(no subject)

[pantryslut]

From sparkymonster via several people on my friend's list, because I liked the questions a lot.

1. List 5 things which are basic common knowledge in your culture, which people outside are unfamiliar with. This is not about obscurity, but something everyday to you, that others go "bzuh?" at.

a) Miracle Whip is really just sweetened mayonnaise, so there's no need to get yer panties in a wad over it.

b) College hockey has a very different game flow than pro hockey.

c) Pasties aren't just things that go on nipples.

d) You can buy birthday candles and paper plates at a party store, but you're more likely to just buy booze. (The penny candy selection, though, is also often awesome.)

e) I am not being affected when I pronounce "Belize" with three syllables.


2. What was the last book you read that was written by a person who is a different race than you? Do you seek out books written by people of other races? Why? Why not?

I am currently reading Walter Mosley's Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned.

I seek out fiction and poetry written by people who are of different races than me. Nonfiction, less so, and I'm not sure why, unless it's theory, in which case I seek it out, too. It's just part of being broadly educated, for me.


3. What did you eat at dinner last night? Would you call it ethnic food? Why?

I had macaroni and cheese and a side salad (and two brownies, and two iced teas.)

Macaroni and cheese is the food of my people, yeah, but if I called it ethnic food, people would look at me funny.


4. Has your gender presentation changed over the last 5 years? Has this change/lack of change been a deliberate choice on your part?

When I went back to work in an office, I found myself surprisingly comfortable in butch-leaning business casual. It's now what I favor, given a choice.

Right now, though, I'm all about Maternity Comfort Clothes -- t-shirts and elastic-waist pants and such. It kind of bugs me sometimes, but oh well.


5. Do you discuss race and racism in your livejournal/blog or in person? Why have you made that choice?

Yes, though usually only in passing here on LJ. I am one of those folks who have decided that it's my responsibility as a well-meaning White person to talk to other White people about issues of race and racism, because, funny, such people listen to me more when I do that when they don't listen to my POC friends as much.

Of course, that fact drives me absolutely bonkers sometimes, especially as my, er, chosen idiom is not so much the calm voice of the middle-class well-educated person, most of the time.


6. Bonus question. Were you aware of International Blog Against Racism Week? Did you choose to participate in it? Why or why not?

Yes, I was aware of it, but I did not participate. I never participate in "Blog Against This Issue Day/Week/Month/Whatever." If the issue interests me, it will be integrated into the whole of my LJ reading/writing experience. If it doesn't, why waste my time and attention?

Comments

[beckastar.livejournal.com]

fwiw, i grew up with a deep love of miracle whip. we had a gallon size jar in the fridge.

[pantryslut.livejournal.com]

I've mostly switched over to mayonnaise now, but there are certain recipes from my childhood where I have to adulterate the mayo with a spoonful of sugar. Also, I keep a very small jar of MW in the fridge to this day, Just In Case.

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

i loved _always outnumbered, always outgunned_. i like all of mosley's non-sf stuff, but i have bounced off the sf.

[pantryslut.livejournal.com]

I actually discovered Mosley via SF -- I read a couple of his short stories in Asimov's and loved them.

I haven't quite worked up to the Easy Rawlins books b/c as a rule, I don't read mysteries. But I might go there anyway, just because I like Mosley's writing so very much.