100 Things

For my first blog of 2004 I thought it would be fun to do the popular blogger excercise of "100 things"...I thought it was a tad egocentric at first... but as I trudged along it turned out to be pretty challenging.  Surely, I thought I could easily rattle off 100 things about me, but after a quick 50 items or so... the soul-searching and hunt for minutiae kicked into high gear. 

So, not in any particular order or importance (but some re-arranging)... here is my 100 things about me (plus one):

  1. My story began in October 1967
  2. Until I was about 25, I brainwashed people into remembering my birthday
  3. I was born and lived in NJ for my first 22 years
  4. I have one older brother and one nephew
  5. I get along with my parents just fine
  6. My family ancestry is Slovak and/or Austrian
  7. My eyes are blue
  8. I moved to Arizona in 1990
  9. I have an MBA from Arizona State University
10. I chose ASU, pretty much based on the weather
11. I am a part-owner of a business and work out of my home
12. My job does not require or use my MBA (didn't help me to get it either)
13. I don't think I could commute or work in a "real" office ever again
14. This is only my 2nd "real" job I have held
15. At age 24, I told someone that I was gay for the first time
16. She told me I was throwing away my life and going to hell
17. The people I have told since have handled the news much better
18. I accidently outed myself to my brother's family - was sending two letters one to brother, one to a friend - put wrong letter in wrong envelope (I know bad sitcom episode material)
19. I have been happily "attached" since about 1994
20. We met online
21. About four months later, we thought it would be funny to meet in-person the first time at a Hooters
22. We have lived together since March 2002
23. Despite constant begging, growing up my parents would not allow me to have any pets
24. I currently have 4 pets - 2 dogs, 2 cats
25. My pet's comfort often takes priority over my own (is that why my back hurts when I get out of bed?)
26. I have had a harder time getting over the death of my pets than some of my family members
27. After college, I had $30k worth of student loan/credit card debt
28. I have been debt-free for over 5 years
29. I love going to Las Vegas
30. To date, I have never stayed in the same Vegas hotel more than once (that will have to change soon, running out of hotels!)
31. At a casino, I compulsively play video poker
32. On airplanes, I prefer the window seat
33. I hated being dragged to my brother's Little League baseball games when I was a kid
34. One of the highlights of my life, was attending Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.
35. I have season tickets for the Arizona Diamondbacks
36. I have season tickets for ASU's Broadway Across America
37. To date, I have seen over 40 different musicals on the stage
38. I have seen "Les Miserables" at least 6 times
39. My favorite musical is "Rent"
40. My first concert was Hall & Oates
41. I camped out overnight for tix to Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" concert (circa 1985)
42. My recall of trivia from the 1980s sometimes scares people
43. I often can not remember where I left my car keys
44. I have a port-wine birthmark on my face and neck
45. Three years ago, I started laser treatments to remove the birthmark
46. I sleep on my side(s)
47. Most nights it takes me at least 30 minutes to fall asleep
48. I probably screw up my internal clock by sleeping "in" most weekends/days off
49. I like cooking, as long as it for more than just myself
50. Prior to moving to Arizona, I never had Mexican food.
51. My favorite food is Mexican
52. Prior to college, I had never had a topping on a pizza
53. My favorite pizza topping is pepperoni
54. I was president of my dorm
55. I didn't make any good friends in college until my junior year
56. Canada is the only "foreign" country I have been to
57. In 5th grade, I was hit by a car while riding my bicycle - I did not sustain any serious injuries
58. I probably watch too much TV
59. I think TiVo is one of the greatest products in the past 10 years
60. I talk to my mother at least twice a week on the phone
61. I talk to my dad about 4 times a year on the phone
62. For the most part, I don't like talking on the phone
63. I can't imagine politically supporting anyone other than a Democrat
64. I support the following charities: public television, humane society, Amnesty International and Heifer International
65. Reggie Jackson's 3 home-run World Series game occurred on my 10th birthday
66. I have a tendency to repeat myself
67. I needed to wear glasses since 4th grade, I have worn contacts since my sophomore year in college
68. I was a writer/photographer for two online tennis magazines for about 10 years
69. My favorite movies are probably Moonstruck and Fargo.
70. I was raised Roman Catholic, but can probably be best described as agnostic these days
71. I could probably eat a pound of pistachios in one sitting
72. I think floating on a pool raft is one of the great things in life
73. Thanks to a torrential downpour, my college graduation ceremony lasted less than 10 minutes
74. I don't like celery, mushrooms, or olives - but don't mind if they are fairly well-hidden in a dish
75. I joined a health club for the first time in my life in 2003
76. I have been pretty happy with the results thus far
77. I unconsciously crave constant positive reinforcement (I guess it conscious now)
78. I have a tendency to repeat myself
79. I have never owned a Michael Jackson album/CD
80. When I was a kid, my dentist did not use novacaine for fillings
81. Once I ran out of the dentist chair and right out the office door
82. After not going to the dentist for about 10 years, I now go for cleanings 3x/year
83. An overwhelming majority of my friends and family live out of state
84. I watch most of whatever HBO puts on Sunday nights
85. A week after I moved to Phoenix, the all-time record high temperature was broken (122 degrees F)
86. Give me "dry" heat over humidity any day
87. I still have a picture of me on top of the World Trade Center (August 1981)
88. I still have a reaction whenever the WTC in an old TV show or movie
89. I notice when the WTC is missing in post-2001 TV shows and movies
90. I have never had lobster
91. The first grouping on my "other blogs" list are people I have met in person
92. There are anywhere from 20 to 25 people on my Christmas card mailing list each year
93. I (or my family) have never had a live Christmas tree
94. I read/watch a lot of "year in review" magazines/tv shows
95. Public restrooms make me stressy
96. I have a strong preference for Pepsi over Coke
97. Tradings Spaces designer I would want to do my room: Vern, Designer I would want to work with: Genevieve
98. In 2nd grade, I had an after-school "fight" (over a girl, go figure!) scheduled - it never materialized
99. Browsing in a bookstore is one of my favorite things
100. The only place where I have been publicly gay "bashed" (just verbally!) was in San Francisco (funny, huh?)
101. I don't think there are 100 interesting things to say about me

