A Small Victory

1. Would you agree that the only way to move on from old experiences that are keeping you down is to replace them with new things?

Absolutely not. While it’s good to move on from old experiences, it also helps to never forget them. That’s how you learn and grow. Always remember the places you have come from.

2. Complete this sentence: Being a parent has made me realize it's a lot more __ than I thought it was.

Frightening. I always new it would be rewarding, aggravating, hard and gratifying. I never thought it would be frightening, though.

3. Elvis or the Beatles?

The Beatles are the most overrated band in the history of the world. Elvis brings up all kinds of wonderful memories of my childhood. And he could shake his groove thang like nobody’s business.

4. You seem to dislike the criminal justice system in the US. If you could change something about it, what would it be?

Plea bargaining.

Also I would change it from the inside out. Here in New York, judges are elected and run for office based on political affiliation. I think judges should be appointed by merit. Then you get into the court system, the prison system, our propensity for punishing rather than rehabilitating, the death penalty. How is it that a man can get 1 year in prison for sexually abusing his stepdaughter for 5 years, but a guy with an ounce of pot will probably spend a longer time than that behind bars?

5. You one used the phrase "vim and vigor." (Maybe more than once.) Do you like ginger tea? Ginger products? Ginger candies? You should try them.

I love ginger, especially fresh ginger. I cook with it often. I also like ginger on my vegetables rolls, ginger tea, and ginger sesame dressing. I do not like gingerbread houses because they remind me of Hansel and Gretel.

6. When was the last time you REALLY looked at some porn, intentionally?

Last Saturday.

7. Did you enjoy it?

I always enjoy it, otherwise I wouldn’t look at it. You really do not want to know about my masturbatory experiences, do you?

8. When you were 21, what was your dream, I mean what did you see yourself doing at the age you are at now? Are you in line with that dream, or did it change?

When I was 21, it was 1983. That was one of the best years of my life. For the first half of that year, I had no thoughts of dreams or the future. At least not realistic ones. Most of my time was spent either at clubs, dancing to really cheesy new wave, or in my friend’s garage listening to his band. Then the last half of the year, reality set in. I broke off a bad engagement, changed jobs and went back to college. At that point I thought I would eventually be an English teacher or a librarian. I knew enough then that what you want to do at 21 and what you end up doing aren’t necessarily the same thing. The only thing I knew for sure at that point was that I always wanted to be the kind of person that never compromised my ideals. For some reason that was incredibly important to me and I think I’ve held on to that. I’m sure that when I was 21 I thought that by this point in my life I would be rich and famous and happy. I’m happy, and that’s the part that really matters. My dream has definitely changed. Rich and famous don’t figure in at all. My dream is a simple one - to live a comfortable, pleasant life and to raise my kids to be open minded, non-materialistic and honest.

9. Is poop funny?

If Adam Sandler or Tom Green are doing poop jokes, they are not funny. If mecawilson is talking about poop, it’s hilarious. If an 8 year old is making poop jokes, it’s the kind of funny where you turn your head and laugh because you don’t want the little kiddies to know that adults appreciate bathroom humor, too.

10. Are Bert and Ernie gay?

The sexual preference of puppets is none of my business. And it’s Ernie and Bert. Not Bert and Ernie.