Trask Avenue

Apparently you need to post things like this to be truly embraced by the blogging community. So in an effort to get a full embrace, I give you 25 random things about me. Warning: Hide the pets, shield the children.

1 – On the Tuesday I was born the Milwaukee Braves, behind future Hall of Fame southpaw Warren Spahn, beat the San Francisco Giants 2-1 at Milwaukee County Stadium. Both Willie Mays and Henry Aaron went hitless in four at bats.
2 – I attended some form of Catholic school from 1st grade through my sophomore year in college. As a result I do not follow any organized religion.
3 – I cannot swim and have almost drowned twice.
4 – I have been fortunate enough to visit 9 countries (excluding the USA) and 41 states. By choice I’ve lived on the east coast, west coast and in the middle of the country. Nevertheless, the best pizza I’ve ever eaten comes from the town in which I grew up.
5 – I have zero tolerance for racism, homophobia, gender discrimination and elitism. However, I’m extremely tolerant of anyone willing to be my benefactor.
6 – My left hand knows what my right hand is doing.
7 – I have a soft spot in my heart for the music of Nancy Griffith.
8 – When I was a kid I spent an afternoon hanging out with John Wayne’s son Ethan in the Duke’s San Antonio hotel suite.
9 – My credit score is over 800, but I basically have no disposable income.
10 – It’s difficult to impress me.
11 – Although nothing really scares me, I’m not fearless. They are two different things.
12 – My first acting gig was as a dead soldier in a production of Stalag 17. My second was as a catatonic in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. There has been no third.
13 – I can name the U.S. Presidents in order. This has proven utterly worthless.
14 – My mind moves far faster than my mouth.
15 – Two of my closest friends died of AIDS contracted in completely different ways.
16 – I use humor as a defense mechanism and have said some pretty stupid things as a result.
17 – The last book I read was The Summer of Katya by Trevanian which I bought at a library book sale for 50 cents. It was excellent. I’m currently reading The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson which was also purchased at a library book sale.
18 – I consider myself a social liberal and a fiscal conservative. In other words, I’m insane.
19 – I get enormous pleasure from seeing other people happy.
20 – When in college I worked for a time as a waiter at a resort. I dumped a plate of spaghetti on the lap of the very first person I served.
21 – I always have and imagine always will harbor romantic notions about Manhattan.
22 – I’m not one to brag, but the fact remains I am basically unbeatable at the board game “Stratego”.
23 – I’ve never broken a bone – mine or someone else’s.
24 – My mother and her sister both married men who were not related, but had the same name. As a kid this was an endless source of confusion.
25 – I don’t believe love conquers all, but it certainly makes the journey more fulfilling.