Observations from my weekly wanderings, usually in Northern Virginia (NOVA)
Dave Berry opined that - There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is: age 11.
Mr. Berry's opinion notwithstanding, today is my 56th birthday, so here are 56 things you may not know about The Once Lost Wanderer:
Mr. Berry's opinion notwithstanding, today is my 56th birthday, so here are 56 things you may not know about The Once Lost Wanderer:
1. This site is
dedicated to my 6th grade teacher, Tina Banks, of Burke School
Elementary – who gave me the gift of literature.
2. I have a library
card – for The Library of Congress
3. I am INTP
4. I am protected
each workday by U.S. Marines. That’s job security.
5. I have seen the
Northern Lights, and the Southern Cross
6. I am the real
Spiderman
7. I used to work
800 feet underground
8. I was close
enough to Robert Kennedy to touch him – but I didn’t. He scared me.
9. I am a Detroit
Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, and Detroit Pistons fan – but more than any of
these, I am a Detroit Lions fan. They are the only one of these four that have
never brought me satisfaction. All I want for my birthday is a Lions Playoff
win – TODAY.
10. I am probably
the world’s greatest at getting the greatest amount of toothpaste out of the
tube. (Brilliant marketing by the way. Package a product in such a way that consumers
throw away 10% of the product.)
11. I have lived on
three continents.
12. I have been to
three island nations, one island state, and a couple U.S. island territories.
13. That whole,
dumping your fries into the other half of your now opened hamburger packaging –
I invented that.
14. I’m an
excellent cook. I made awesome beef stroganoff last weekend.
15. I’ve lived in 5
countries.
16. I have encountered
a bear in the wild.
17. I’m beginning
to think 56 things was rather ambitious.
18. I’ve visited 14
countries.
19. I’ve visited 39
states, including the two tough ones.
20. I was a pole
vaulter in H.S. though I never distinguished myself.
21. I’ve read 75 of
the Greatest Novels of all time.
22. I can say the
alphabet, as if it is one word.
23. I’m thinking I
may not do this again next year.
24. I have a very
boring blood type – O+. I always wanted one of the rare ones, but it’s actually
better to have a boring one. But it’s still boring.
25. My Great
Grandfather lived to be 101, and my Grandmother lived to 104.
26. My hometown is
only two letters different than Karamazov – that is, I can substitute two
letters, keep the order the same, and viola. And I was worried this was getting
boring.
27. I was in the
U.S. Air Force for 22 years.
28. My professional
life, has something in common with authors: Muriel Spark, W. Somerset Maugham, Evelyn
Waugh, Anthony Burgess, Kurt Vonnegut, J.D. Salinger, and possibly, though unconfirmed
with Ernest Hemingway, and John Steinbeck.
29. I’ve
encountered whales in the wild.
30. I’ve been to
Disney Theme parks in Florida, California, Japan, and France. It’s something
special to hear the Country Bears sing the Ballad of Davey Crocket in Japanese
or French.
31. Je Parle en
peus Francais
32. I’ve owned over
50 automobiles.
33. I’ve eaten more
than 30,000 pieces of toast.
34. I’ve never
eaten a fig newton.
35. I prefer
stovetop stuffing to ANYONE’s homemade stuffing.
36. I’m getting
hungry.
37. I think
therefore I am.
38. I read with an
eReader, but for my classics quest at least, I get a hardcover version
treebook. My bookcase is like a trophy case.
39. I read Call of the Wild in entirety at the
Library of Congress.
40. I’ve driven a
HUMVEE…the real military version.
41. I qualified as
expert on two different weapons: M-16 and M-9.
42. I’ve had a
broken nose, but no broken bones.
43. I once failed
to salute a General. He instructed me that I didn’t have that option. He was
very nice about it.
44. I once failed
to salute a Warrant Officer (WAAAAAY lower than a General) He instructed me
that I didn’t have that option. He was not nice about it.
45. I have exactly
one author autographed book: Patrick McManus, outdoorsman humorist. He
congratulated me on a 40lb fish I caught. You should read him. He’s incredibly
funny.
46. I once caught a
40lb fish. (catching it twice woulda been silly)
47. Pet’s I’ve had
in my lifetime: dog, cat, goldfish, rabbit, guinea pig, snake, turtle,
parakeet, raccoon, lizard, and horse. My brother had a pet hawk, but I can’t
claim that one. It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s probably the coolest of
these pets, but it was probably pretty illegal, and I’m not certain of the
statute of limitations on these things.
48. I wonder how my
Gramma did this on her 104th birthday? I’m having trouble just
getting to 56.
49. I once figured
out EXACTLY how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie-Roll-Pop.
But I’ve forgotten, and I’m not going through that again.
50. I’ve stood on
the shore of the U.S. East Coast, West Coast, Gulf Coast, and crossed the
northern border to Canada. I have not yet crossed the Southern border to
Mexico.
51. I have watched
the sunrise from the Pacific Ocean. Now think about that one a second. It’s a
bit more unusual than it first seems.
52. I’ve been to
the southern-most point in the United States.
53. I swam with
dolphins…and not in any controlled park or hotel lagoon.
54. I used to think
I had an interesting life…all that toast and tootsie pops, but when you can
hardly come up with 50 interesting things…well, it makes you wonder.
55. I share my
birthday with Nicholas Cage, Jeremy Renner, and Millard Fillmore, though I
don’t really share it with President Fillmore – he’s finished with it. More
importantly, I also share it with two sisters-in-law.
56. I have a
beautiful wife, three wonderful children, two fabulous daughters-in-law, three
adorable grandsons, one sweet granddaughter, and one precious grandchild on the
way. There is also a cat running around, but I don’t claim her.
Fascinating and entertainingly humorous. I loved it. Do you know of all 56 things, there is only one I did that you didn't? I HAVE crossed the southern border into Mexico. It's like entering a completely different universe.
ReplyDeleteOh, and Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ruth :) I've heard as much about Mexico. I'll get there one day.
DeleteHappy Birthday! I read your entire list and was impressed.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback.
DeleteHappy belated birthday! My 49th was the 4th - there are a decent number of book bloggers with birthdays this month. Are you in NOVA? I am too - I also have a Library of Congress card, for doing research - it's one of my favorite places here!
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday to you as well. Yep, NOVA...Fredericksburg. Yes, the LoC is a magnificent building.
Delete