The naval gazing edition
I'm at our annual family reunion this week, so we'll take a relaxing look at ... me.
I’m on vacation in Galveston, Texas, this week. My family — at least, the West Texas side of my family — does a big reunion here every summer, and it’s a blast. Lots of golf, games of horseshoes on the beach and all kinds of great food.
Since we’re all of a month-and-a-half into the journey that is Good Government Files, it seems way too soon to skip a week. So I’m going to steal an idea I saw at a conference last month. Dr. Ashley English, Associate Professor of Strategic Communication at TCU, started her keynote with a picture of her family.
“We're more than our titles,” she said.
Dr. English is awesome. You’ll get a more thorough introduction to her in the not-too-distant future. She’s done some really helpful research and thinking on listening that’s essential for those of us in public service.
But back to me. Because this post is all about me. I had a lot of personal stuff to deal with the past couple of weeks and had to hustle to get last week’s post out on schedule before heading to the beach. (I know, this is a first-world, semi-retired guy kind of a problem.)
So, taking a cue from Ashley, I’m going to let you know I’m more than my title of semi-retired local government consultant.
Taking a cue from another awesome person, the late, great James Lipton, host of Inside the Actors Studio, I thought it would be interesting to answer some fun questions. If you’re any kind of cinephile or just a fan of the movies you’ve probably seen the show, where Lipton interviewed big time stars like Jodie Foster and Tom Hanks. Toward the end of the interview, he asked the following 10 questions:
What is your favorite word?
What is your least favorite word?
What turns you on?
What turns you off?
What sound or noise do you love?
What sound or noise do you hate?
What is your favorite curse word?
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
What profession would you not like to do?
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
I always loved that segment, but always struggled with how I would answer those questions. I can’t honestly answer No. 7 because, like Ralphie’s father, I work in profanity the way other artists might work in oils or clay, as those who have worked closely with me can attest.
So to let you in on a little bit more of who I am, I’ve compiled the following list of questions with the help of my good friend, the internet.
Who is your hero? My sons, Aaron and Jake. They've been through a lot — I was a single dad raising them by myself since they were in seventh and fifth grades, respectively — and have not only survived but are now thriving.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? A ranch in the Texas Hill Country, preferably near Kerrville.
What is your biggest fear? Making a fool of myself.
What is your favorite family vacation? Doing it now!
What would you change about yourself if you could? Oh, to have 20/20 vision again. I currently have one pair of contact lenses, three pairs of glasses at varying levels of correction, and use them all.
What really makes you angry? Three putting.
What motivates you to work hard? A creative challenge.
What is your favorite thing about your career? The people I got to work with. Three of the city managers I worked for — Bob Bennett, Jim Nuse and Laurie Hadley — all had profound influences on my life, most of them more on the personal side than professional, odd as that sounds. There is no one more fun to work with than Brooks Bennett, who I have supervised and who has also been my supervisor. More on Brooks in a later answer. My successor in Round Rock, Sara Bustilloz, is the perfect blend of smarts, competence, savvy and fun. And watching Austin Ellington create the gold standard for local government social media is among the highlights of my working life. I hate to leave out so many other co-workers from this answer, but I could go on and on about Joanne, Brian, Kristin, Courtney, Scott, Ethan, Bryan, David, and, well, you get the picture.
What is your proudest accomplishment? Being named 3CMA Communicator of the Year in 2018.
What is your favorite book to read? Golf in the Kingdom by Michael Murphy. I keep it on my nightstand.
What makes you laugh the most? The humor of Jim Gaffigan. Particularly when he invokes that alter ego voice (see 1:39 mark in this clip).
What was the last movie you went to? What did you think? John Wick 4. Loved it. Best part was watching it with my son, Jake.
What did you want to be when you were small? A professional athlete.
What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play? Golf and golf.
What would you sing at Karaoke night? “Can't Help Falling in Love,” by Elvis Presley.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Just had it! See picture below.
My aunt Gay makes this for every Galveston beach trip: chicken enchilada casserole, flautas and pinto beans, lovingly topped with what she calls her “hot stuff.” It’s from a recipe courtesy of my her mother/my late grandmother Marguerite Ainsworth. It’s also known as chow chow and is a combination of jalapeños, garlic, onions, a little mayonnaise and herbed vinegar. It would make a brick edible but I prefer it on Fritos and the dish above. Who is your favorite author? Can’t narrow it down to one, so I’ll go with Hemingway, Lawrence Block and James Lee Burke.
