MOTW #30 - DGrey

[jennandjamesinm]

This week's Member of the Week is DGrey. We are glad to have them in the spotlight this week.

Swingers Board interviews are a way for us to get to know each other better. It is a way to acknowledge just how wonderfully varied a community we are. Every Tuesday, a new interview will start and the old interview will be locked. Be sure to stop in and get to know them better by asking them every nosey, intimate, personal question you can think of.

Every SwingersBoard member is allowed to ask the amount of questions specified by the interviewee in the answers to the default questions. If they discover that they chose too high or low a limit, they may change their choice.

Try to keep this thread about the person being interviewed. If you want to comment about things you discover you have in common or just elaborate on a response, pm them and make a new friend or start a new thread about it. This is intended to be a friendly thread, so please don’t ask anything in a purposeful attempt to get a heated debate. Of course, nobody is required to answer a question that they do not want to.

Also, please keep in mind that any answers you post are viewable to complete strangers. There is some risk in that. Again, all questions are optional.

We'll start each interview with a few overview questions to get things started:

Question limit (as the interviewee you may limit the questions on a per post or per user basis if you wish):
Gender (if not a couple):
If a couple, which one primarily posts:
Age(s):
Birthday(s):
Location:
Relationship status:
Swinging for how long?:
Prefer to swing with:
Biggest Pet Peeve:
Brief Intro:
Picture (if you feel comfortable sharing one):
Website (your own or one of your favorites):

[DGrey]

Question limit (as the interviewee you may limit the questions on a per post or per user basis if you wish): No limit, feel free to ask anything.

Gender (if not a couple): M/F Couple

If a couple, which one primarily posts: The female, Erika

Age(s): We're both 34

Birthday(s): Dino's is 8/7 and Erika's is 10/18

Location: New Jersey

Relationship status: Married for almost 8 years

Swinging for how long?: Since January of this year

Prefer to swing with: Couples and Females

Biggest Pet Peeve: Gosh, there are too many to list in too many different categories. I guess our biggest Pet Peeve with regard to swinging would be people who don't take the time to actually read a profile before sending an email.

Brief Intro: We met online and after a very brief relationship (10 months) we were married. It was right and we both knew it. We have been married since 1999 and have one daughter who is 4. Dino is an action scripter which means whenever you see Flash on a website, he codes it. Not all the Flash out there of course but some of it. He works for an ad agency in NYC and is currently working on a project for Nautica after finishing up the Jose Cuervo site. I am in school working towards my BA in English with a K-12 certification option. I am set to perform my internship in the spring and graduate in May of 2007. I'm only 12 years behind on that. LOL I left school after a few years and decided to pursue corporate America. I worked in the WTC South Tower until getting laid off in June of 2001. I guess the world works in mysterious ways sometimes, doesn't it.

Picture (if you feel comfortable sharing one): That's me (Erika) in the avatar and you can see both of us in our profile here.

Website (your own or one of your favorites): I run a message board for mothers so that's where I spend a lot of my time but other than that, we're often on here and Swing Lifestyle.

Fire away!

[NandTfromCA]

What are some interesting things you have learned about yourself/partner/others/the world, since you started swinging?

What’s at least one of your top 5 favorite movies? Why?

Can we plagiarize some of the verbiage in your Swing Lifestyle profile?

[gatorvol64]

I think I'll just piggyback on the previous post and ask about your favorite books. Or if it is easier, who are your favorite authors?

Vol

[DGrey]

What are some interesting things you have learned about yourself/partner/others/the world, since you started swinging?

Great question! I think the most important thing we learned is that there truly is no jealousy at all between us. Another thing is that sex doesn't define our relationship at all. In the beginning, we had the typical fears that it would change our relationship for the worse but it's strengthened it in a way I can't quite describe. We also learned that there are a lot of horny people out there! Our world views haven't changed much since starting to swing. We still think the US has a big old stick up its ass with regard to those who fall outside the "norms".

What’s at least one of your top 5 favorite movies? Why?
My(Erika's) top movie of all time is Steel Magnolias. I absolutely love the storyline and the performances. The movie has one of my favorite quotes of all time, "I'd rather have 30 minutes of wonderful than a lifetime full of nothing special". It's also close to my heart because I performed in an off-Broadway stage version of the play as Shelby.

Dino's favorite movie is the original Star Wars. I asked him why and he said because it's a favorite memory from childhood, seeing it on the big screen. In fact, when we got married, the song we were introduced to during the reception was the theme from Star Wars.

Can we plagiarize some of the verbiage in your Swing Lifestyle profile?
LMAO!! Of course you can. We think it's quite the compliment for you to even ask that. As an English major, I try to write well all of the time. I'm a huge grammar geek.

