An introduction adina says: given that there are a plethora of chrises around, what should I call you? chris barry says: My real name is Chris Barry. You can call me Chris Barry chris barry says: Has the interview started? adina says: yes
adina says: where were you born? chris barry says: I was born in London Ontario (the real London). When I was born, the cartilage in my ears was super soft and exceptionally maleable. It was described as resembling a layer of onion skin. When my mother held me for the first time, she squashed my right ear to her breast. Soft as it was, it got all 'krinkled' and looked deformed.
chris barry says: Being my mum's first child, she was worried that she'd "ruined her beautiful baby!", and desperately tried to peel my ear back into its original shape. That's my only memory of being born.
Free Association adina says: have you ever hit a girl? Would you? I mean, if I made you do lots of boring work, consistently for many months with no creative respite? chris barry says: I'm just not that type of guy. adina says: phew. adina says: ok: so here is the challenge: I will give you a name, and you have to tell me the first thing that comes to mind chris barry says: my morning jacket chris barry says: i think of bees adina says: guided by voices chris barry says: i think of tobin sprout adina says: the dalai lama chris barry says: dollarama adina says: you mom chris barry says: krinkled ear
adina says: Do you have a script that you want to shop around? Pony is an excellent forum for self promotion chris barry says: ahh.. okay. well, it's something i've been working on for a couple of years. it's about a young british boy who becomes orphaned. What he doesn't know, see, is that... he's a wizard. adina says: sounds ... um... familiar chris barry says: it actually doesn't. that's the magic.
politics adina says: did you watch the political debate last night? chris barry says: i did, yes. adina says: me too. favourite parts? I liked it when Gilles Duceppe said: Paul Martin campaigns like an NDP and governs like a Tory chris barry says: I'd have to say any part that included Gilles Duceppe. I love that guy. Don't you just want to take him home? They could seriously market Gilles Duceppe plush dolls. Anglo and Francophone children alike would totally love that! i would. otherwise... I liked harper's cheesy smile after every one of his rebukes (is that a word?). adina says: yeah. I like how Paul Martin seems to rock back on his heels when he is pleased with himself and how Jack Layton had adopted that weird, truncated "thumbs up" that Bill Clinton pioneered (I think)
Music and monkeys adina says: what is the last concert you went to? chris barry says: hmmm.... the last big one was Sigur Ros in Munich over the summer. Smaller ones... hmmm... sadly I haven't been to a show in a while. It was probably an indie-electronic night at the Drake that I helped put on. adina says: did you dj that night? chris barry says: I did. I enjoy doing the odd DJ stint. adina says: and you and your wife dj together sometimes? chris barry says: we have, but not often. There usually isn't much room in the booth. adina says: i think that is very romantic. You should have kids and teach them to DJ chris barry says: Yeah, we could have little DJs running around in diapers. Although it isn't that hard to DJ. DJs are the most self-important people I know. I mean, you play songs... it's not like you wrote them. it's really basic. you could teach a monkey to dj. in fact, that would be amazing.
adina says: do you like monkeys? chris barry says: yeah, i was born in the year of the monkey adina says: I was the ox chris barry says: the thing about monkeys is that no matter what they're doing, they look totally serious. and it's like, "what are you so serious about? you're a monkey!" chris barry says: do i look serious when i work? adina says: totally adina says: monkey-serious
Poop chris barry says: here's something for the record: chris hates the word poop, and any derivative of that word even if you mean to say "i'm tired" adina says: uh-oh... adina says: do you hate the word "poop" or the concept? Like: do you hate all scatological humour? chris barry says: i'm not a fan of the scatological... but will laugh if it's funny. but, no, it's really the word. adina says: what about "dropping the kids off at the pool" or "laying cable" or other such euphemisms chris barry says: All I have to say is, EWE. I read that over twice before i "got" it. At first, I thought we were discussion pool safety and the parents' role in lifeguarding their children. adina says: oh dear. remind me not to invite you for dinner. chris barry says: I'm actually not the one to worry about. kathleen, my lovely wife, is worse. she can't stand the scatalogical humor. she hates the term "weiner"... in any context. she doesn't even like the word slacks.
adina says: Is there anything I can do to make your work experience more pleasant? chris barry says: hmmm... nah, i'd say you've been a lovely coworker so far. adina says: please don't quit chris barry says: when you edit this, can you change all the words and make me look smart? adina says: every other word. chris barry says: well, they've found that people who read blogs, actually only read every second word anyway. so we should be fine.
