Q&A with an illuminated mind; my husband.

Well, my dear readers; you asked, & he answered.

I think it’s only fair to note that this interview almost didn’t happen, due to my presumptuousness. Jonathan wasn’t too happy that I signed him up for an endeavor without his permission. But, after some convincing he relented. & I’m very grateful to him for being such a good sport & putting up with my antics.

I had intended for this little Q&A to be done on camera. I felt that taping him answering your questions would give you a better idea of who he is, what his mannerisms are, his sense of humor, & so on. But, it happened that writing out the answers worked better for his schedule. (Because unlike myself, Jonathan actually has shit to do, & important shit at that.)

So without further ado, I’d like you to meet Jonathan, my husband.

— — — —

[personal]

Do you like to be called “Jon”?
I don’t mind if someone does on accident, but I don’t prefer it. I like all of my name — Jonathan.

What were you like as a child? (favorite books/tv shows/games/etc)
I think you’re asking more what did I like rather than what was I like so I’ll answer the former. I really liked anything by Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein; those were two of my favorite authors. As for TV shows: Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers… I think pretty much all the shows kids typically watched. I didn’t really have any favorite games, but I liked playing with Legos a lot.

If you could be any fruit, which fruit would you be?
An orange, because it’s juicy.

If you found out you had 3 days before the world was going to end, how would you spend your last 3 days?
I would spend it with my wife, and family of course. I would also want to be in nature.

If you had to listen to one song on repeat for forever, what would it be?
A song that’s 4 minutes of nothing.

Favorite meal: Vegetarian taco salad.
Favorite musicians/singers/bands: Amon Tobin, Tool, Soundgarden, Manu Delago, and Pink Floyd come to mind.
Favorite books: One City, A Wild Sheep Chase, Purple Cow, Peace is Every Step
Favorite animal: Panther.

When you’re not writing, what are your favorite things to do?
Spending time with Ev’Yan of course. We get in to all kinds of trouble. I also like to hike, practice Jeet Kune Do and gymnastics, and read. I’m a voracious reader, and I love to learn new things.

What does the tattoo on your back mean?
It’s the Om symbol, which represents the entire spectrum of sound, or the eternal energy of the universe.

[on being married]*

When and how did you know Ev`Yan was the woman you wanted to marry?
I think it wasn’t more than a few weeks after we met. I knew because there was nothing I wanted to change about her.

What is your favorite thing about Ev`Yan’s looks?
Everything. She has beautiful big brown eyes, perfect lips, amazing skin; the composition of her features is amazing. There’s nothing I don’t like, so it’s hard to say my favorite thing.

List three habits of Ev´Yan’s that you adore the most:

1. How she randomly sits on my lap, no matter if I’m working or not.
2. When she steals my shirts/clothes.
3. She always thinks of me when making decisions, and considers how I feel.

What is your favorite thing about married life?
Knowing that I have someone to share everything with. I confide in Ev’Yan with everything. We share every celebration, disappointment and everything else in between.

How do you feel about Ev`Yan’s issues with sex?
I’ve come to understand it a lot better. At first I would get frustrated easily, but I’ve learned a lot. I know that it’s not about me, and I don’t have to take it personally, that definitely helps. I feel OK with it now because we’re working through it. It’s something that takes time to heal and I know that we’re both committed to creating the type of intimacy that we want.

Mother in laws tend to get a bad rap. Was there ever a fear or uncertainty that you would butt heads with me (your mother in law)?
I don’t think so. Maybe most guys feel that way, I’m not sure. But I never did. Maybe it’s because I’ve grown up with so many women in my life (I have four sisters).

[his unconventional life]

Where did you find the courage to quit your day job and reclaim your dreams?
From my integrity. I knew that if I didn’t follow my dreams I would never feel like I lived up to my full potential. I guess that scares me more than anything. The life unlived, the love unrequited. That motivation is more “away-from”. But there was a lot of “toward-type” motivation as well: knowing that I’d be fulfilled. And if you want that enough, I guess you’ll find the courage somewhere.

Does you ever wish you had a regular 9 to 5 job again?
Not once.

Do you see blogging as a relatively permanent fixture in your world as a means of expression, the way an artist sees painting or an actor sees theater?
Yes. I’ve started to transform the way I see many things in my life as more of an art or a practice. Blogging is one of those things.

Were you a vegetarian before you went [raw] vegan?
Yes. I’ve been vegetarian for eight years. I’m not actually vegan anymore, but for a short period of time in 2009, I ate completely raw and vegan. Now I eat about 70% raw and about 90% vegan. But always 100% vegetarian.

Why did you decide to eat raw vegan foods? What books/people persuaded you?
I was first influenced by reading Steve Pavlina’s 30 day trials on eating raw. After that I started exploring more books and blogs, and learning more about it. Kevin Gianni’s blog is one of my favorites.

Have you noticed any positive changes since you’ve been raw vegan? Any struggles?
As I mentioned earlier, I’m not 100% raw vegan anymore. I eat about 70-80% raw vegan food, with the rest being cooked vegetarian food. With that said, yes, I absolutely notice positive changes. By increasing the amount of raw food you eat by any amount will create a difference. I feel lighter, more full of energy and have a greater overall sense of well-being when I eat raw.

Does you have any tips for starting out and transitioning into being vegan?
Start small. Maybe shoot for just breakfast first, then breakfast and lunch. Then, gradually transition to eating vegan breakfast, lunch and a few dinners a week. Let it take a year or more if you need it to. Slow and steady progress creates lasting change better than anything else.

From a vegetarian’s perspective: why do you think the chicken crossed the road?
To get away from the butcher.

[his point of view]

What are your spiritual beliefs?
I believe that we’re spiritual beings having a human experience. I believe that life is eternal, and we are the energy of the universe. I believe that in reality, there is no separation.

Do you believe in the Law of Attraction?
I believe in it, but I don’t like the way things like The Secret and other people market it. They tend to come from an overly materialistic perspective, which in the end will not make you happy, no matter how well you manifest things.

Do you believe in man-made climate change?
To be honest, I don’t really know. I do know that the way most of us live is not very good for the health of life on our planet. I don’t buy that “save the planet” shit. If anything, by being more environmentally aware, we are saving ourselves. The planet will be just fine whether or not we’re here.

What do you think will happen in 2012? (She basically wants to know if you think the world is going end in 2012.)
I think this link sums it up well.