Comments

[myke]

Another Libran born in '67...

[Brad Greenhalgh]

happened upon your website today and got a couple laughs. Nice photo of Jeff Probst. I didn't expect him to be so "cheasty"

take care
Brad

[Michele]

Hey there...stumbled over here and agree with the Vern pick as a favorite designer on Trading Spaces, can't believe you have never had lobster - if you like crab, you love it - especially dipped in butter and squeezed with lemon... and had a weird mixed reaction to your being "gay bashed" in San Francisco; I'm from their and have a love/hate relationship with that city - a city of contradictions... so it made sense that it would happen their.

[reza]

Shohreh Aghdashloo and Johnathan are not arab but persian

[Greg]

Another stumbler here. Delighted to find another gay man who follows tennis. Hoping for an Agassi vs. Nadal final in Rome.

[Mark]

I feel into your website...by accident. Hot photos! Where is yours?

mark

[monica]

Hi, I also stumbled here searching the hot Alec Mazo. Don't diss the show, I loved it. You should try lobster, it is great! In regards to S.F; Ignorant people exist everywhere. I was never so aware of it as post 9/11 although I am a double minority and sometimes I ran into this issue growing up. I loved your 100 things...made me want to write my own and have my son write his. I also noticed that you talk to your mom twice a week and dad only 4x/yr. As a mom I can tell you that you boys steal our hearts from the moment you are born. Keep up with your blog because I will be returning.

[turnkey business website]

Hey there...stumbled over here and agree with the Vern pick as a favorite designer on Trading Spaces, can't believe you have never had lobster - if you like crab, you love it - especially dipped in butter and squeezed with lemon... and had a weird mixed reaction to your being "gay bashed" in San Francisco; I'm from their and have a love/hate relationship with that city - a city of contradictions... so it made sense that it would happen their.

[Charles]

Okay sooooo...whats up today...or yesterday. Like you get to the climax then stop?!?!?! Did you get your Mini???

I stumbled on your site by googling and found Mini information great...thanks for your efforts. I placed order 9 days ago.It's birthday is tomorrow! Yea didn't take long like yours. Soooo anxious its killing me. Pepper white..black top.

You wrote that your gay so if you don't mind (if so please disregard) need your help...and don't have any gay friends to ask sooo...I have a male friend (not me...flaming hetro, but not a breeder)thats suppressing or hiding his true sexuality(99.999% sure) ....has recently seperated from his wife......from your experience..anything I can do to get him to be himself...think its tearing him up inside.