Everything you wanted to know (and maybe a few things you didn’t) about Grant Parks

What's your favorite color?

Blue, I guess; it reminds me of the ocean.  But all colors are equally useful.  Except raw umber.

What's one of the things you are most proud of having done in your life?

I'm proud of a lot of technical accomplishments in my career, but I should probably say getting sober pretty much on my own and staying so for 16 years so far.

What are the top 3 items on your bucket list?

Travel, write a book, fall in love

Tell us a funny story involving a pet or significant other.

My family owned a Bull Mastiff that literally pulled me around the neighborhoods on my skateboard.

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Alexander Hamilton.  I'm kind of into Colonial history, and he was a badass who could do just about anything.

Imagine you won $10 million in the lottery today. What would you do?

Nothing wild at first.  Set my future security up, find some projects for the public good to contribute to, give some to my kids, travel.  Boring and dull.

What was the last gift you gave someone?

Hot wings

Do you have any charitable organizations that are meaningful to you? What is it that you like about it?

Denver Rescue Mission and Girls and Boys Town.  When I was younger I wasn't very sympathetic regarding homelessness until it hit me how many homeless families with children are out there.  Kids gotta get fed, and I couldn't rationalize that they were responsible.  And Girls and Boys Town is a successful, financially efficient operation; they've given the opportunity for a successful life to thousands of children who had nowhere safe to go.  Many of them go on to take advantage of that opportunity and become outstanding members of society.  I like to think if they can then raise solid families of their own it has a snowball effect.

If you could compare yourself with any animal, which would it be and why?

So many cool ones to choose from.  Bearded vulture.  Pink fairy armadillo.  Axolotl.  I wish I could say something strong and beautiful like a grizzly or panther, but I'll go with meerkat.  I'm always popping up and swiveling my head around at any distraction.

Tell us something that is obvious to you but that you've learned is not obvious to everyone.

A flashing yellow light does NOT mean “Stop”.