I think I'll just piggyback on the previous post and ask about your favorite books. Or if it is easier, who are your favorite authors?
Erika - my favorite author is Nathaniel Hawthorne. I've read everything he's written. My favorite contemporary author is Patricia Cornwell and am presently writing my undergrad thesis on one of her works.

Dino - my favorite author is Anne Rice. I've read all of her works and enjoy other writers of horror and macabre as well.

[sexyshelby]

What's your favourite food/dish/meal to cook?
What's your favourite activity for a rainy afternoon?
Who do you admire the most and why?

Did I make any grammar mistakes??? Do you get annoyed when you see silly spelling or grammar mistakes on the board?

~SS

[gatorvol64]

Dino - my favorite author is Anne Rice. I've read all of her works and enjoy other writers of horror and macabre as well.

Just started this genre myself in that last couple of years. I think I'm a little hooked.

Vol

[BobMcD]

Originally Posted by DGrey

If a couple, which one primarily posts: The female, Erika


Picture (if you feel comfortable sharing one): That's me (Erika) in the avatar and you can see both of us in our profile here.

Erika, you're beautiful! i was an english lit major, too, and Cummings is nice to read once more! Thanks!
Bob

[DGrey]

What's your favourite food/dish/meal to cook?
I LOVE to cook and bake so it's hard to pick a favorite. Dino doesn't cook much but he can pick up take out like no one else. I make this chocolate raspberry flourless torte that is absolutely sinful but on the more practical side my favorite dish to prepare is Ropa Vieja. It's a Cuban beef dish that melts in the mouth and I like to make it because we get a lot of leftovers out of it and I can make it in the crock pot for the nights I have class.

What's your favourite activity for a rainy afternoon?
For both of us, reading a good book comes right after a wonderful round of sex. Unfortunately, with a 4 year old roaming about, the sex doesn't always get to happen on those rainy days. I (Erika) also enjoy putting the protective armor on my camera and going up to Palisades to photograph the bridge amidst the mist, rain, and fog on rainy days.

Who do you admire the most and why?
Erika - my parents. They raised all of us in such a loving and open environment and they truly are my heroes. Our relationship has been tested many times but their love is absolutely unconditional. In recent years, they've both been through a lot healthwise and to see how they were there for each other...well, it makes me teary just thinking about it. My father served in Vietnam and it was my mom's responsibility to care for me and my sister while he was away and knowing how strong she had to be gives me strength to deal with the hurdles I face in my own life. My father has always done right by the family and never let his pride stand in the way. He was laid off when I was in high school and went to work at Sears until he could find something in his field. To see a Navy reservist holding a BS in Chemistry working at Sears made me realize that when you have a family, you'd do anything to give them what they need to make it through each day.

Dino - honestly, Erika. I'm not saying that to win points but she's been through a lot in her life and the day she gave birht, my image of her changed completely. She's serious about getting her degree so she can do what she wants to to and to see her pursuing college and going to classes at 34 is an inspiration. I also admire my parents though for bringing us to this country for a better life.

Did I make any grammar mistakes??? Do you get annoyed when you see silly spelling or grammar mistakes on the board?

LOL!!! No, none that I can see. I don't get annoyed when I see mistakes, I just have this itch to want to correct them. I'm a perpetual editor by nature I suppose. Message boards are places for people to communicate with others and as long as the message is put out there, that's all that matters. Message boards aren't venues for perfect grammar. I think I would only correct someone if I couldn't understand the point of the message itself, not for putting a comma where it didn't belong or spelling a word wrong. Please, I'm not perfect when it comes to grammar. I actually got an A- on my last paper

Isn't it a great genre to read, Vol? Dino actually got me hooked on it as well. Thanks for the compliment, Bob. Dino is nodding his head in agreement.

E

[LFM2]

Hi Erika and Dino... Just wanted to say what an awesome Swing Lifestyle profile you have!

What genre of music do you listen to, if any?

How would you describe your most perfect day?

Do either of you enjoy sports? What are your favorite teams?

Now for a couple little swinger questions Where do you like to meet couples and what would be a spectacular night for you two?

[havefuninsun]

What made you decide to be a teacher? I took the 12/13 year plan, too, to finish my degree. Never thought I would -- it's one of the top five things in life I'm most proud of.

[DGrey]

Hi Erika and Dino... Just wanted to say what an awesome Swing Lifestyle profile you have!
Thank you so much! We try to be clear yet concise. I'm always finding ways to make it a little shorter without losing all the important elements. It's that perpetual editor gene in me I suppose. Also, I have to thank you for the quote in your signature. I saw it earlier and it made its way into a paper I wrote that was due tonight. It fit perfectly in with my theme and I used it as an epigraph.

What genre of music do you listen to, if any?