Would you rather win the lottery or work at the perfect job? And why? Win the lottery. Already had the perfect job.
If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to? Sometime in the 1940s or 1950s, so I could meet my paternal grandfather. He passed away long before I was born and I know little to nothing about him.
How would your friends describe you? A good guy, honest, who cares a lot about the place where he lives.
What are your hobbies? Golf and working crossword puzzles.
What is the best gift you have been given? My Garmin Approach S70 watch. Beloved Wife got it for me this past Fathers Day.
List two pet peeves. Drivers who don't use a turn signal, and people who are completely unaware of what’s going on around them in the store or airport and have no idea they're in the way of those of us who are aware of what’s going on around them.
What would you do if you won the lottery? Spoil Beloved Wife with anything and everything her heart desires. That’s No. 1. No. 2 would be playing golf at places like Pebble Beach and the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland. And I would travel there by private jet — I would add TSA lines to my list of pet peeves if asked to name three.
If you could share a meal with any four individuals, living or dead, who would they be? Thomas Jefferson, Albert Einstein, Walt Whitman and Sam Houston (my cousin, not the hero of the Texas Revolution. Sam’s a better conversationalist than I am.)
What's your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving. For the record, I make a rib roast instead of a turkey. And enjoy multiple pieces of pecan pie with homemade whipped cream.
What was the last book you read? Weapons of Mass Delusion, by Robert Draper.
What's your favorite type of foreign food? Italian, since I don't consider Tex-Mex foreign.
Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life? Brad Pitt. Because what incredibly vain man my age wouldn’t?
What's your favorite fast food chain? Chipotle, although I believe it is technically considered fast casual. Whatever, it’s got a drive-thru. Sonic and Whataburger are close seconds. Love me double cheeseburger, fries and strawberry shake.
Do you love or hate rollercoasters? Love ‘em, though my body doesn’t endure them quite as well as it used to when I spent many a summer day at AstroWorld riding the Texas Cyclone.
What's your favorite family tradition? This beach get-together.
What is your favorite childhood memory? Playing with my friend Wes Archer. From kindergarten to fifth grade, Wes was my best friend. We’d trek through the woods near his home to hang out on Buffalo Bayou. He also had a little motorcycle that we’d ride around the big parking lot of the Presbyterian church across the street from his house.
What's your favorite movie? Toss up between Gladiator and Tender Mercies.
Is your glass half full or half empty? Three quarters full.
Are you an introvert or an extrovert? I can ace the Myers-Briggs introversion questions.
Are you related or distantly related to anyone famous? No. But childhood friend Wes Archer, referenced above, was the first person to animate Bart Simpson. He’s also worked on King of the Hill, Bob’s Burgers and Rick and Morty. In the world of animation, he’s kind of a big deal.
What do you do to keep fit? I’m a CrossFit athlete. Unapologetically so. So @ me all you want, haters!
Who was your favorite teacher in school and why? Miss Haas, my fifth grade English teacher at Memorial Drive Elementary. I’ll never forget her reading Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator in class.
If you had a warning label, what would yours say? Caution, short-tempered when hungry.
What song would you say best sums you up? Why Can’t We Be Friends by War. I just want everybody to get along.
On a scale of 1-10 how funny would you say you are? Tough one. Maybe a 7, on a good day, with help from a little nitrous oxide.
What was your first job? Busboy at the Courtyard restaurant in Houston.
If you could join any past or current music group which would you want to join? Bruce Springsteen and E-Street Band. I saw them one time, on Dec. 8, 1978, at The Summit in Houston. They looked like they were having an absolute blast. I think they had more fun than the audience, which is saying something.
What is your favorite family holiday tradition? Eggs benedict for Christmas brunch.
Who is the most intelligent person you know? The aforementioned Brooks Bennett, Assistant City Manager for the City of Round Rock. He has as much raw intellectual horsepower as anyone I’ve ever met (including his dad, which is saying A LOT), and has a relentless curiosity. He’s also the quickest study I’ve ever known.
What is one thing you will never do again? Drink or drug.
Who knows you the best? Beloved Wife.
Will, you never cease to amaze me with your command of the English language, your wit, your honesty and your good looks!! I am so blessed to call you a former fellow City of Round Rock employee and friend! Oh, and I think I need to meet Aunt Gay and share recipes!!
Thanks Will. Great read!”Aunt Gay”