E-dreamz Company Blog

Edreamz employees are world-renown for their sharp wits, socio-political awareness, and ability to think on their feet. Each week we select a member of our staff and put him or her on the spot - challenging them to assert their opinions on topical, relevant, thought-provoking subjects. These blog entries chronicle these watershed moments in human cultural achievement.

This week's answerer: Chris Branaman, Project Manager

Q1: You're a fan of "Yacht Rock" and a key contributor to Edreamz' easy-listening music library. What are some of your favorite smooth jamz?

A1: I could probably name 20 or 30 at least, but for now I’ll give you two from the ‘Yacht Rock’ library and two more of my general favorites:

Yacht Rock
What a Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers
This is it – Kenny Loggins

Other
Strange Magic – ELO (that’s Electric Light Orchestra for all you youngsters out there)
Biggest Part of Me – Ambrosia

Bonus
All-time favorite (and all-time most uncomfortable) Smooth Rock album cover - Orleans
 
Q2: How may pairs of socks do you own? What event in your past spurned your fascination with novelty socks? Was it a childhood infatuation with actress Soleil Moon Frye's seminal character, Punky Brewster? Maybe?

A2: Funny you should mention Punky Brewster. My daughter Nora is quite the Fashionista, but on occasion she’ll pick out very Punky-esque outfits and we will then refer to her as Punky. But I digress. In all honesty I’m not sure what it was, if anything, that kicked off the novelty socks revolution. It started after college and I used to joke sometimes that it was my passive-aggressive way of “sticking it to the man and his corporate dress codes”. So I guess I’ll go with that.
 
Q3: Top 3 favorite movies?

A3: Oh man, totally unfair question. You could have at least narrowed it down to a specific genre, but top 3 ever? Uncool! Not to mention the fact that I’m terrible at picking a favorite anything. That being said, here are my top 3ish favorites:

1)      The Shawshank Redemption
2)      The Muppet Movie (the Original)
3)      Mallrats
4)      Old School
5)      Stripes
6)      Goodfellas
7)      Roadhouse
8)      Varsity Blues
9)      Strange Brew
10)   Karate Kid
11)   The Usual Suspects
12)   American Beauty
13)   Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Wait did you say 3 or 13?
 
Q4: You have kids with cool, antiquated names - Hank and Eleanor. Do they behave the way their names sound like they should? Is Hank a strapping, yet brooding, outsider who struggles to relate to people as a result of his troubling past? Is Eleanor a haughty, yet depenable, matron who offers sage advise and bakes delicious cookies?

A4: That’s a pretty amazingly accurate assessment of my kids’ respective dispositions, especially given that you have never met them. And I’m being serious actually, that is a pretty spot-on description (other than the part about Hank’s troubling past. I can’t imagine his past is too terribly troubled yet, given that he’s only 3…)
 
Q5: You're a frequent Home-Depot shopper who seems to always have some sort of weekend project lined up. What's next for the Branaman estate?

A5: Our stairway to the upstairs has 3 different switches - one at the front door, one at the foot of the stairs, and one at the top of the stairs. The one at the foot of the stairs was ‘broke’ and when I took it out I saw that it was a 4-way switch (I never knew there was more than 1-way). So I bought and installed a new 4-way light switch at the bottom of the stairs, and now none of the switches will work independently and will only work in certain combinations. For example, the switch at the foot of the stairs will only work if the switch by the front door is in the ‘off’ position. I don’t know from wiring so this one might take a while to figure out.
 
Q6: Better decade: 80s or 90s? And why?

A6: Again, very tough call, but I guess I would have to say the 80s. Not just because of the skinny ties and parachute pants, but because the whole 80s outlook on life was much more happy and upbeat. It seems like people started getting much angrier and more misunderstood in the 90s.
 
Q7: I hear you sometimes like to dress up in women's dresses and go running around. What's that all about?

A7: Umm…Someone probably overheard me singing Monty Python’s “I’m a Lumberjack”. Common mistake I suspect.

(Editor's Note: Chris is a member of the "Hash House Harriers", who, among other things, sometimes conduct races in red dresses.)

Q8: You're a Kansas Jayhawk alumn. How do you feel about their chances this year (men's basketball)?

A8: The modest answer would be that we’ll probably end up with a 2 or 3 seed in the tournament, and then lose in either the Sweet 16 or possibly Round 1. In a Bizzaro-like way, I (and I think probably many KU fans) are actually already thinking about football next year, given the recent hire of Charlie Weiss as the new head football coach. Hello Insight.com bowl!
 
Q9: You're a great wing-man - able to effortlessly insinuate yourself into other people's drunken conversations without coming across as weird or pushy. What's your secret? Is this an innate talent, or something learned through years of hard life lessons?

A9: Definitely a learned skill. I have historically always been a somewhat shy type, at least until I get comfortable in a situation. But if I’ve got someone else around to break the ice and give me a few minutes to settle in and assess the situation, I’m usually then able to jump in and make any number of contributions as needed. Some people might shy away from, or even be embarrassed about being the ‘side-kick’, but I wear it as a badge of honor. I have no problem being the Will Ferrell to your Luke Wilson.
 
Q10: If you were to put together a World Series of Pop Culture team, who from Edreamz would you have on your squad and what niches would each of them specialize in?

A10: Wow, good question. Given the seriousness of that event I might have to consider holding some sort of try-outs or observe people’s performances at a local bar triv-night. I will have to defer my answer until I have gathered more information.

(Editor's Note: This bar trivia night needs to happen... soon.)