Erika - I'll listen to anything except gangsta rap, I like songs I can sing along to. My iPod is filled with everything from Sinatra, Bon Jovi, Backstreet Boys, and a plethora of Latin Pop. I've been on a Latin Pop kick lately and really enjoy Luis Fonsi, Luis Miguel, Juanes, and Shakira. I also love to throw in a classical or Opera CD when I'm in the mood to just relax and contemplate life.

Dino - I like mostly techno and top 40. I have a 40 minute train commute to work (each way) so the upbeat tempo of the techno wakes me up and gets me going. Erika has educated me on Opera so I have an appreciation for that too. I like classic rock as well, some Steve Miller or Styx is always good.

How would you describe your most perfect day?

Hmmm...we'll have to think about that one.

Do either of you enjoy sports? What are your favorite teams?

Dino hates professional sports and can't stand when I want to watch a ballgame here and there. I watch Yankee baseball and that's about it. I don't get into anything other than that. Although, being in a Portuguese household, I have been introduced to futbol and love it! We follow it pretty intensively when it's in season. During futbol season you can find us both screaming at the television set.

Now for a couple little swinger questions Where do you like to meet couples and what would be a spectacular night for you two?
We prefer to attend a local meet and greet but have met couples one on one. The one on one meets tend to be a bit more awkward but typically work out in the end. A spectacular night for us would include everyone clicking, having great conversation over dinner and a few drinks. We like to play in hotels or motels because we don't have to worry about being too loud and someone else gets to clean up the mess afterwards. A spectacular night would include 4 naked bodies and one king sized bed, a big jacuzzi tub, massage oils, a double dildo, a camera, and lots of Red Bull.

What made you decide to be a teacher? I took the 12/13 year plan, too, to finish my degree. Never thought I would -- it's one of the top five things in life I'm most proud of.
That's great! When I graduate, I will have been in school, on and off, for 16 years. I originally went to school right out of HS with the intentions of being a teacher. I made it through 2 years and found out that I was in school for all the wrong reasons. I really didn't want to be there and my grades suffered as a result of that and too much partying. I dropped out and worked as a bartender for a while and then slipped into corporate America first as a wedding planner and then as a project coordinator for Morgan Stanley. After I was laid off in 2001 due to budget reasons, I had a big decision to make. The economy was going south and finding a job was proving fruitless. After 9/11, it was even harder to find work so I made the decision to go back to school and finish up my degree. What should have taken 3 years (I had a lot of repair work to do to my GPA) will have taken 5 by the time I graduate. I took 2 semesters off after my daughter was born. I still had always wanted to be a teacher and be able to make a difference in students' lives. I had some great teachers in HS which is why I chose a K-12 certification. I'd love to teach middle school, in fact, I'm placed in middle school for my internship in the spring. I CAN'T WAIT!

[DGrey]

Someone PMd me for this recipe so I figured I'd share it here since I first made mention of it in the interview.

Ropa Vieja
2-3 pounds flank steak
3-4 good sized bell peppers (any color)
2 small onions
12 cloves of garlic (you can use less but we love garlic!)
2 large cans any variety plain tomato sauce (Only open one to begin with)
1 TBL Cilantro leaves
2 Bay leaves
S&P to taste
Hot Pepper to taste (if desired)
Good quality Olive Oil

Overnight and in the crock pot on low, cook the flank steak in water. Make sure the steak is complely covered in water. I usually start mine around 10pm and take it out in the morning. Alternatively, you can cook the meat on top of the stove in boiling water for about 4 hours but I prefer the crock pot because you don't have to tend to it.

In the morning, let the meat cool a bit and shred it. You can pound it a bit to make the shredding easier. I usually cut it into thirds and then shred the smaller pieces. Set aside.

Julienne the peppers, dice the onions and mince the garlic. Put them in the crock pot with a healthy drizzle of the olive oil and stirl. Add the meat and sesonings to the crock pot and add enough tomato sauce to coat the meat and make it just a bit soupy. You might need 2 cans depending on how much meat you have. You don't want to add too much sauce otherwise it will be too soupy because the peppers and onions are going to emit water as they cook.

Set to cook on low for 8-10 hours. You can't overcook it, the more it cooks, the better it tastes. Again, you can do this on top of the stove but I like the convenience of the crock pot and not having to worry about it.

Just before serving, you can add a splash of red wine if you like. I serve over hot white rice.

It freezes well and re-heats beautifully as well. Everything can be adjusted accordingly depending on the size of your flank steak and how many people you need to feed. It's one of those recipes that changes each time you make it. I really don't follow a recipe though so your variation on this might produce a different result. It's really hard to screw up though.

E

[jennandjamesinm]

Worst Swinging experience? Funniest? Strangest?

Jenn

[freekynme]

Thanks for posting the recipe that sounds yummy.