I want to thank Aahana Aggarwal, the blogger behind The Mystic Wagon, for nominating me for The Sunshine Blogger Award. I don’t follow most of the rules for blog awards. I don’t pose my own new questions. I don’t nominate other bloggers. But I do thank the blogger who nominated me, so thank you Aahana. And I do answer the questions. So here goes.
1. What is your pet peeve?
My current pet peeve is directed toward those selfish individuals who, for whatever reasons, refuse to wear face masks or to maintain social distancing even as the incidence of COVID-19 continues to surge in the United States. These people are inconsiderate and selfish. And at the risk of sounding mean and vindictive, it would serve them right if they all contracted the disease.
2. What is your favorite genre of books?
My reading tastes are kind of eclectic, so its hard to pick out just one. Plus, I go through phases where I’ll read a bunch of books of a certain genre, like science fiction, horror, historical fiction, humor, thrillers, detective stories, or biographies. One genre I never read is romance novels.
3. Do you watch Netflix? If yes, which is your favorite movie/series on Netflix?
Yes. And Hulu and Amazon Prime as well. Again, my viewing tastes are pretty eclectic so I’m hard pressed to pick a favorite. But I really enjoyed the two seasons of “Homecoming” on Amazon Prime and the five seasons of “Black Mirror” on Netflix.
4. Do you prefer street food or restaurants?
I prefer restaurants, but in these days of the pandemic, most restaurants are open only for takeout or outdoor dining. So I guess every restaurant is now a street food restaurant. 😉
5. Would you rather live on a beach such as Hawaii or in a city like New York? Why?
I’ve always been a city guy, so I’d prefer living in a city, to living on a beach. But I like to go to a beach for vacations. At least I used to in the “Before Days.”
6. Which subject do you dislike or hate the most and why?
There’s really no one subject I hate or seriously dislike, but politics has become so divisive that I am beginning to really dislike discussing it with anyone.
7. Have you developed and new skill during the pandemic? Elaborate.
No new skills. Just the same old ones.
8. Why did you start blogging in the first place?
When I first started to blogging in 2005, it was (1) to exercise my writing chops, and (2) to feel the rush of publishing posts in the blogosphere. In 2015 I took a two year hiatus from blogging in order to focus on some personal matters. But by May 2017 I started blogging again because I could no longer remain silent on all of the shit that has been swirling around us since the election of Donald Trump six months earlier.
9. Any obstacle which you overcame to continue your heartiest desires?
My heartiest desires? I’m not sure that my desires are “hearty.” Is the question about my heart’s desires or about my hardiest desires?
10. Which book is your favorite and why?
I would have to say, for sentimental reasons, it would be “Watership Down” by Richard Adams. I had just finished reading this book when I went on my first date with the woman who would ultimately become my wife. I spent much of our first date trying to explain to her why a novel about rabbits was so good and was not just a book for kids. I convinced her to read it and she loved it. I’m sure that’s why she agreed to marry me. Well, that and my prowess in bed.
11. Which creature fascinates you the most? Why?
Um, rabbits? Why? See above answer.
This, That, and the Other 
I may check out Black Mirror on your recommendation. I guess that you and Mrs. Fandango were going at it like rabbits after reading Watership Down.
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Ha! I guess we were. Black Mirror is a good series, but it’s not for everybody. If you were a fan of The Twilight Zone, you should enjoy it.
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I watched the first two shows last night which were pretty weird, but very interesting and I guess I will continue watching.
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Yes, weird but, for me, anyway, compelling.
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I also loved Watership Down! I thought it was an amazing concept and it made me cry at the end. Did you watch the new production that Netflix made? The CG was terrific and looked so real. I still cried! 😢 I hope your wife loves it as much as you! 🙂
I’m going to check out Black Mirror
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Actually no, I haven’t seen the Netflix production. I’ll have to check it out. I hope you enjoy Black Mirror. It’s, well, intriguing.
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Great to know, I will. Thanks 🙂
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I was not happy, at all (years ago), viewing the first episode of Bkack Mirror… or hearing about other episodes. While watching the first episode, I seriously thought the person who recommended the series was “punking” me.
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Yikes. I mean the second definition, but was not aware of the origin!
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=punking
There’s been at least one program with the word “punked” in the name.
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Yeah, I figured based upon context that you were using the second definition of the word. 😉
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Refreshing my memory. “Punk’d” is what it was actually called.
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Was that the one about the British prime minister having sex with a pig on TV? Yeah, that was kinda f*cked up.
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Yes, that was the episode of Black Mirror I watched most of and then thought, no freakin’ way this is recommendable — and turned it off. I had forgotten the recommender said to skip the first episode. But when I heard a couple other episodes described (after having basically seen the first), I retained the sense I wouldn’t care for it.
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It’s better than the first episode might make one think. You might want to give it another chance.
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Ooo; I gotta look into that.
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Congratulations Fandango! Very interesting Q & A
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Thanks, Sadje.
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You’re welcome 😉
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Congratulations, Fandango. That book is going on my to read list!
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Good. Enjoy it.
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Great answers. A great book too. I’d love to live t the beach as the city means nothing to me. LOL
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Thanks!
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Wonderful answers Fandango! Thank you for posting 😊
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Thanks for the nomination!
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Read the book and watched the old film several times. It’s a classic.
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Yes it is.
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Did you get around to watching Outer Banks? When I was watching that series, I would say, “I wanna watch the water people.” I like cities and the beach, but a warm beach is my favorite.
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No, I don’t think I ever saw that show.
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Yeah, I had indicated it might seem a little immature (or something like that). But it wasn’t too immature, did have some moral fiber, and had lots of water.
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Lol! Don’t share the credit with a book!
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😉
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I had to review “Watership Down” while I was working at Doubleday. it had just been released. Not only isn’t it a book for children, it definitely is NOT a book for children. I sort of hated it. It was well-written and had a good moral, but I still hated it. But I wrote a good review because I figured my not liking it wasn’t the final word on the book. Someone else might love it … and here we are. i was right.
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Well, different strokes for different folks. What was it about the book that you hated?
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That’s a very interesting insight.
Thank you for sharing it.
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I remember my folks talking about Watership Down and I think my older sister read the book and saw the movie. But I never did either. I will add it to my list along with watching Black Mirror.
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