11 Things You Didn’t Know About Me

Note:  I began this post May 2012. For some reason I never pressed the publish button.  Until today.

One day I’ll do a introductory video and post it on the blog. Until then, here are a few things you may not know about me:

• There was a class I attended so rarely in college I went to the wrong floor of the building to take the final. The professor took a half grade off for poor attendance. I ended up with a D+.
• Young children often laugh at me for no apparent reason.
• I have the curious ability to be situationally fluent in a strange dialect of gibberish when talking with women in social settings or on dates.
• I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have a surprise birthday party. Yet, I’m not really into celebrating my own birthday.
• For a while in grade school, my nickname was Earwig.
• I learned to program computers when I was 14 (TRS-80!). I still can’t figure out most office phone systems.
• It took me until I was 45 years old to not need a few drinks to ask a woman to dance. Let alone a few more to actually dance. Now, I’m looking forward to dancing tango in random venues in town.
• After my marriage ended, for over a year, whenever I would look at a picture my youngest daughter painted for me, I couldn’t keep from crying. On nights when I had nowhere to call home I propped that picture on the dashboard of my car and cried until I was exhausted and fell asleep. In the 35 years prior, I could count on my fingers and toes how often I cried and have some toes left over. That painting is sitting on my dresser, right now.
• I have fond memories of watching original Star Trek episodes with my dad. I even had a cool toy phaser that shot plastic discs!
• My most embarrassing moment ever was as a glider tow pilot in an airshow waiting to takeoff with a glider in tow. A larger WWII aircraft, the pilot unable to see me over the nose of his aircraft, was taxiing and on a collision course with my aircraft. All I could say on the radio was “Stop!” Repeatedly. Like a little girl on a playground at recess. The F-18 pilot holding in position at the end of the runway looked over as I turned my head in his direction. *groan* Major loss of pilot cool points. I just hope they weren’t broadcasting to the crowd at that moment.
• Nutella is best served on a spoon. For breakfast. Or Lunch. Or dinner.