Travelling to Central America.. Opened my eyes, made me learn a lot about myself, met a bunch of awesome people and surfed some amazing waves.


Have you ever seen a dead body?

Yes, when I living in Portugal, the ship that I was on was tied up in the bend of the river about 1 mile below the big double decker bridge.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...-de_dom258.jpg
The way the river currents worked with the tides, everything eventually ended up in our corner of the river, including anyone who committed suicide by jumping off the top of the bridge. One morning, while painting the waterline, some unfortunate soul bobbed to the surface right beside me. They figured he'd been in the water about 2 weeks, enough time to bloat, and for his skin to start to rot. I had to reach around his torso to tie a line so he wouldn't float away while we fetched the police. After that, everytime someone committed suicide or was reported missing in someway, some police divers would show up to look around under the ship!

Post error, sorry.

Umm, ok. Someone forgot to leave a question. I'll just go with what Carno left...

I saw a dead body once. A friend of mine was in a casket. He died in his sleep at 23.

Would yo like to run your own business? If so, what kind would it be?

While I hate the concept behind bed and breakfasts... way too joiney and forced socialization... I want to own a bed and breakfast - or small inn - in the mountains of vermont or new hampshire... (though lately, I'm rethinking the cold and considering a warmer (and cheaper) climate... my bed and breakfast would be an establishment for antisocial people... :) Great service while otherwise being ignored - no one would ask you how your are doing - unless you wanted to be asked... I actually have started on a business plan for this...


The NY lottery is at about 250 million dollars -- if you won - what would you do with that kindof money?

1. Build a beautiful house that will spaciously fit all 6 of the children I want.
2. Buy the Vette my wife always wanted but might never get.
3. Buy a home for my mother/mother in law.
4. Buy a Hummer.
5. Buy a Painfully fast car.
6. Put a large amount in some fund that I can live off the interest for the rest of my live.

Yeah that's a good start. I'd eventually put money aside for the kids college and help out my family to have nice stuff also. I'd most definitely never become one of those people you see on TV with the houses all over the world and homes so big you don't actually see most of the rooms you have on a regular basis. Oh and I'd probably own a lot of cars.

What would you do if you won the NY Lottery?

Buy a house in Nantucket. Donate to worthy causes.


Is "i've Got A Golden Ticket" earworming you since the commercial came out for Dave Chapelle's new movie?

You know, I hadn't even heard that he has a movie coming out. I must be getting old.

At what age did you start noticing pop culture passing you by?

About four years ago. There was a band on MTV that was screaming shit, and a whole bunch of kids that needed haircuts jumping around like a bunch of crazed zombies.

I knew that it was fucked up. Then I heard the same song on the radio a couple of weeks later, and the song kept getting played, over and over. I shook my head and wondered why kids didn't just stick to Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.


What are your lunch plans? Did you bring your lunch? What did you bring?
Are you going out for lunch? Where?

I'm going home to make a tuna fish sammich. Then right back. I have so much work to do it's ridiculous. I can't wait until I'm done here.


Did you ever have to make up your mind, pick up on one and leave the other behind?

It's not often easy and not often kind.

Did you ever have to make up your mind?

Yeah, I was just thirteen.


Do you believe in magic?

Not in the slightest.


Do you believe in love?

I'm jaded. It comes and goes. Yet, somehow, I still believe in love... even if it's just a little bit.

Do you believe in God?

Sure, but it's a quiet faith, I don't stick it in anyone's face.


can you paint pictures?

With sound.


What gaudy or tasteless fad have you secretly participated in?

I confess I had a Cabbage Patch Kid back in the 80's (Grade 4 I think). His original name was Amos, but I actually sent in to have his name changed to David. They sent me an new official birth certificate. In my defence, I like to point out that even the cool kids had them. I even went to a party where everyone brought theirs along.

What musician or band would you like to have over for dinner?

Oh that's easy! Billy Corgan. I ADORED the Smashing Pumpkins, still think they're great, think Billy is a musical genius, AND on top of all that he's one of the big members in the Integral Arts circle, a movement that I have recently gotten into.... Plus, I had the biggest crush on him when I was younger (which Martel makes endless fun of!).

Quick! Your phone is ringing! Who do you want it to be on the other end?

Sir Paul...


Have you ever been in a building that caught on fire?

