Those of us who are in the United States have just been throught quite a topsy-turvy election. During the campaign we heard a fair amount about red states and blue states, when in fact most of us live in some shade of purple. And so... a lighter look at those confounding colors:

1. Favorite red food

When I was a kid? Redhots...LOVED THEM!!!
Now, Red Velvet Cake, no question.

2. Tell us about the bluest body of water you've ever seen in person.

The Atlantic, on a cruise ship in 1990. The Gulf of Mexico can't compare. I also found Lake Geneva to be very blue too.

3. It's movie rental time: Blue Planet, The Color Purple, or Crimson Tide?

As TV docs go, Blue Planet is fine. Crimson Tide is NOT one of the best of the submarine flicks. The Color Purple can get tedious at times, but the performances are remarkable, the story brilliant. I can watch it over and over.

4. What has you seeing red these days?

We now have 27 states that have gay marriage bans enshrined in their constitutions...but I'm very happy that Arizona defeated theirs...and I'm very happy about the Democratic wins in state legislatures (and Congress of course), and I hope it means that the era of scapegoating in the state legislatures is over.

5. What or who picks you up when you're feeling blue?

Spending time with friends, getting a massage, a little retail therapy (though now that's mostly window shopping than the real thing), seeing a movie.