Okay, after standing in the corner for 15 minutes I'm back.
I use two large potholders. Usually have a towel nearby or on my shoulder but because I wash my hands a LOT when I cook. Clean or paranoid....I don't know.
Salt... definitely pinched.
Pepper, fresh ground preferred, but if I'm in a hurry measured from a tin.
Apron...sometimes, depends what I'm cooking. Splattery stuff demands an apron.
People in kitchen....gonna go with Yogi Berra on this one. I'm either alone or with someone. Really being Italian, the kitchen is where we gather.