100 things, revisited...

It's been over a year since I did this the first time. Thought it might be time to update it, because so much has changed in my life... Everything in bold italics is new, strikeouts are old thoughts that have changed. Some things I deleted because they were boring, but you can go read the old list if you want...

1. I'm 48 years young.
2. I was born and raised in the real OC.
3. I loved feeling the Santa Ana Winds blow in the fall and winter months.
4. I was named after my grandfather. I have "the 2nd" at the end of my name.
5. I loved the stories he used to tell me about his youth growing up in Minnesota. He was born in 1887, and lived for 96 years.
6. I like to think I got my love of fixing up and building things from him, he was a house builder, inventor, and later in life a cabinet maker.
7. I spent my early years agnostic, then accepted christianity when I was 20.
8. I realise now the reason I did it was because I felt pressured to by my future wife and her family.
9. Since my wife died I have only been back to church once (a week after her death).
10. I no longer believe in the concept of going to "church", but I do believe there is a higher power out there, just one that doesn't send good men like my father to hell because he didn't pray to a god the way a book said he should.
11. Or condemns your son to the same place because he loves another man or daughter because she loves another woman.
12. And while I'm at it: The "church" has no more right to tell a woman what she has to do if she's pregnant than the government does.
13. I met Buddy Ebsen during a tree dedication to my maternal grandfather.
14. I met John Wayne in a camera store six months before he died.
15. I met Patty Duke a couple years ago at work. She wanted to buy her husband a new cell phone. She's a very nice, down to earth type.
16. I have one tattoo, but am planning on getting another one soon...Kimba and I are working on ideas right now.
17. I met my two best friends, Mike and M in 6th and 7th grades.
18. A teacher nicknamed us the three musketeers.
19. We were called that all through junior high and high school.
20. In high school all three of us dated the same girl at different times. Mike ultimately married her.
21. The girl he married and my wife had been friends since 6th grade.
22. We added a forth musketeer in high school. Her name was Shawn.
23. I asked Shawn to my senior prom first. She said no. Years later, she told she wished she had said yes. Damn her.
24. After she read this list and found out my son is gay, she felt comfortable to tell me she had recently realised she was a lesbian. I was glad she felt she could share that with me.
25. I first met my wife in 8th grade, but we didn't go on our first date (the prom) until 12th grade.
26. She was the fifth girl I had dated but the only real girlfriend I ever had.
27. One year into our relationship, I met Shari, the only other girl I ever considered dating. Had she not lived 800 miles away, I probably would have dated her.
28. My wife and I got married 4 1/2 years after our first date.
29. We were virgins when we got married.
30. But there was one moonlit night where we were alone in my parents travel trailer that almost changed that. But she said no.
31. I used to believe that abstinence before marriage was a good thing.
32. I no longer believe that, and
33. had I believed that way back when we were dating, I doubt I would have married my wife.
34. My friend Mike was thrown out of our wedding because he made advances toward my wife a few months before our marriage.
35. I eventually forgive him after
36. our friend M died when he was 24.
37. It messed me up really bad.
38. I didn't remember much for the next two days after he died.
39. I still light a candle for him every October 2nd.
40. My son is named after him.
41. My son and I were born in the same hospital.
42. My son is gay. I accept him for who he is. He is a great son.
43. He is also a Atmospheric Scientist but right now is working for Target. He is very smart. My wife was, and I am very proud of him.
44. My daughter is currently one step from being homeless. Because of her choices and her boyfriend about to give birth to my first granddaughter. She and her fiancee are living in my house until after the baby is born. I still love her, and her strength of spirit.
45. I have been inside a nuclear reactor before it went online. I was the soundman on a film crew making a documentary on the misconceptions made by the movie "The China Syndrome"
46. I got violently sick the day after filming. It was only the flu. I didn't glow in the dark.
47. In one 10 year period, I moved my family 10 times (and one place we stayed for 5 years).
48. I love photography. I took 641 pictures when I went to Kauai in October of 2006.
49. Now I'm working as a freelance photographer, and I've taken over 6,000 photos here in Australia, so far. And I've sold two of them (but I'm just getting started).
