Tagged & 16 Thing-ed

Tagged by Hpppylany & 16 Things requested by Dolls Ahoy.

Thanks to you two for the love & harrassment!

 

Wow.

Being tagged is fun & quick.

16 Things took some time.

 

Set aside 5 minutes or so.

Get comfy.

Here goes.

 

1. Brushes w/ Fame.

Held a door open for Laurie Anderson at a Borders Bookstore. She didn't say thanks.

Held a Starbucks door for local resident MC Hammer. He said "thanks man" & was quite friendly. He held the door open for me a couple of years later at 7-11.

 

Got some interesting advice from a fave local DJ at career night in High School. Lori Thompson. She said "Don't become a DJ". I said "What?" She said "the benies suck and there's no retirement. Plus unless you have folks that will pay your way until you are in your mid 20's...forget about it". She also said that free records and concerts don't make up for lousy wages and hours. She then gave me a free copy of U2's Where the Streets Have No Name 12" LP. I was very close to going to broadcasting school until that conversation.

 

In 4th grade I went to my 1st Comic Con. I was completely and utterly shocked when I bumped into Checkov and he didn't speak in a russian accent! Then... get this ....he wouldn't sign my Star Trek Golden Key comic book! He said you have to pay for those in the Star Trek Room and stand in a long line. "Sorry kid" he said and then walked away in his denim shirt and brown corduroys.

Crushed and dejected by Star Trek people I turned my attention to Star Wars as my Science fiction of choice from then on!

 

2. Long beards are instant conversation starters.

I can be just about any place and someone will walk across the room to "BeardTalk".

Most common questions:

Does it itch?

How long did it take to grow?

Does your lady like it?

How do you wash that?

& my personal fave...

Want 5 dollars to go get yourself something to eat?

 

3. Jobs.

Paper Route. Arby's Roast Beef. Round Table Pizza. Kay Bee Toys. Wherehouse Record Store. Front Desk at a Comedy Traffic School.

20 Years w/ "the Phone Company".

Started a week out of high school as a 411 info operator.

Ironic!

I hate talking on the phone. Don't even have a cell.

 

4. Current Pet Peeve.

Seeing people throw their money on the counter even when the cashier has their hand out. Makes me want to slap people! I can totally remember how that makes you feel beneath the person paying. Be nice to each other. It's not that hard.

 

5. Current Unexplained Quirk.

When I get to the counter to pay....I always have to fight the urge to sneeze. Not sure why but it happens a lot.

Wacky.

 

6. Million Dollar Ideas.

Nerf Cars. No accidents would hurt. You could even drive off cliffs. Fender bender? More like Fender Bounce!

 

Had a dream about "ZICKEN".

Yes that's right.... zesty chicken is "ZICKEN".

In the dream I sold it to KFC and made big bank.

Ha! If only.

 

7. More Irony.

I dig Tiki...but I'm allergic to artificial colors. That pretty much ruins any really cool looking Tiki drink. Plus... I can not pull off the floral shirt look.

 

I can tell you where I was & who I was with when I heard any song.

Going way back.

But I can't remember where Dana told me to put the new bread knife we just got yesterday.

 

8. Won't wear my wedding ring.

It's a personal protest against married people who are up in arms about the sanctity of marriage. I say "Love the one you're with".

 

9. Food.

Someone has to tell me what something is before I can taste it.

Much hilarity in our kitchen throughout the years.

 

Chow to avoid upon being bearded.

Ribs.

Anything w/ peanut butter.

Soup.

Cake.

I once was at a kiddie party talking to one of the moms there. We were talking for a bit when she kept staring at my beard. It was uncomfortable. Turns out later I passed a mirror and there lo and behold was a bit of cake. Nice.

Now at parties I stick close to people I can trust.

 

10. Monkeys.

I like cartoon-y monkees. Not real ones. The ones in the zoo give me the willies. I always think they are going to turn around and say "what are you looking at Beardie?".

Planet of the Apes scares me.... for it's realism.

 

11. Late shift.

I work by myself at night in big noisy dark buildings w/ lots of moving machinery.

I had to stop watching scary movies. The imagination really comes out to play in this environment.

 

12. Music.

There is a large gaping hole in my heart where Tower Records used to be.

So much time spent there. Browsing. People would come up to me all the time and ask what section things were in. I always helped.

 

I am a recovered CD addict.

& before that it was LP's.

 

I've always enjoyed the B-side.

Usually more interesting than some of the albums tracks.

Some all time greats in no particular order:

Secret October - Duran Duran

New Day - The Cure

The Big Chair - Tears For Fears

Walk to the Water- U2

Sea of Sin - Depeche Mode

I Burn For You - The Police

You're No Good - Elvis Costello

The Loop - Morrissey

 

13. Toys.

When I was a wee laddie I wished for a house that I could hang Star Wars figures from the ceiling. It's been a reality now.

 

King Norman's World Of Toys got all my birthday money growing up.

All GI JOE stuff. I know... suprise, suprise.

 

A real kicker? I actually own stock in Hasbro.

 

14. The Supernatural.

Seen Ghosts. Cats & people.

Seen U.F.O.s too.

As a kid my Dad used to say "look for Bigfoot" when we'd travel on twisty roads to keep me from getting car sick. Sadly, still no Yeti or Bigfoot sighted as of yet.

 

15. Self Help.

When I get in a deep funk I pull out the only self help book I'll ever need:

"Get Happy Damn it!"

It totally works.

Humor is the best medicine.

 

16. Family.

My family is small but I consider myself extremely lucky for such a great one.

 

I met Dana at the mall.

16 years and 15 of them married.

Love at 1st sight can happen.

 

We got married at a restaurant right on the edge of the coast.

It was a grey foggy day but we didn't care.

 

Dana's Mom and her best friend threw birdseed at us as we were walking out.

The doctor told me that it was the 1st bird seed he'd ever pulled out of an ear.

 

Being a Dad is ultimately cooler than I'd imagined.

Little people are a rollercoaster of bumps and bruises & laughter and tears.

It's an amazing experience. Always suprising and new.

 

My cats act like dogs.

They bark and pout and are just scrappy.

My dog acts like a cat.

She's aloof and really shy.

 

Well that was a trip.....!

I've read some great 16 things in some of your 'streams in months past.

But...

I'd really enjoy learning 16 things about Dana, Skip, Josh, Dani, Penny, Bumbles, Lamont, Harry, Javi, Pow, One Crazy, & Shrewder. Anyone else wanna throw down some things? Do it!!

Take a bit & Try it!

 

Now.....Give me some commenting comments!

Feedback? Anything hit home? Anything in particular crack you up?

Done