not really sure what happened to him. We moved away between my 5th and 6th grade year. I didn’t really have a lot of friends in junior high school. I still remain friends with a very small handful of people from high school.
Chips & Salsa or Chips & Guacamole?
Chips and guacamole, as long as the guacamole is very fresh.
What was your first car?
A 1984 Ford Escort. Funny story about that car: I was driving with a buddy of mine down to Cincinnati to see Iron Maiden in concert back in 1991. On our way down, the car all of a sudden loses power, so we pull off to the side of the road. I’m in the car trying to get it to restart while my buddy gets out to look under the hood. All of a sudden he yells, “Holy $#@! dude, your engine is on fire!” I scramble out of the car, and sure enough the engine is covered in flames. We start moving away from the car very quickly. About 20 seconds later we hear a big “FWOOOOMM” and the entire car goes up in flames. Guess that’s what I get for trying to go listen to some of that Satan music.
When was your first dance with a member of the sex you are attracted to?
Prom, 1989. I took a girl I had the hugest crush on all year. We ended up dating my entire senior year. That one could probably be considered my first true love.
Have you registered to vote? Is voting important to you?
Yes, and HELL YES.
Least favorite movie you saw in the theaters?
I can name a few:
- The Thin Red Line
- Windtalkers
- 8MM
- Solaris
Those films were so bad. They were also NOTHING like their trailers presented them.I could go on and on discussing the technical reasons these films were so painful to experience, but I’ll save that for another post.
What was the last concert you went to?
Over the Rhine (with Milk Carton Kids opening) @ The Triple Door, November 19, 2011
Fantastic show with our wonderful friends Matt and Erinn. I’ve been an OTR fan since the early 90s. They’re Ohio kids, just like me.
If you could put together your dream Tumblr dinner, who would it include? Do not feel pressured to include me.
First off, you and Lacey would be definitely at the top of the list, as well as several others. I’m going to need to fly out to NYC for this dinner, because practically everyone whom I’d want there lives in that proximity, along with some other stragglers throughout the US and parts outside the States. I think I’d want to put together several smaller dinners, so that we can actually hang out, visit, and really spend time with one another. Let’s just leave it this way, so I don’t forget anyone: If I follow you and interact with you on here, you are definitely someone I would LOVE to meet and have dinner with. I’ve mentioned before that I’ve been trying to make my little “Project IRL” experiment a reality this year, and this would be a great way to get it off the ground.
So…who wants to fly me out to NY? I can totally crash on a couch and cook for you. =)
Alright, my turn to come up with some questions and tag some folks.
- What first brought you to Tumblr?
- If the apocalypse, zombie or otherwise, happened tomorrow, what snack item would you hoard and protect with your life to ensure you never ran out?
- Name a book that you can recommend to someone without any reservations.
- What type of art do you find inspires you the most (painting, photography, music, film, etc.), and in that genre, which artist seems to inspire you the most?
- If I came to your city for a visit, name 3 places or events that would be on the very top of your list for us to experience together.
- Share a cause that you are very passionate about and tell us one way we can help, whether it be to donate, sign a petition, whatever.
- What’s currently spinning in your music playlist?
- If there had been some way to anticipate and expect the Spanish Inquisition, how do you think it would have changed the course of human history?
- Name an artist, band, TV show, movie, or book that is a complete guilty pleasure and you are somewhat embarrassed to admit you like.
- If you had the opportunity to leave tomorrow and travel anywhere in the world, where would you go, how would you get there, and who would you take with you?
I will send a message to those I have tagged.
Happy Tuesday, everyone!
Tag! You’re it! The rules are to state 10 random facts about yourself. Then, go to your ten favorite blogs and tell them that they are it!
Hmm…10? This is gonna be tough, but here goes:
- When I was in high school, I entertained the thought of majoring in Theater or Music. We had an amazing drama program at our school, and I was in numerous musicals and plays. I even wrote and directed a one-act play my senior year. I was also in show choir and marching band. Yup, just a total liberal arts geek.
- I don’t like coconut. At all. Don’t know if it’s more the flavor or the texture, but it always makes me gag. Now, if a recipe has used coconut milk in it, and it’s baked in well enough, I usually can’t tell. But I better not ever catch you putting that crap in my coffee.
- I started working with a really cool client back in July, doing something I’ve never done before professionally. I’m really enjoying the challenge.
- Although I’ve been to both Canada and Mexico several times, I’ve never been outside of North America. This makes me sad. It’s something I definitely want to rectify, but, ya know, money, time, etc.
- If you’ve been hanging around here long enough, you’ll know I’m an unapologetic Prince fan, and have been since 1982, when I heard the song “Controversy” playing on the radio, and my mom came in and told me she didn’t want me listening to him. I’ve always loved jazz and funk fused together. I was raised on Coltrane, Parker, Basie, Armstrong, Gillespie, Earth Wind + Fire, Tower of Power, Stevie Wonder, Sly & The Family Stone, etc. Prince was a natural evolution to that. Even though his lyrics were considered “naughty” for the time, he was breaking down barriers to what was considered “black music” and “white music” just as much, if not more, than Michael Jackson did…and that’s no offense to Michael at all.
- I’ve been working on some night sky time-lapses this past month, testing out my gear, etc., and am looking forward to heading someplace this fall with little-to-no light pollution to try and properly capture the beauty of the night sky here in the PNW.
- The very first time I met Stacie was at a Pizzeria Uno in downtown Dayton, Ohio. During dinner (we were with a small group), we both agreed that the coffee there was crap, and started discussing our love of the bean. Meeting a beautiful and intelligent fellow coffee snob was what first piqued my interest in her, and her interest in me. Coffee: it brings people together.
