The Sunday Roast

Irish Gumbo? Are You Kidding?! Here’s Hoping It Tastes Better Than It Looks!

(Folks - his words not mine! LOL)

The face behind the hilarious 'motif'; his familiar calling card.
Thanks TechnoBabe 'graphic' is a much better word.

(Love it)



This week's interview is with Kevin
who writes the blog, Irish Gumbo .

Thank you for the interview, Kevin

A very warm welcome to you and your followers

Here are the standard questions. Why do you blog?

Because I must. It was Lord Byron who said “If I don’t write to empty my mind, I go mad.” I discovered this about myself a few years ago, but never fully comprehended it until October 2008 when I started blogging as an outlet for all that pent-up nonsense and rubbish that was clogging my brain.

(It is a great escape from reality isn't it? I find I can 'switch off' from normal life very easily)

What's the story behind your blog name?

Ha! The second post I ever wrote, Irish Gumbo, Explained, addresses that very topic. As usual, I took a simple concept and made it much more complicated than necessary. It has to do with my ancestry, thinking too much, making gumbo…oh, and beer was probably involved. The short version is that good gumbo can be made in an infinite number of ways, and sometimes you never know what you are going to get when you stick that spoon in the bowl…which describes me quite well. But that uncertainty doesn’t matter as long as the end result tastes good!

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

The fame, adulation, beautiful women…wait, hold up, that’s the fantasy version. In reality, I have found the best thing to be more than one best thing. Creative outlet, cheap therapy, communication of ideas, making friends (even if only digitally in most cases) and a sense of community I never knew I lacked until I started.

(Yes - there are some great people in BlogLand and it is fun getting to know them through blogging)

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

Be honest. Be brave. Do it out of love, not obligation.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever read?

Oh, my. I read a lot, always have, and blogging has only increased my information overload. I honestly couldn’t recall specific posts by name, but I can offer up a short sampling of blogs that have consistently made me think, cry, and/or laugh (all important things to do), in no particular order:

Rene at Not The Rockefellers

Braja at Lost and Found In India

Captain Dumbass at Us and Them

Greenfingers at A Gardener’s Life In Motion

http://idiotsstew.blogspot.com/ - Idiot’s Stew (Sorry URL appears not to work - does anyone know the correct URL?)

I had to stop there because I realized there are a lot of folks to whom I am indebted for so much. Perhaps the easier way to do it would be to check out my blogrolls.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever written?

Blood Of My Blood, written in January 2009 and inspired by a conversation with my beautiful daughter. Other posts I have written (in particular, this one) may have garnered more comments, but that true story that still amazes me to this day.

(Thanks, Gumbo, I'll read this tonight)

If you were to suggest two blogs for roasting who would you pick, and why?

Captain Dumbass at the aforementioned Us and Them
Ron at Clark Kent’s Lunchbox
Why? Because they both make me realize I am not as incompetent as I think I am when it comes to being a father and a writer. Wait, that doesn’t sound like a ringing endorsement, does it? I hasten to add that they both are fine fellows and accomplished writers/bloggers in their own rights!

(I'll write to these gents asap)

That concludes the formal aspect of the interview but it would be nice to get to know you a little better while you are slowly turning on the roasting spit. So while you are screaming in agony above the open fire here are a few more questions for you.

Pick three things you can't live without (no you cannot have ice cubes to cool you down):

Writing. Photography. My daughter. Okay, technically, my daughter isn’t a “thing” (unless she is misbehaving), but I cannot imagine my life without her presence.

If we were to make a movie about blogland, what would it be and who would you cast in the leading roles?

I’d probably make a terrible casting agent, but maybe thinking of it in terms of a mash-up of movies would explain it. Put the following in a digital blender:

Apocalypse Now

Any of the “Pink Panther” series

Cool Hand Luke

2001: A Space Odyssey

Pulp Fiction

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Cold Mountain

Risky Business

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Whizz for a bit, pour into your eyes and enjoy!

If you could live your life again who would you be, and why?

Myself, but only because next time, I swear, I’ll get it right. Failing that, I’d say Thierry Henry or Paolo Maldini…because just once, I’d love to be that good at football, and still have some class!

You have been given a wonderful talent from above. This causes you to make your mark on humanity and be world famous. In which area would prefer: a best selling novelist, a brilliant artist, a gifted musician, a fantastic singer, a charismatic leader, anything you choose, and why?

Writer/photographer, because I could love what I do, and do what I love.

If you were an ice cream cone, which flavour would you prefer and who would you most want to lick you?

Sorry to be boring, but chocolate it is. Oh, and a gentleman never gets licked and tells, does he? (grin)

(As a perfect gentleman I never tell also, but sometimes I grin LOL)

Describe in one sentence your perfect day

Wake up when I’m ready, feeling rested and relaxed so that I could write another chapter in my next best book, spend time and break bread with family and friends, and then fall asleep knowing that I am loved.

If you were a fictional writer which one would you be and why?

Gene Wolfe. I still have a paperback copy of his “The Shadow of The Torturer” which I purchased nearly 30 years ago. He may be classified as science fiction/fantasy, but to me his work is just plain great storytelling. The richness and detail of his writing leaves me awestruck.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

I can only pick one?

(Off to the confessional my boy! quick!)

And finally if you have answered all these questions I invite you to ask me one in return - it's the least I can do. OK fire away!

Do you believe everyone is beautiful when they smile?

Yes actually I do. We were meant to smile, and it is more natural to smile. I read somewhere that when we smile we use fewer facial muscles than when we scowl. So being a lazy 'so and so' I decided quite early to smile. Also I harken to my grandmother's words which still ring true today:
"Laugh and the whole world laughs with you - weep and you weep alone!"

She also used to say this to us when we were kids, "May you have miles and miles of smiles."

Well that was great fun Kevin, thanks for the interview - let's have a quick look at your blog screensave. Crumbs! it looks as though you are already being roasted!!

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Today's Sunday Roast with Kevin at Irish Gumbo is the 120th in
a weekly series of interviews with bloggers from around the world. ________________________________________________

This interview will feature in The Roll of Honour
for all published Roasts. To view press HERE
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Next week's interview is Fragrant Liar just back
and refreshed from her hiatus.