Yep, it was my high school. Some dumb fuck decided it was smart enough to light up the bathroom that was right next to my classroom.

Whats your favorite tv show and why?

Sopranos, it's an intricate tale weaving a myriad of story lines into one show. Plus, Tony will put a hit on me if I don't watch.

What's your favorite TV show and why?

Mythbusters, currently, because I like watching them blow shit up. I think it is a great job.

I also like the Thirsty Traveller, because he gets to drink all over the world.

I believe if you added paintball fights and strippers, I would die, having experienced heaven.

If you could make a TV show, what would it be? Why?

You know those "lifestyle" shows where someone tries out a a bunch of different restaurants, or stays at different hotels, or experiences various local adventures? Well my show would be kind of like that. I'd travel the world and offer critique and comentary on the worlds finest blowjobs.

Have you ever injured yourself with standard office supplies? Please elaborate.

Oh sure. papercuts... One time I got really pissed off and kicked a chair, an old style office chair. A heavy old style office chair. I learned to never kick heavy wooden things again.

Do you believe the early bird gets the worm?

Depends on what you mean by standard office supplies? I've stabbed myself in the palm once or twice with a pencil (by accident, of course), but my best accident has to be when I was working as a production artist at at newspaper. I was going through old flats looking for old ads, (while holding my x-acto knife in my right hand, like you'd hold a pen), and I slipped and sliced my left thumb knuckle open. I mean right open, like a chunk of skin peeled off and you could see the bone.

What was really funny about this was it, that a week before I had been cutting up a cherry tree in the backyard (you can see where this is going, right?) and the handsaw got stuck on a knot, so I gave it a good shove, and it kicked up and I drove it across the back of my left hand! So I still had the stiches from the saw accident in my left hand, and when I walked into the emergency room with the same hand wrapped up, the looks on the faces of the same doctors and nurses I had seen a week before was priceless!!




What is the biggest surgery you've ever had?

I had a peroneal tendon reconstruction in my left ankle. Had to have it, everytime I walked the tendon would snap around my ankle bone and tear it a little more each time. It was rough and I had to learn how to walk again.

What's your most irrational fear?

The Dark. Especially the creepy tentacled monster things that live under the basement stairs or under the bed waiting to reach out and snag my legs when I'm walking by.


Do you like watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

Sure he does. Unfortunately the early bird also meets up with the cat that has been patiently waiting under the bushes all night just on the off chance that the early bird will be early!


Do you like Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

No. I never saw the movie, and the series was terrible. The only thing it had going for it was that a majority of the women in it were cute.

What piece of advice would you most like your (future) child to take to heart?

I'll articulate this better when the time comes but:

As you go through school, don't get wrapped up in the cool/uncool/popular/unpopular/jock/geek phony bullshit drama. Recognize it as fantasy, exploited to sell you clothes, music and movie tickets. Concentrate on being a decent hard working guy, who's easy-going, polite and respectful, and you'll come through just fine. It all falls away after highschool anyways.

Are there any TFP names that you're unsure of the correct pronunciation?
(For example: I pronounce Ustwo as Use-Twoe, and Redlemon as Reddle-mon)

There are a number of usernames whose pronunciation of which I am unsure. One in particular is fresnelly. I pronounce it as frez-nell-ee. I could be wrong.

What message were you trying to get across with your last film? Were you aware of the uproar it was going to cause as you were filming it or did it come as a surprise to you after its release? Also, do you feel any personal responsibility for all the deaths that ensued due to the rioting that occurred after its premiere?

Who told you about my secret career as a filmmaker? :D
Message: people suck - I think I've done a good job with that... I wanted an uproar and it seems I got one... I have no respnsibility for anything.. though I usually get blamed for everything... so ...

Stuffing or Potatoes - and why?

I am extremely fond of them both, but I favor a good gooey stuffing, but not that overly salty boxed junk.


Do you meditate, and how?

Not unless you count my "private" time. I'd like to try it some time.

If you had the choice to have one hand that can kill anything with one touch, but the other that can cure anything with one touch would you and why/why not?

I'm gonna go with the one hand cure all. Because if I went with the other choice, who am I gonna kill? Probably certain people but I got lots of people on the list that I could use the touch of my hand to cure.

If you decide to join the military, which branch would it be and why?