- I used to be able to quote verbatim, including soundtrack musical cues, the opening 5-10 minutes of both The Lost Boys and Forrest Gump. I haven’t tried to in a while. Now I wonder if I still can.
- I have never once suffered the symptoms of “Bieber Fever” or had a broken bone.
- I fenced épée in high shcool all four years, and came in second place at the state tournament my senior year, which means I could probably kick Dr. Baffled’s ass in a sword fight.
Why is it that everyone driving faster than you is considered an idiot and everyone driving slower than you is a moron? If pro and con are opposites, wouldn't the opposite of progress be congress? If a kid refuses to sleep during nap time, are they guilty of resisting a rest? Why is the Lone Ranger called 'Lone' if he always has his Indian friend Tonto with him?
- Because they are. No other explanation needed.
- Why are people declared guilty of a crime called convicts, and those proven innocent not called provicts?
- Are we having a pun-off?
Assault and battery
Assault with a deadly weapon
Dr. Pepper - Tonto is not a Ranger. He is a scout or a guide.
Why doesn't McDonald's sell hot dogs? At a movie theater, which arm rest is yours? What is Satan's last name? Why is there a disclaimer on the Allstate Auto Insurance commericals that says "Not available in all states"? How far east can you go before you're heading west? If girls with large breasts work at Hooters, then do girls with one leg work at IHOP?
- The ratio of disgusting things to number of menu items at McDonald’s is already too high.
- Both, unless I’m seeing a movie with my wife.
- Blitzer
- Allstate got their inspiration from allspice. Despite its name, allspice does not contain all known spices on the planet.
- Since the Earth is, in fact, round, if you start heading east and stay o the same trajectory, you will always be heading east. East and west don’t even mean anything in space, since, you know, it’s space, and there isn’t really any east or west.
- Nope. They work at Waffle House.
Define the universe. Give 3 examples.
Well, if you go to Wikipedia, it says that the universe is “commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, matter, energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space.” Meh. Not very poetic.
Poetically (and even scientifically) speaking, everything is connected. We are the universe. I think I like what Carl Sagan said best:
The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of star stuff.
I also love his quote:
The universe seems neither benign nor hostile, merely indifferent.
He obviously didn’t believe in the Borg or the Sith. Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson said:
Recognize that the very molecules that make up your body, the atoms that construct the molecules, are traceable to the crucibles that were once the centers of high mass stars that exploded their chemically rich guts into the galaxy, enriching pristine gas clouds with the chemistry of life. So that we are all connected to each other biologically, to the earth chemically and to the rest of the universe atomically. That’s kinda cool! That makes me smile and I actually feel quite large at the end of that. It’s not that we are better than the universe, we are part of the universe. We are in the universe and the universe is in us.
I also really enjoy the word “unfathomable.” The sheer size and scope of it are beyond anything I can wrap my head around. When we look up in the sky, and we’re seeing stars, some of which burned out millions of years ago, yet are so far away, the light from them are just now reaching us…that blows my mind.
Side note: If space travel ever becomes readily available and affordable before I leave this universe for good, sign me up. I’d go into space and explore the very reaches of the universe in a heartbeat.
Q1: You are writing a novel. The "Great American Novel." What is your novel about? Q2: You still watch that show? Good *gawd*! What show is it and why? Q3: You are facing down a bear. Your only weapon is a rubber band. What do you do? What do you do?!?
Q1: “Great American Novel” by Ralph Helm
- I love a good road story. I also think there needs to be a strong female protagonist. So, I guess maybe I’d write a novel about this idea that’s been rolling around in my brain for a few years now. Five graduate anthropology students in a Belief Systems in America summer class, all from varying religious and socio-economic backgrounds, are given a group assignment by their professor. They can choose to do whatever they want, but the assignment must cover themes that most sacred texts were written as a response to: journey, discovery, enlightenment, doubt, faith, and compromise. With the campus practically empty and little else to do, the decide to embark on a summer-long road trip. From the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, to “Touchdown Jesus” in Cincinnati; from a seance in Salem, to a sweat lodge in the Arizona desert, together they will discover what not only divides them, but what brings them together. The atheist; the Muslim; the daughter of a Baptist preacher; the lapsed Jew; and our indifferent protagonist, raised in just about every spiritual movement there has ever been.
- I guess I chose the theme of religion because it seems to be something right now in today’s America that in many people’s eyes defines others even more than where they live, what they do for a living, or who they vote for.
- I’d want it to be lighthearted and funny. Well…until the zombie apocalypse takes place in the second act, and we find out that the daughter of the Baptist preacher is actually an expertly trained assassin.
- This is an actual project I’ve been working on since about 2010 as a screenplay, so obviously it’s all ©®2012 Me. :-)
Q2: That show I still watch
- Oh dear. Too many guilty pleasures. Some of them are genuinely good. Some are so formulaic it’s almost embarrassing. Eureka, Leverage, andWarehouse 13 on the genuinely good side. Bones, In Plain Sight on the formulaic side. I’ve never been into reality TV, except for cooking shows and Ace of Cakes, so I don’t have any of those to be ashamed of.
Q3: The Bear
- Some of this will depend on the size of the rubber band. If it’s large enough, I would quickly wrap it around 2 trees and slingshot myself, Angry Birds style, over the bear if I’m feeling afraid or into the bear if I’m feeling brave. Or if I’m drunk. If I were Section9, I’d use my…um…rope skills…to tie the bear up with the rubber band.
Feel free to ask more!
The Breakfast Beverage Trifecta.
Hanging out at 13 Coins waiting for Top Pot to open. Promised the girls doughnuts this morning.
Feel free to fill my ask box with questions or random musings to entertain and amuse me.
Since it's beautiful outside, ask me questions!
I’m taking inquiries from the deck.
