Author: brhythm

I missed this one a week ago. This was also the same five in which I was nominated to write the following week’s five, and I missed that part too, which is why it was late. OK, onward…

1. Other than the usual “crunch”, what one word best describes the sound when you walk in snow? Tell us about a time you had with/in snow.

RRRmmmphhh. One of my greatest snow memories is the time I was sliding down Ma’s hill, and went straight into a tree. That was so fun! I got a concussion and stove my face up pretty well. Or maybe the time playing freeze football at Owls Head School, when Jamie Lamb pulled me out of the sky when I was leaping to catch a pass, and my ankle broke. Yee ha!

2. What one word best describes the sound of leaves as you walk through them. Try not to use the word “rustle, rustling”. Share a story having to do with you and leaves.

Skritch. I like jumping in leaves. I hate raking leaves. Unfortunately, you can’t have one without the other.

3. Choosing another word besides the word “slosh”, give us your best (one) word for walking through rain and puddles. We’d love to read a story about you and the rain and/or puddles.

Schmuggle. I can’t really think of a good rain story, other than all three of my children can’t hardly keep their feet out of any puddle near them, regardless of what they have on for shoes!

4. Yes, there’s sweltering. But pick one other word to describe the humid summer heat. If you’re able, tell us a funny story related to you and the summer heat. If nothing comes to mind, tell us what you do to beat the heat.

Slaking. To beat the heat, I will occassioanly resort to an old trick Frank Butler taught me: take a cold beer in a cool shower. It has to be a bottle of beer, so you can put your thumb over the bottle and keep the water out. That will cool you off right quick. This year, it didn’t even get hot enough for me to use that particular trick.

5. Halloween is fast approaching. Other than the word “spooky”, choose one word that describes the Halloween atmosphere. Share with us a favorite Halloween costume you wore. If you’ve never participated by wearing a costume, let us know the wildest costume you’ve ever seen.

I’ve always been a fan of “macarbre.” The best costume I can think of is the one Unk made himself–a homemade knights costume! It was fantastic, and you couldn’t tell who was under the helmet. He wore it to a community Halloween party, and he didn’t talk to anyone. All night long people were trying to figure out who was in the knight’s costume!

1) If you could only pick one type of apple, which would it be?
Macs. I just dig ’em. I know all these new flavors are the rage, but I just can’t get in to them too much. I really don’t care for “mealy” apples. I know they’re the ones that are best for “out of hand” eating, but I don’t like the way they just fall apart in my mouth. Macs have a texture I like, and just the right amount of tartness.

2) If you could just have two kinds of greens in your garden, which ones would you grow?
Some kind of lettuce, for sure. I’d lean toward Romaine, but Boston Bibb would be fine too. I’m not sure what I’d pick for the other. I like spinach, especially raw or lightly cooked. But I also like collard greens. I don’t think they’re as versatile, though, so probably I’d go spinach.

3) What are your top three favorite root veggies and why?
I’m not really a fan of root veggies. Carrots and me don’t get along since an incident I had in childhood with boiled carrots. If they’re in a stew, though, or some otherwise flavorless preparation, I’m ok. Certainly not a favorite, though. I like potatoes. I also like onions, and they grow underground, so I’ll count them, even though they’re a bulb, not a root. Same with garlic.

4) Do you like squash? Name your four favorites, winter or summer varieties.
I like squash, but I’m not a fan of the real wet stuff. I prefer a firm variety, and I like it roasted. Susan and I have found that buttercup roasts the best, but acorn works ok too.

5) You are going to make a meal of grilled veggies … what five do you pick to grill tonight?
Red peppers, onions, portabello mushrooms, asparagus, cherry tomatoes. Susan and I make grilled veggies as a side dish when grilling outside, and she has this dressing made with coarse mustard that’s delish!

1) Johnny Quest meets his friend Hadji in India. Tell us about a friend you have/someone you met who is “far” away. (You determine what “far” is.)

I met Amy by way of Neurotic Fishbowl. The lady who ran that site–I think her name was Amy too–did something called the “Burn It.” She had this theme, and asked people to make a CD with songs that followed the theme. She then divided everyone who signed up into groups of four. You then made a CD, and sent it to those other three people. In return, those three would send you their CD. Amy was in my group. I still have her CD, too! Since then, she’s made several “friends” here in in Maine, but I don’t think she’s met any of them.

2) Scooby Doo and Shaggy are always hankerin’ for a snack. What have you got a craving for recently?

My wife let me indulge a craving for Twinkies recently. I hadn’t had one for some time, and Julia mentioned she wanted one. So at the grocery store on Saturday (I think), we grabbed a box. I had one last night. The kids like them so much, it may be the only one I get!
3) There are so many trains in “Thomas and Friends” I can’t keep track of them all! Is there a group of folks you’re involved in, and yet you don’t know everyone’s name (e.g. chruch group, business group, support group, etc.)? Can you tell us about it?

In Kiwanis, we try very hard to get around to each member of the group, shake hands, and say “Hi.” And, as the bulletin editor, I really need to know everyone’s name. Still, it can be hard. I’m also on the Advisory Board for the local Salvation Army. I’ve been a member of that board for a little over a year, I think. In that time, there are some members who are on the board, but I haven’t met them yet. If they come to a meeting, it must be the ones I have to miss!
4) Bill Cosby was only a regular on “The Electric Company” for one season before he left. What job have you held for the shortest period of time?

I had two jobs that didn’t last very long. My first real job was pumping gas at South End Exxon. I think I had maybe five months in that one–January through May. I left when they insisted that I come to work, even on my days off, just to “check in and see how things are going.” I also had a job for a short time as receiving clerk at our local Fashion Bug. It was my job to unpack clothes, and hang them on rolling carts for “the girls” to put on the sales floor. I never worked the sales floor, and I didn’t learn to run their register. I just stayed in my little room out back, and listened to CDs, and unpacked clothes.
5) Speaking of Bill Cosby, “The Junkyard Gang” from Fat Albert made instruments out of old junk. Do you have something in your house that’s old junk that you’ve turned into something useful? If not, tell us about something that’s junky, but that you just can’t get rid of.

I have a white marine pearl drum shell that I use as a trash can down in my basement.  Just put a trash bag in, and Walla Walla Washington, it’s a trash can.