25 Things

I'm not really a Facebook fan, but when the "25 random things about you" notes were going around, I had fun putting one together. I really enjoyed the ones I read about others, so here's mine -- a brief look into where I've been.

1. I was 22 before I spent a summer somewhere other than an Episcopal church camp. Many of my basic life skills were learned at those two camps (RI and Utah).

2. Other than for other people's special occasions I haven't been inside a church since.

3. I spent 2 months in the late fall/early winter of 1998 living in a tent in the Utah mountains with a drummer friend. This was after a band I was living with in Portland, OR broke up and we felt the need to get a way for a while. We had a wood stove and a comfy camp, right until the forest service ranger showed up.

4. I've only ever made my mother speechless twice: once was when I sold the car my parents had given me and bought an old FJ40 Landcruiser, and the other time was when I told her I was going to live in a tent in the winter.

5. I've been playing guitar for 28 years -- my first love. Music has given me most of the good things in my life, and is my true passion. Luckily, I met a woman who understood this.

6. My wife and I met on a blind date, which I thought went well (i.e. wasn't a major disaster) but she almost didn't call me back... our next date was to one of my gigs and that sealed the deal.

7. I'm a pretty good shot with a pistol or shotgun and have one of each right now, though I haven't been target shooting for some time. I'm the liberal that likes to skew the surveys.

8. I once lived with an older girlfriend who had a daughter my age. My only regret is that we were not able to remain friends.

9. I wrote all the music for my wedding, and brewed the beer.

10. I've recently rediscovered snow shoeing, which finally gives me something to do during winter time -- I don't particularly like winter and I'm not much of a skier, even though I live in the Utah mountains.

11. I have documented proof that I was a car guy from a young age, in the form of a Christmas letter from 1975 (I was 3) from my grandparents stating that I was "crazy about anything with wheels on it. I think his first word was car."

12. I've gone through 10 cars, 5 motorcycles, and 9 addresses since I moved to Utah in 1994.

13. One of my friends has inspired 2 of my songs, but I'm pretty sure she only knows about one of them.

14. The first beer (good local stuff only) at a gig on a Friday night after a long week is one of my favorite moments, second only to that same beer at a trailhead after a particularly good, long hike.

15. I have a great view of a 11,749 foot mountain from my back yard. I've climbed it twice. My current profile picture (in the yellow jacket) is on top of that peak.

16. One of my proudest moments in life came during a mid-term exam for a computer science class at Yale. I stood up, handed in the exam, and became a music major instead. The wonderful life lesson that since I could do whatever I wanted to do, I should. So I did.

17. I woke up one morning a year or so ago with an idea for a story so vivid that I wrote down some notes, and will write the full book some day -- no one may ever read it, but I will write it.

18. The closest my wife and I have come to either kids or pets is our stuffed cow named Bob. He is very cute, though, and doesn't eat much.

19. Five years ago I decided to do something about a dream I'd long had, and started saving some of my music income towards a classic car. I'm now in the middle of slowly restoring/refurbishing a 1959 Austin Healey "Bugeye" Sprite. It's frustrating and enjoyable all at the same time. Decidedly analog work, a nice change from my digital day job. I've been able to fund it solely from gig income -- the car is named the Tunebug in honor of that fact.

20. I wrote a song for my wife a couple of months before we met -- my mother-in-law thought I had written it afterwards since it fit so well. I played it at our wedding.

21. The best thing I ever did for myself was to loose about 25 lbs 8 years ago. The worst was putting much of it back on over the last 3 years. The most annoying is now trying to get back in shape. At least my wedding pictures look good...

22. There are still a few things that I did at camp that my mom doesn't know, and that she will never know. Some secrets are best kept secret.

23. In 1998 I quit my corporate job and played full time with a band in Portland, OR for a summer. It flamed out spectacularly, but remains one of my favorite adventures.

24. 12 years ago a good friend here in Utah taught me how to ride a motorcycle, and I've been a dedicated rider ever since. I hope to take a long trip across the country in a year or two, maybe 2 weeks on the road, just me and the Triumph.

25. I got a job at a public school district because they hired me (after being out of work for six months); I've stayed because I believe strongly in the power of education to improve the lives of all people. It's the only job I've ever gotten from answering an ad in the paper. There's a good chance I'll retire from there in 25 more years.