I did and am now a Marine. I wanted the toughest branch to get into.

If you could save all of your familie's lives from a horrible death (the living ones of course) by killing one innocent person would you and why?

Hmmm... tough call... I'm not overly fond of most of my family - and those are just the ones I know.. there are a plethora of cousins that are just bizarro... Probably not...

Do you like your family - not love them because you are supposed to love them - but actually like them... where you willingly want to spend time with them and actually enjoy their company.

No. I really really do not like my stepmother and any of my stepbrother and stepsister, but not to the extent that I hate them. I'm not sure if I want to spend time with my family but I can't anyways since I'm forced not to due to my schedule, eg: They're going on a cruise trip next week and I can't come because of school and work committment.

What is the one thing that your father was absolutely commited to? For example; your dad will always absolutely commit to promises he would make.

Some of them, yes. At one point, none of them, no, but we've all done a lot of growing, while some of us have regressed back into an angry child stage of life.

Say you have the education and experience to get your absolute dream job, be it fireman or accountant, and you're already wealthy and need the job just to pay taxes on your estate, what job would you do?

Divemaster in the Carribbean.

If you had a free vacation to europe, or a free vacation to the carribean, which would you take, and why?

Europe, I went to the carribean once and its so so while European vacation would allow me to explore the rich and vast history of the past.

What is the one thing that your father was absolutely commited to? For example; your dad will always absolutely commit to promises he would make.

I'd go to Europe, because I've already been to the Carribean.

If you could save only one member of your family who would it be, and why?

Probably my cousin, the only family member that I would actually hang out

What is the one thing that your father was absolutely commited to? For example; your dad will always absolutely commit to promises he would make.

My father was absolutely committed to his secret life of other women and whatnot.



If you could have saved the life of someone who died, who would it have been?

My mother


Who would win in a race between Superman and The Flash?

no brainer - my best friend who was killed on 9/11


What's been your greatest accomplishment to date...

Superman would totally win, but only because he would cheat. You can't trust dirty foreigners from other planets.

My greatest accomplishment to date has probably been getting accepted into the Marine officer program and finishing OCS. I'm almost done with college, but I'm pretty "eh" about that.

What was your most memorable Spring Break vacation?

I went to Sweden to visit friends. It was absolutely fantastic. 10 days in Lund and Lulea, with day trips all over. I ended up with a tattoo of the Swedish flag on my lower back. Damn moonshine.

Do you frequent the library or the bookstore more?

The bookstore. I'm a germ freak, and the thought of checking out a book that someone else was reading in the bathroom really grosses me out. Other than that, I love libraries and being around all the books.


How close is the nearest Walmart to where you live?

It's pretty close. They built it in a ghetto area. These "Shoping Center" builders realized that the lower-upper and the middle-lower people have shopping money too, and are building these in places where they weren't before.

How do you like your steak?

Rare to medium rare.

What kind of porn do you prefer?

Homemade

Mexican with Margaritas....or Italian with Wine?

^:lol: Perfect answer... ditto.

Don't make me choose, Tecoyah! If I at home, it's definitely Italian with a bottle of incredible Viansa red from the winery's mail order in Sonoma. But I love going out for Mexican and some awesome margaritas.

Speaking of Margaritas... how do you like them? Salted, unsalted, rocks, frozen, Cointreau, Chambord...?

Unsalted, on the rocks, cointreau, and Herradura Reposado tequilla, fresh lime juice,and the teeniest splash of OJ...

What's your favorite mexican food...

I love a good burrito. Chicken burrito. There was a place called Mexicali Rosas in Ottawa that I used to love going to for their fresh guacamole and their burritos.

I also used to make them myself from scratch. Haven't done that in ages.


What is your favourite thing to do on a quiet Sunday morning?

I haven't had a quiet Sunday morning in months, but we used to crawl out of bed around 7, wrap ourselves in newspaper and coffee, have our one big breakfast a week with all the trimmings, and play with the dogs.

Why does evil always exist?

How would you know what good was, if there weren't evil around?

evil exists because we have free will...

There are some people in this world who are evil... why do you think they are making the choice to be evil?

Brutal efficiency, and immediate power through subversion. Just ask the Mafia.

Have you ever shoplifted anything?

That's a tough question. To begin with, I guess it really depends on what you call evil. One person's "evil" is another person doing what they have to do to get by...

