Random Acts of Thursday - I must have pie-DHD

So many things I want to share with you’uns all today. (Well, tomorrow, truth be told, since I write these while you’re watching reruns of ‘Who’s the Boss’ on Nick at Nite or some such thing. Not that I'm judging.)

First, just a brief anecdote: there is a woman in my office who has worked there for a year or so, and in the last two weeks it has actually dawned on me that she thinks my name is Louis. Despite figuring this out two weeks ago, I haven't corrected her. In my defense, she has a heavy Carribean accent, and I don't understand half of what she says. In everyone else's defense, I have a hard time hearing most people and really don't make the effort to listen carefully to much of what's said in the world.

And now, a list of my favorite pies:

1) Lori’s cranberry-apple pie – the crust is perfection, and the fruit is tart and not overpoweringly sweet. This is pie I could eat year-round and never tire of it.

2) Banana cream – as long as the bananas are fresh and the pie is nice and cold, they're so perky. Mmm, refrigerator pies.

3) Coconut cream – see above

4) Coconut custard – sweet and custardy, with far more staying power than coconut cream, dense with the sweet flaky goodness. I generally have a thing for custard pies, as long as they’re not too eggy.

5) Pumpkin and sweet potato – this is an early childhood thing for me, and every year I will eat at least one of these by myself, in its entirety, in less than a day. I eat it for breakfast, and nobody stops me because I am an adult. Really.

This is not to say I don’t like other pie, far from it. Apple pies, where the apples are crisp and tender, not chewy. Cherry pies if I don’t get a pit – my first ever slice of cherry pie contained three so I tend to shy away. Strawberry rhubarb in season, if I can get it. Blueberry. Wildberry. Every berry. Pecan. Chocolate pecan. French silk. Lemon cream cheese. Savory pies, like phyllo-covered chicken pot pie. Pizza pie. Even pocket pies, or fried pies, or whatever colloquial regionalism you apply to the little 3x5 turnover-style (think Hostess, only better) pies.

My best pie experience ever. Uh, EH-UH-VER. A co-worker, the best cook in the office, was walking past my desk several Thanksgivings ago with a sweet potato pie. Me, being pie-obsessed and, well, let’s face it, a big nerdy fat guy, held my hands out expectantly. And she gave me the pie. It was not for me, it was a gift from another co-worker and she was taking it to her daughter, but she gave it to me. No questions asked, no expectation of anything in return. I’m sure I lit up like a five-year-old on Christmas morning. Now, any time I’m in the vicinity of a pie-laden fellow human being, I put my hands out expectantly. Because if it worked once, it could very well work again.

My second-best pie experience ever. After college, I did time working for the HR and Payroll departments of a large regional grocer. Our office was next to the lunchroom, and one glorious day, the bakery specialist came into our department, as they needed additional pie-tasters. I walked into the lunchroom to a scene of mass pie-steria. Every conceivable flavor of pie available from our bakery and three other commercial bakers. Four peach pies, four apple pies, four cherry pies, four pumpkin pies, it was pie heaven. And it was work, because we had to rate each pie. We got little election sheets. Why can’t I find a full-time job like this?

And what would Thursday be without a quiz? Not surprisingly, there are lots of movie-and-pie connections. What kind of role did pie have in each of the following films?

a) Blazing Saddles

b) American Pie

c) Starman

d) O Brother, Where Art Thou?

e) Animal House

f) Twin Peaks - Fire Walk With Me

g) Waitress

h) Stand By Me

i) Dr. Strangelove

Was the pie in each film: pie for eating, pie for stealing, pie for throwing, or pie for _____? I know as quizzes go, this is kind of flimsy, but what did you expect?

Even if you don't know the answers, please feel free to share your favorite pie flavors, your most memorable pie experience, or any other movies you feel would have been improved had they cast pie in a starring role.

A late addition, with special thanks to Dogimo and the fine folks at the NCES!