QUICK QUESTIONNAIRE: Roger Showley

Roger Showley is a staff writer at The San Diego Union-Tribune, where he covers real estate for the Home section.

What's your favorite place? The Prado in Balboa Park - the heart and spirit of San Diego.

What's your favorite movie? "Mary Poppins" - which is why the 40th anniversary DVD edition in 2004 was so great to see. Sure, it's a kid movie, but the look, the music, the characters and Julie Andrews are still tops for me.

What book has had the most impact on you? Hendrik Van Loon's "The Story of Mankind" - my first introduction around the age of 11 to history, even if was written in the 1920s.

Which words or phrases do you tend to overuse? Um, uh, hmm - at least, that's what my daughter tells me.

What's your addiction? Tabasco sauce. But I've branched out into other hot sauces for variety.

Whose shoes would you like to walk in for a day? The president's - or maybe Jack Bauer's?

If you could have any other profession, what would it be? Graphic designer - I am constantly amazed at how inventive and creative designers are in making our newspaper and so many publications, TV graphics and commercial products and advertising so appealing, visually. I especially like typefaces and like to doodle letters of the alphabet when I'm on hold.

What topic gets you the most fired up? Stupid planning decisions. In a democracy the majority rules but I sometimes wonder why common sense takes a back seat so often.

What one hidden truth would you most like to uncover? Why lawyers and accountants cost so much per hour. How can it cost $20 million for a report on the city of San Diego's finances - three times the cost of a nice branch library?

What's your motto? Never mind, I'll do it myself.

Posted March 2007