Now in the case of a serial killer... that's evil. It's also, more than likely, a mental condition. They know it's wrong but their ability to stop the compulsion has gone haywire. Are they sick? Damaged? Self-centred? I don't know.

If we are to look at a fictional character like Darth Vader, he choses evil because he believes he's doing the right thing. I think there are quite a few people who can understand that slow march to evil.

EDIT: technically, no I have never shop lifted anything.


Have you ever done something you considered evil. What was it and why do you think it was evil?

No, I don't think I have ever done something evil. I have done plenty of things that were not very nice and certainly not legal, but evil? Nope.


Have you ever seen someone else shoplift?

Yep, once while at Express I saw someone take a belt into the dressing room and come out wearing it without the tags. They made it out of the store without making a single purchase. I was on my work lunch break and didn't have time to deal with telling anyone.

Do you peel an apple before you eat it, or eat it with the skin?

Eat it with the skin. Breaking the skin is the best part.

Have you done something that's really made you proud of yourself this past month? What was it? Is it something we all can learn from?

Yes;

I was the first responder to a seizure at work. Everything went smoothly, and all I had to do was keep the casualty comfortable.

I was then a first responder to an auto accident right outside where I work, and it was a doozy. Everyone shaken up, no apparent injuries, I was there to provide support and called the cops.

Does everyone where you work have standard First Aid and CPR training?

I doubt they do. I used to have it but that was when I was in the Boy Scouts.

Have you ever had to save a life?

A few years ago... I got a late night phone call from the girlfriend of a friend of mine... due to a plethora of circumstances... the guy was hanging on by a few straggly threads... and those threads were wearing thin... I was in another city at the time on business and I changed my return ticket home to go to his city - showed up on his doorstep at 10:00pm and spent the weekend talking with said friend... not solving his problems but making him realize that he wasn't alone and that while life may suck at the moment -- people do care... Musta worked...

At this very moment... what would make you smile?

A formal job offer. And maybe some pizza.


What are your favorite pizza toppings?

Ham and pineapple. Or barbeque chicken. Or feta, spinach and sausage, if i'm feeling saucy.

Least favorite pizza topping? You know the one that makes your nose crinkle and your stomach turn...

Sun Dried Tomato: I will not have it on my dough, I will not order it to go. I will not garden it with a hoe, I will not eat sun dried Tomato.

What do you think of Doctor Phil?

I think he can be a refreshing bastion of the message of responsibility for one's own actions, something very lacking in today's societal messages.

If you were forced to substantially change your hairstyle today, what would you change it to?

/me thinks he looks just like me...

what do you think of dr. seuss? (sorry for being one day late on his birthday...)

I have no hair style right now - i don't have the patience for a blowdryer -- so I guess I'd switch from a pony tail to a barrette...

Dr Seuss rocks... his books speak to all ages about accepting others and not taking life so seriously.


Whats the last dr seuss book you read

I read The Grinch who Stole Christmas to my kids.

Are you left or right handed?

I'm left-handed. Sometimes it's a curse, but I enjoy it. :)

If you could pick a decade to go back to...which one would you pick and why?

I'd go back to the 30s and hang out in Paris with Henry Miller. I didn't even have to think about that one...

If you could live in any work of fiction which world of fiction would you choose and why?

The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye. British India in the 1800's has it all, romance and adventure.



Do you feel you could write a great novel?

No. My writing style isn't too fantastic...I tend to have very abrupt, difficult to read passages in my writings.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. It is infamous in Canada... trust me.


Have you ever eaten insects on purpose?

Nope, but I made my brother eat spider leg. Is that close enough?

What was the best memory that you had that included shit load of snow?

Being a kid living at the foot of the Rockies, the only day they cancelled school in 12 years, the snow drifts reached the top of houses. The neighborhood kids all had fun that day.


What are you doing this weekend? St. Pat's parade?

I'm hanging out this weekend...spending time with Alcina and friends. I'm hoping to get in a Freaks and Geeks marathon. St. Patrick's day isn't until March 17th...not sure why people celebrate it 2 weeks in advance...guess a reason to drink for people who probably don't need an excuse. ;)

Who is/was your favorite relative?

