The [livejournal.com profile] androkles shower

Jun. 9th, 2003 08:40 pm
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[personal profile] vaneramos
1. You live so far away from the sea. How would you like to have your own mini-sub, and explore this place?

2. Two refined French women, a mother and her unmarried daughter, were walking in the park.
'What's that smell? I know that smell!' said the mother.
'I know it too, said the virginal daughter. It's terribly familiar!'
'Ladies' said their gentleman companion, 'it is a well known fact that the perfume of horse chestnuts resembles nothing so much as freshly ejaculated semen.'
Do any other natural smells remind you of sex?

3. Where can you go that has absolutely nothing to do with your work?

4. He's handsome. He's as sexy as they come. He says he loves you. But can he cook?

5. In a dream, you come across an old leather-bound book. You open it, and the pages are mysteriously alive - the pictures move, and the text changes before your eyes. As you stare in astonishment, you read the answer to a question you've always wanted to know. You wake up. What was it you read?



1. You live so far away from the sea. How would you like to have your own mini-sub, and explore this place?

Technically I have lived my entire life away from the sea. But here is where I grew up, an old photo off the end of my parents' front lawn overlooking Lake Erie on a rough day:



On summer nights I would fall asleep to the sound of waves out my bedroom window. Bodies of water are like a magnet to me, and I have an affinity to the sea, though most of my visits have been brief and superficial: in Florida, Virginia, Massachusetts, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. My best sea vacation was to Pacific Rim National Park on the west coast of Vancouver Island, when I camped alone for several nights on the beach and spent my days poking through tidepools. It is one of my favourite memories.

I have never learned to scuba dive, but I love snorkeling at the cottage, where we can try to catch bullfrog tadpoles with our hands and watch bass and sunfish swimming through the weed beds.

If I had my own mini-sub, I would probably spend the rest of my life exploring the world's deep waters. At least diving to investigate a coral reef is an achievable dream. Meanwhile, I go there in my imagination:

A link to one of my drawings.

2. Two refined French women, a mother and her unmarried daughter, were walking in the park.
'What's that smell? I know that smell!' said the mother.
'I know it too, said the virginal daughter. It's terribly familiar!'
'Ladies' said their gentleman companion, 'it is a well known fact that the perfume of horse chestnuts resembles nothing so much as freshly ejaculated semen.'
Do any other natural smells remind you of sex?


I have never noticed this fact about the horse chestnut. However the flowers of Ailanthus, known paradoxically as stink-tree or tree-of-heaven, also smell like cum.

I find the smell of cedarwood particularly erotic, possibly because of my experiences as an early teen going to swimming lessons and sitting in the dry sauna afterwards, covertly watching naked men.

Unfortunately I am overly sensitive to body smells. This is a dreadful thing for a sensualist to have to admit. I wish I were more of a connoisseur.

To my taste, a vodka martini, properly prepared, has a flavour resembling semen. I find this pleasant. It comes from the vermouth, but is less distinct in a gin martini.

3. Where can you go that has absolutely nothing to do with your work?

To sleep.

I hardly ever leave home for more than a few hours, and never overnight, without my notebook. Writing follows me everywhere I go. It is virtually inseparable from who I am. Every experience is a candidate for a story.

I typically don't remember my dreams, otherwise I would write them down. I have tried exercises that helped me remember them. But maybe it's better I leave sleep sacred.

4. He's handsome. He's as sexy as they come. He says he loves you. But can he cook?

Me? I certainly can. I cook for myself with a little reluctance, but delight in serving a meal to friends. I'm not a detail person when it comes to food, not inclined to fuss over anything impractical. And I'm taking applications from gentlemen with more patience and a knack for presentation.

Planning menus to please my finicky children is a particular challenge. Here is their favourite, and one of my specialties, from a Cajun cookbook:

Country Ribs
Allow 1 lb. pork ribs per person plus a couple extra "for the pot"
½ cup soy sauce*
1½ Tbsp. cornstach*
*these amounts for 4½-6 lbs. of ribs

sweet and sour sauce:
1 cup catsup
1 cup water
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup cider vinegar
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. salt
dash of pepper
a few drops of Tobasco sauce

Place ribs in a large pot with a cover. Add water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook 15 to 20 minutes. Remove ribs and drain.

Brush ribs with soy sauce and cornstarch mixture. Continue to brush both sides of ribs until all soy sauce mixture is gone, done over 30 to 45 minutes in order to allow the mixture to penetrate ribs.

Place ribs on grill about 6 to 8 inches from briquettes. Cook about 20 to 30 minutes over low to medium fire. Every 2 to 3 minutes ribs should be turned and basted each time with sweet and sour sauce.

Serve immediately or put in large pot in oven on "warm" until ready to serve.

To make sauce mix ingredients and bring to a boil. use as a basting sauce and serve remainder as dip for ribs.

Also good cooked in oven at 350°F for 1 to 1½ hours.



Here is my recipe for pumpkin bread. I am also famous for my peach chutney, maple oatmeal bread, and tomato chicken soup provençal.

5. In a dream, you come across an old leather-bound book. You open it, and the pages are mysteriously alive - the pictures move, and the text changes before your eyes. As you stare in astonishment, you read the answer to a question you've always wanted to know. You wake up. What was it you read?

My question: is there life on other planets? Hopefully the book would be generous, providing images and descriptions of bizarre creatures, surreal landscapes and fantastic civilizations.



Anyone who would like an interview from me may request one by posting a comment: "Interview me."

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