The art of conversation

[dchenes]

I just had a conversation in French about the mechanics of written Chinese.

That got me thinking about the conversations I used to have in college sometimes, when the subject could be anything, and nobody was really trying to prove a point or defend what they thought the "right answer" to anything was. It was just an exchange of information, and I usually enjoyed it immensely and came out of it with the feeling that I had learned something. It's a shame that social conventions sometimes keep people from just sitting down and listening to each other. Everybody has something they like, or something they know a lot about, and you can learn things from people just by letting them talk. There were people I worked with who I'm sure could have taught me things, but I never really knew them outside of work, so I never got the chance to really talk to them. Get me going on a subject I know about and I can bore you to death with it, but on the way to being bored to death you might learn something about the subject and about the way I think.

Try it sometime. Sit down with somebody you know, or would like to get to know more about, and ask them something, and see where it goes.

Comments

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

what is your favorite pie - besides apple? and why?

[dchenes.livejournal.com]

Do I have to have one favorite? If so, that's a tough question. Pretty much anything without nuts in it. Blueberry, strawberry, strawberry rhubarb, key lime, apricot, squash, pumpkin, chocolate cream, lemon meringue...the list goes on. The Deschenes family Thanksgiving tradition is to have at least three, if not four, kinds of pie on Thursday and usually have none left over by Monday morning. My entire family likes pie, and we eat it for breakfast and lunch when there are leftovers. Every year when we have the vote for what sort of pies we want for Thanksgiving, I vote for blueberry, because it isn't apple and it doesn't have nuts in it.

The easier question to answer is what kind of pie I don't like. I'm not wild about pies with nuts in them. Pecan pie is always too sweet, regardless of how many pecans are in it, and my mother's Greek walnut pie is too sweet and never quite what I expected when I think about what walnuts taste like. I'm not fond of coconut cream pie because the last time I had it, I felt ill afterward, and I'm not fond of banana cream pie because I can't stand the taste of overripe and/or artificial bananas.

So, what's your favorite non-apple pie?

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

I have developed a fondness for pecan pie - specifically the pecan pie from RedBones, as it is not too sweet and very good with ice cream.

But my all-time favorite pie is... cheesecake. Or does that not count as pie? If I have to stick to pie, I'd have to say my mom's strawberry-rhubarb pie is very high on the list, tart rather than sweet, and again, good with ice cream.

[dchenes.livejournal.com]

It seems that ice cream is a vital part of pie for you. I always thought it was optional. I guess that's what happens when you get used to eating pie for breakfast; ice cream isn't what I'd call breakfast food, unless I'm eating breakfast at lunchtime.

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

I am capable of eating pie without it, although I admit that the strawberry-rhubarb really requires it for best effect.

But mm... pie for breakfast, sign me up!

nav may make a series of apple pies over the next few days to use up apples brought as offerings from others' pickings, and distribute among work and social spheres.

[dchenes.livejournal.com]

I would make pie if I had a pie plate. It's more fun to make pie when there are other people to help you eat it, though.

It's funny, I never got into the apple-pie-and-cheddar-cheese thing either. It does taste good, but it's not something I think of automatically. I like my pie without adornments, usually. I guess that makes me a purist.

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

Very true.

Now I'm starving again. post-lunch.