My dad's mom. She is the sweetest woman ever, is full of interesting stories, has a great outlook on life (even after her husband of nearly 60 years passed), and is very generous. She recently got remarried at the young age of 82. She is the only grandparent I ever had that I truly cared for, and I'll be sad to see her go.

Are you planning any vacations in the near future?

Plan? A vacation? Like, in advance? None of this, "Hey guys, let's drive to Vegas!" while drinking in a bar and we wake up in a budget hotel with the smell of cheap purfume in the air and our wallets empty? :) Interesting concept. Although I may be too old for it, I'd like to try out this, back-packing through Europe idea. And like all good hitchhikers, you have to "Always know where your towel is." (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)

If you were on a deserted island with one other person (living or non-living), who would it be?

My soul-mate. I'd not get bored with plenty of entertainment around.

What is your ideal mode of transportation? Not necessarily the most practical. ;)

I'd like to be able to wish myself anywhere -- or fax myself... but going with technology that's available -i'd settle for a helicopter from point a to point b... alas i have to settle for my feet or the bus :D

What are you wearing right now?

I'm wearing a pink and turquoise striped 3/4 length t-shirt and some jeans. Oh, and underwear. I really should put some socks on because my feet are cold.

Describe, in detail, a piece of furniture in your house.

We have a beautiful marble table that my parents found in a barn stuffed full of old antiques. As a family project, we sanded and re-stained the base, and worked very hard to clean the marble top. We got it when I was 12. My dad was a widower 12 years later when he married again and gave me most of the household furniture. I took it with me to Kansas. Then back again to NC, then into our first family household as a married couple, then to another apartment, then to our first home, and now to Northern Virginia, where it sits in the hallway. It’s a stunning table, oval, about hip high and maybe four times the size of a football.

Are you participating in lent?

I am a bad Catholic, so no.


What is blooming in your yard right now?

melting snowbanks
brown grass
dead looking trees
no sign of life yet but it was like spring today...

What are you looking forward to?

Snowboarding next weekend! Chicago the weekend after that! Not looking forward to the cold though.


Do you usually spring clean?

hehe...why?

have you ever been to Malta?

No, but the hubster has. He loved it.

What is your favorite movie?

Groundhog Day is worth seeing again ;)

Do you like to eat beef in stews or in slabs? Stir fry vs steak.

I prefer my beef to be of good quality and walked slowly thru a warm room -- stews are ok on occassion but generally the beef is too overcooked for my tastes... I also prefer a good steak over stir fry for the same reason - -stirfrying cookes the beef too much.

What do you like on your hamburgers?

I like cheese (blue, chedder, whatever), Relish, Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, Lettuce, Tomato

What was the oddest film you ever sat through?

Tomatoes and ketchup only. Maybe cheese if I'm feeling daring. :D

EDIT: Ok, nevermind... the oddest film I sat through was Pi. Creepy and weird.

What is your favorite thing to wear?

The one that comes to mind is the new version of Moulin Rouge. My wife wanted it, and I didn't know the story line or anything. It was... surprising. Other than that, The Collector.

On elementary age athletics, are you of the "everybody gets a prize" mind or the "learn from agony of defeat" mind?

Learn from defeat starting in Grade 4.

Kindergarten to grade 3, it should be about having fun, getting exercise and learning how to participate in sport.

Are you getting ready for St. Patrick's Day yet?

yup - have a bunch of beer in the fridge... and am anxiously awaiting the company that I will be having for st patricks day... and have something suitable green to wear.... just need to find some green stuff to die the toilet water with and pretend like it's chicago :)

How much coffee have you had so far today? planning on any more?

Toaster: My favourite thing to wear, at this moment, is a Ben Sherman zip up sweater that I bought on Boxing Day.

Ben: Is it St. Patrick's Day already? I don't do much for that day anymore... I might wear green if I remember (it should be noted that my last name is the most common last name in Ireland).

Mal: I haven't had any today. I gave it up for Lent. I did have two cups of tea though.


Do you think educational policy should be dictated by the local community or by larger state (i.e. state or province)?

Education is too important to be left to the locals. You need the Big Dog's helping at every turn.

That, and you don't get a huge disparity from province to province or state to state.

If you had the opportunity to travel to the moon, but it meant a year away from your family, would you do it, just to be the first Civilian up there?

Hell yes!


What is your favourite vegetable?