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meet "ashen-shugar" | the golo profile

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This week’s GOLO profile is the witty, well-known Ashen-Shugar. Ashen has been a GOLO member since the very first day and is always good for a laugh. I caught up with Ashen last week, and here is what he had to say:  

Angela: Are you nervous about this interview?

Ashen-Shugar: Very

Angela: I’m not Barbara Walters.

Ashen-Shugar: Oh I know. But still sometimes you don’t know what to expect.

Angela: It won’t hurt.

Ashen-Shugar: Okay, but I’m used to pain. (pause)  I’ve had my rabies vaccinations.

Angela: Really?

Ashen-Shugar: Yes. I was bit by a rabid cat.

Angela: How did that happen?

Ashen-Shugar: I reached down to pet a cat I thought was one of my own, went to pull my hand away and the next thing you know, this orange cat had the look of Satan in his eyes and bit me on my hand.

Angela: That must have been scary.

Ashen-Shugar: What was scary was the two nurses walking in with both hands full of needles.

Angela: Ouch. I guess that hurt.

Ashen-Shugar: Oh yeah, but I no longer have a fear of needles.

Angela: Well, what "DO" you fear?

Ashen-Shugar: Not much. This interview.

Angela: Your blogging topics run the gamut, from recipes to politics. You seem to be a man of many tastes.

Ashen-Shugar:  I’ve always been interested in a wide variety of things and try to learn a little about a lot of things. My job descriptions have varied over the years. I’ve worked in every area I’ve had an interest. But now I’m looking for a career.

Angela: What do you do now?

Ashen-Shugar: I work with wine.

Angela: I bet a lot of people think they “work” with wine.

Ashen-Shugar: I make sure wine labels meet federal guidelines.

Angela: There are federal guidelines for labels? Like what?

Ashen-Shugar: The government warnings have to be specific. The wording, alcohol content… all have to be specific. If it was aged, it has to include how long. The federal government has to have a translation for everything.

Angela: So a French wine would have to be translated to English?

Ashen-Shugar:Yep.

Angela: That is so interesting. Do you think people actually read the labels?

Ashen-Shugar: No. People tend to find a wine steward and ask them. They think they’re experienced.   

Angela: What kind of title does a wine label guy have?  

Ashen-Shugar: Inventory Specialist. I’m an intermediary between wineries and the federal government.

Angela: How would you describe your GOLO persona?

Ashen-Shugar: (Pauses to think) Boy that’s a tough one right there. I don’t know, I really don’t know. Sometimes he’s funny and joking, sometimes he’s serious?

Angela: “He?” Is Ashen your alter ego?

Ashen-Shugar: Yes.

Angela: Kind of like Superman and Clark Kent?

Ashen-Shugar: More like the Joker, actually.  

Angela: Speaking of the Joker, you are quite the jokester. Were you the class clown?

Ashen-Shugar: Yes. I’d do just about anything to get a laugh.

Angela: Past or present?

Ashen-Shugar: Still. I’ll do anything to get a laugh.

Angela: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done for a laugh?

Ashen-Shugar: It usually starts this way: “Hold my beer, and watch this…”

Angela: You are a crazy man

Ashen-Shugar: I do try.  

Angela: Is laughter the best medicine?

Ashen-Shugar: I really do believe that. Mostly I’m into self-depreciating humor.

I’ll say anything about myself to get a laugh. I just hate it when people agree with me.

Angela: So who are your friends on GOLO?

Ashen-Shugar: Just about everybody. I get along with everyone on there. I don’t have an arch nemesis. I enjoy chatting and I like the interesting points others have to offer. And I love to debate.

Angela: How far do you take your debates?

Ashen-Shugar: I debate to a point. Sometimes others don’t get it. When that happens, I just move on. When I see it’s not going to help anything I just give it up.

Angela: You enjoy fantasy books, hence the name Ashen-Shugar. Is your taste in movies similar?

Ashen-Shugar: Yes. I enjoy all movies. Well, everything but romantic. I love to read. I read just about everything I get my hands on.

Angela: What’s the most bizarre thing you’ve read?  

Ashen-Shugar: Tommy Knockers by Stephen King. He has an odd writing style.

Angela: Who’s your favorite author?

Ashen-Shugar: Raymond E. Feist. I read one of his books when I was a lot younger, like when I was 7 and it made enough of an impression and I’m waiting for the next one. The people in the book are very grounded.

Angela: Do you think you’ll live to be 100?

Ashen-Shugar: I doubt it. I didn’t think I’d make it to 30. Now I’m 8 years past it.

Angela: Why did 30 seem like such a long shot?

Ashen-Shugar: I was a wild child. A very wild child.

Angela: What’s your advice to those wild children out there now?

Ashen-Shugar: I don’t know. I think experience is the best teacher, but I also found a good woman. One that made me want to be a better man, and that changed my life.

Angela: Awwwww, I think I’m gonna cry. (Sniff…)

Ashen-Shugar: Oh don’t do that.

Angela: Thank you for chatting with me today  

Ashen-Shugar: You’re welcome.