interviewed by mrpeck

[cellio]

1. Which part of Judaism appeals to you most?

Abstractly, the idea that we are expected to wrestle with God (and theology in general), to really engage and understand.

More concretely, the extra mindfulness that comes from mitzvot. It's kind of hard to forget about God when you give praise and thanks many times per day.

Even more concretely, the sense of rest and warmth that comes from a Shabbat spent with like-minded others. I wish it could be every week. (Well, Shabbat is, of course, but spending it that way isn't.)

2. Have you done much traveling? If so, where have you gone? If not, where, if anywhere, would you like to go?

I have not done much. I kind of like being other places, but not the hassle of going there and being away from the normal routine.

I'd like to visit Israel. I'd like to visit assorted friends who are scattered across the globe. I'd like to wander through the remaining architecture of caliph-era Spain. I'm curious about Alaska in summer. If I had a teleporter, things would be easier. :-)

3. If you were to play D&D again after Ralph's game finishes, what character concept would you like to try next?

In part, it depends on who the GM and other players are and on what kind of game the group wants to run. While I did enter Ralph's game saying "I want to play a mage" (because I never had, for practical purposes), I'd like to do the next one more cooperatively.

Assuming a fantasy millieu (because hey, it's my favorite to play in so the odds are better of the next game I'm in being that than anything else), I think I would enjoy playing a cleric of some sort because they get to do a mix of things. I might also enjoy playing a ranger (perhaps an archery-focused one), but probably not either a druid or a straight fighter. I guess what all of these have in common is a mix of fighting skill and magical ability.

When we started this campaign I pretty much wrote off rogues because I never liked playing AD&D thieves, but now that I've seen more I might reconsider that. Rogues aren't thieves anymore; they're swiss-army-adventurers. :-)

Character concepts do not spring forth wholly-formed for me the way they do for some people (like Kevin, I think). It took a while for Larissa to evolve in my mind; when I started I had a vague idea of a mage specializing in "applied physics" (as I called it), but that was pretty much all I had worked out. Doing the character journal helped with that, actually, including working out a little backstory. But a lot of the interesting developments, like the whole paladin angle, arose well after the start of the game. This suggests to me that I should try for a starting position that's somewhat flexible and see where it takes me.

4. If you could change one thing about your current life, what would it be?

That's a very good question. I find myself thinking about it on many levels, from paths not taken down to basic physical attributes.

I think I would change my level of introversion, or perhaps timidness or "social acumen" is a better way to put it. I wouldn't want to lose the self-reflection that comes from introversion, but I'd like to be more comfortable in crowds and around strangers. I find it very difficult to really fit in in groups where I don't already know almost everyone, and that leads to a lot of awkwardness and, probably, missed opportunities.

I considered saying instead that I would fix my vision, but of the two, the vision is less awkward. Or, at least, I have spent a lifetime learning to adapt to it, and it has almost certainly shaped who I am in some way that I can't necessarily articulate. I don't think, if given the opportunity, that I would wave the magic wand and make the vision problems never have happened, but I would take the chance to wave the magic wand and make them go away now. In a heartbeat. But if I had to choose, fixing the way I interact with other people is probably more important in the long run.

5. You seem to like to cook and bake and you are certainly good at it. What is your favorite recipe to make and why?

Hmm. That's tough. I don't really have a single recipe that's my favorite. I like variety. :-)

I like making salads because there's room for creativity. I also like making fish, not just because I like eating it but because I'm learning about the option space and what treatments work better with which types of fish. (I grew up thinking that fish was stuff that came pre-breaded from the frozen-foods section...)

I'm also a big fan of curries. I like experimenting with the seasonings and with the specific vegetables to be included. I do not consider myself knowledgable here, just inquisitive. (This is hindered somewhat by the fact that Dani does not share this culinary interest.)

It's ironic that after all that, what we're having tonight is leftover spinach lasagna. :-)

Comments

[estherchaya.livejournal.com]

I'm *always* looking for new salad recipes. Feel free to post liberally!

[cellio]

Most of my salads are improvised in some form, so I don't have written recipes. Here are some combinations I like:

Spinach, mandarins, pine nuts, fresh strawberries, a little red onion, with citrus-based dressing (preferring lime over lemon).

Mixed greens, broccoli, onion, crumbled blue cheese (lots), raisins, vinegar-based dressing (balsamic if available).

Spinach, bell peppers (red, orange, and yellow), cauliflower, radishes, garlic-vinegar dressing, hard-boiled eggs (quartered and placed on top).

"Israeli salad" as interpreted by Dani: diced cucumber, bell pepper (I use red 'cause I can't stand green), green onions, tomatoes, radishes, vinegar/oil, salt/pepper.

Sometimes, though, the answer is to stand in the produce section waiting for inspiration to strike. :-)