Nicole at Harmonyblue says I’m hard to ask questions of, since I put so much out on my site and have answered so many questions already.
Exhibitionist or narcissist? You decide.
Still, she came up with some great questions.
1. how is justin doing? how has he changed your views on parenting (if at all)
He’s having trouble staying focused in school - he’s getting his work done most of the time, but tends to get bored after awhile.
In other words, he’s eleven.
We’re trying to use a little more carrot and a little less stick these days, and not to sweat the small stuff. I like the house to be neat, but in the grand scheme of things, I’d rather he got good grades and left his shoes in the middle of the entry way. Some battles I’ve decided aren’t worth it.
I used to be a fantastic parent. Then I got a kid, now I’m only decent, with flashes of good.
By the time I have one or two more, I won’t know a damn thing.
2. you liked ishmael. me too. are there any other books you think should be required reading for humans? if not…what are some of your personal favorites?
I think, honestly, that the Steven Mitchell’s translation of the Tao te Ching is really great. Without getting trite, it’s hard to list any more books that deserve universal attention.
Personal favorites? The Most Beautiful Woman in Town, but Bukowski. The Dark Tower series by King. The Amber series by Zelazny. Neil Gaiman in general.
3. you’ve been to the bahamas.…and i am going for the first time in a few weeks. any thoughts, advice, etc for us novice travelers?
When you get off the plane/boat, some guy will come up to you and tell you he wants to give you a souvenir. He will put a cheap little handmade bracelet on your wrist and then, after you have it on, explain that he’s going to college and wants to know if you want to help him with school.
Don’t pull any wad of money out. Have a bill prepared (a five will usually shut them up) in a pocket all by itself — pull it out of your pocket without looking, and explain it’s all you have on you, then thank him and walk away.
Some people will say avoid that guy — I say, take the bracelet, fork over the five bucks, and wear that sucker proudly, because as long as you keep it on, the OTHER 40 guys trying to “work through college” will leave you alone — all you have to do is hold up your Sucker Bracelet and say “Sorry Man.”
Finally, and most importantly. Swim with the stingrays. You will never be sorry.
4. what were you like as a kid?
Loud and obnoxious.
as a teenager?
Loud, obnoxious, terribly self-centered, supremely confident, and so very very wrong.
do you think you’ve changed substantially in the last 10 years or so?
In all the important ways, yes. I still talk too loud and too much (usually when I’m excited), but I’m responsible, able, and reliable — far more so than I once was.
5. let’s suppose we live in a fantasy realm - Krynn, or Pern, or Middle-Earth, or some other. Can you describe who/what/where/when and all the details of YOU (human or otherwise) as you would be in that world?
I’m human with no fancy heritage and no omen, portents or prophecies hanging about me waiting to pounce. I appear much as I do now, although perhaps leaner, and I was once a traveling musician and storyteller — these days, however, I’ve largely settled down. I’ve found a large, cosmopolitan city that I enjoy a great deal, a few good friends, and some old companions who stop in and visit now and then. I spend my time in much the same way as I always have, but without the travel — performing on local stages and telling stories for more familiar faces than strange ones. I’m looking forward to growing old and becoming charmingly eccentric.
Art imitates life, I’d say.
6. favorite foods? (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) least favorite?
Breakfast: Whatever I can find.
Lunch: KFC’s “Zinger” sandwich.
Supper: Jackie’s pork chops.
7. you have 24 hours to spend $1,000,000 - any ideas?
Sink 700k into a small publishing label. 200k into buy a hobby shop to run. 50k to pay off every debt we have (except for the house). 35k to by my dad a vintage Pontiac Judge. 15k in a fund for Justin — should cover his first two weeks of College.
8. talk to me about Tao te Ching. anything at all you feel like sharing with readers of our respective weblogs.
In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don’t try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present.
When you are content to be simply yourself
and don’t compare or compete,
everybody will respect you.
9. what’s in your refrigerator right now?
Whole mushrooms, sliced red peppers, lots of beer I’ll never drink. Ditto milk. Two cartons of orange juice, cooking stuff that can melt. A carton of eggs. Some of Jackie’s candles.
10. do you doodle? what kinds of shapes or images or words do you doodle, and where (in the margins, at the top or bottom of the page, etc)? and if not… how do you keep yourself so darn focused?
I have always doodled, usually stuff that looks like this thing I did on a paper plate. Usually this sort of stuff fills in the corners of whatever paper is handy.
11. any favorite photos? (maybe some more of your beautiful dogs?)
I don’t havey anything fresh, so how about a few drawings? (I’ve never shown any of that stuff on here.) I think I do alright sometimes, for not having taken classes — here’s a lamp and a phone I drew in college.
12. we’re 6 months into 2002 - use one word to describe what each month has been like - and one word to describe what you anticipate or hope the next six to be like for you.
January - Bored.
February - Shocked.
March - Energized.
April - Dirty.
May - Exhausting.
June - Relaxing.
July - Informative.
August - Wet (I can dream).
September - Cuddly.
November - Wordy.
December - Golden.
13. if you have any, give a few quotes or proverbs or parables or mottos that you
particularly enjoy or find meaning in. (or one of your own!)
“Climate is what you expect. Weather is what you get.”
It applies to much more than just the weather.
