How do I discover anything?

I have discovered a fool-proof, time-hardened, mind-boggling (really, are all those dashes necessary?  I mean, it's not surprising that I start a blog with "I", which I do as much as possible, but then I have to go all fancy and pretend that I know the correct usage of the dash?  Really, totally-unecessary.) way to discover something which you or I, up until the moment of discovery, had no idea we needed to know at all.  My (read words 5 through 10 and word 58 again) is best described through example.  So sit tight dear readers, a short but satisfying ride awaits you......now.
As many of you know, I have been very sick the past 5 days.  Nothing gross, in my opinion, just the usual snot-blowing, phlegm-hacking, gut-wrenching (admit it....you're starting to like all those dashes!  They distracted you for the actual content, didn't they?!) variety of ailment.  According to Big Mike, "Some people don't have any respect for others when they fling their snot rags around the room in the middle of the night" but what does he know about being sick?  The guy's made out of a space age (space-age?) polymer.  When he doesn't feel well all he needs is more dilithium crystals and he's back at the bar.  So, I get up today (whenever this is) and decide I've had enough of being sick, and the sheer volume of toilet paper has threatened to breach the top of the bed, so nows as good a time as any.  Staff is here, doing stuff I probably told them to do but can't remember, and I get my little duck in a row.  Hours later, Maria and Angelika say "Screw you Boss Lady!  You suck and your mean and you smell funny - we're out of here!" (Yes, there was a dash in there but a completely harmless one.). They actually said "OK, we're done for the day so we're going to take off" but I know those little sneaky bayatches...
Anyway, I say, "Well, I haven't seen the new entranceway gate or the new Rancho that I so desperately wanted and drove Big Mike crazy about to get started because it was SO important until I got sidetracked with another Great Idea and completely forgot about those two now sort of boring and uninteresting projects because they're sort of far away on the other side of the property and Jackie O doesn't leave the compound often so I probably shouldn't have made a deal out building them, but I should see them anyway." When I actually said "I'll go too."  Which of course made them wince and involuntarily shudder because really, who wants to be walking around with their super hot, snot-filled boss?  Not them, especially since I am sure that they translated my flimsily (yes, I think it's a word) veiled "I'll go too." Into it's actual meaning which was "I'll walk with you so you have less time to talk about me, and I can see if your pockets are bulging with any of the fine cutlery or linens you undoubtably stole from my vast and wealthy estate."
So, we get to the Castillo de Cerdo and I say, "I really like that tree.  What is its name in Spanish?"  They rattle off some muckity muck name and I say, "Oh."  We keep walking.  Then I see another tree, sort of funky with stripped bark but wispy leaves and I say "What's the name of that one?"  Because of course, all Mechapans with a third grade education know all of the names to every tree, plant, flower, bug and beast.  They say something like "Eucalypto" and I say "No shit! Eucalyptus?" And they say "We don't know you. Are you talking to us?"  A very cute little game they play. Precios!  Anyway, Maria says take the leaves and boil them and you get a tea that's great for coughs." And I say "You selfish little troll!  I've a eucalyptus tree on my property this whole time and you finally get around to telling me?"  And she says, "You never asked."
To speed things up a bit, bend over, scoop up leaves, boil leaves, drink eucalyptus tea.
That, my dear readers is the (read words 5-10 and word 58) to discover most anything!  Easy Peasy!
Now run outside and engage someone in a conversation, BUT only ask questions....to anything they say, do not make a statement, but only a question.  Do you understand?  What are you waiting for?  Do you think the Good Lord put you here on this earth to look goofy?  Do you like ice cream?  (Use that of you get cornered and can't think of a good question.  It'll through them off long enough for you recover and get your Discover On.
(PS. I had a totally cool photo of the E.Tea but Google+ scares me and I couldn't figure out to use it....maybe next time?)