50. I love Science Fiction. In Books, on TV and film.
51. I'm a fan of all things James Bond. I've read all the books, have all the movies and soundtracks (many on vinyl)
52. I really really love music. It keeps me sane. Play it LOUD.
53. I love going to the movies. Usually once a week. Or more...
54. I love to read too. I'm always reading a book.
55. My favorite book is "The Threshold", by Marlys Millhiser.
56. John Varley is my favorite Author.
57. I can't spell worth shit, spell checkers are my friend.
58. I have held only 4 major jobs in my life.
59. I was a mailman for 4 1/2 years.
60. I got fired from that job.
61. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I might have gone postal if I had stayed.
62. I got fired because I was stupid. I'm not stupid anymore. Well hardly ever... 63. I am a defiant rebel. I question everything and ignore the rules I don't like. So there.
64. I am a gun owner. I like to shoot.
65. I own a Walther P99 9mm hand gun and a Marlin lever action .22LR rifle.
66. I would use them to defend my life and my family's life. No hesitation. No second thoughts.
67. I don't like to fish or eat fish. No, I don't care if its good for me. I do like shrimp though.
68. I like beef, chicken, lamb, pork, elk, kangaroo, and fish.
69. Until the last four months, I hadn't used pepper since I was in 5th Grade. A Loony Tunes comic book about electrical safety in which the Tasmanian devil was eating barrels of pepper is what turned me off the spice for years...
70. I LOVE Mexican food, the spicier the better. There is no such thing as too much cilantro!
71. I also love Indian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Lebanese food.
72. I have never eaten mushrooms, avocados, sushi, or any raw fish until the last 9 months.
73. Moving out of California was the best thing I ever did for my family. Even my kids said so.
74. Living in Australia has been the best thing I've ever done for myself.
75. I love have enjoyed living in a small town.
76. I have enjoyed living in a city of over 3 million.
77. I love my have an unobstructed view of the mountains outside my living room and bedroom windows.
78. I like living where there are 4 seasons. Not so sure anymore...
79. Autumn is my favorite.
80. Winter is a close second. I love to watch it snow. Actually the thought of winter, and snow, depresses the hell out of me now, and I really don't know why yet...
81. I'm very young at heart, and plan to stay that way for the rest of my life.
82. I own a sport wagon (Pontiac Vibe) and truck (Nissan Frontier).
83. I will NEVER own an old fogey type of car. HELL NO!
84. I like to drive fast. On either side of the road...
85. I like to fly, but not in little planes like Cessna's.
86. I like to travel.
87. I've been in 30 states, including Alaska (twice) and Hawaii.
88. I love rollercoasters. I love the speed. The faster the better.
89. I don't like the ocean much. Funny since I was raised near one. I like it better these days, especially one in Bridport, Tasmania.
90. I like the mountains and deserts.
91. I have a fear of heights. I can't even get on my own roof. But I did climb up the side of a small mountain here in Australia, and also conquered a fear of water that I've had since childhood here too.
92. I like to work around the house and make my own repairs. Except roof repairs.
93. I like to cook. I've become a much better cook thanks to Kimba. Breakfast meals and spaghetti are my specialties.
94. I love to barbecue, ANYTHING!
95. I have lived for the last eight months without a microwave, and never missed it.
96. I have, however, missed my dishwasher...
97. My favorite dessert is apple crisp.
98. I don't drink coffee, soda, or beer. Coffee, oh yeah, with milk and sugar. And french vanilla lattes...
99. I love margaritas, daiquiris, pina coladas, and wine. Especially reds. BUT Jack and coke is my personal favorite these days.
100. I've never been drunk, came real close once though. On margaritas. Ok, ok I was drunk. I've been drunk so many times now, I've lost count. Of course it only takes two glasses of wine to make me tipsy... but one night, on a houseboat in Mildura...