WARNING: Cliched 100 Things List

Okay, I know it is a bit passe, or even cliche... or even... well... what the hell. I thought it might be fun to write one of these "100 Things" lists. For the record, I had no problem thinking of 100 things that relate to me... That might make me a little self-centered, but then you could also say that I am just "fully self actualized" or something to that effect.

Enough of the BS, here is the list:

1. I am scared of open windows at night
2. I do not eat chicken in (almost) any form.
3. I am compulsive about my morning bathroom ritual - hair gel, brush teeth, deodorant, Q-tip the ears
4. I want to drive across the Bosporus Bridge
5. I have ever changing political beliefs, even though they are based on a steady set of values (the politicians change, I don't)
6. Things that are out of place bother me to no end.
7. My first car was a hand-me-down from my brother a 1974 Chevrolet Nova - tan
8. I am empathetic (or sympathetic) to almost all animals.
9. Following that, I love to fish, but I feel sorry for the fish that I catch.
10. I often see things that others do not - in a supernatural kind of way, that is.
11. I speak rudimentary Czech
12. I have not had a drink of alcohol since September 9th, 1994
13. Emerald Green is my favorite color
14. I often say things that I think without really thinking about whether I should say them.
15. I would like to be more reserved.
16. I often think out loud about things that I will never follow up on.
17. I always request a window seat
18. I secretly resent others who talk incessantly about their children (though I usually nod my head as if I am taking notes on how wonderful their child is)
19. I think that everyone is good until they prove to me otherwise.
20. I can debate anything, and love it.
21. I never hold any animosity against anyone for things brought up in a debate.
22. I am secretly terrified that people will "find out the truth" about me, which makes blogging (and this list) particularly dangerous ground for me - but good therapy.
23. I regret that I did not pursue a career in the military
24. My favorite number is any multiple of the number 12 (12, 24, 144, etc)
25. My birthday is May 24th, which: 24 = 12x2 and May 24th is the 144th day of a non-leap year.
26. Driving is the most restive form of relaxation to me.
27. I regret many things I did when I was younger
28. I am pissed that I will never go into space.
29. Pretentious people put me off quickly
30. I love to sit with older people and talk about "how it used to be".
31. I think I should have been born in the Renaissance period, and live in Florence.
32. I played football in high school and was scared every moment I was on the field
33. I am immune to poison ivy
34. I would love to have a cup of coffee with Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Socrates and Alexander the Great
35. I think that Einstein was probably a hoot to hang out with.
36. I hate nuts on my hot fudge sundae
37. I am terrified of getting Alzheimer's disease, especially because it is prevalent in my family
38. I have one brother who I VERY secretly admire
39. I can stare at the ocean for hours.
40. I tried to read the Encyclopedia Brittanica cover to cover when I was a child, only to stop halfway through "A".
41. I have only read one book cover-to-cover: To Kill A Mockingbird, the rest I skim through the boring parts.
42. I love to start things that I know I will never finish
43. I rarely finish things I start
44. I sometimes forget how to spell words like "and" or "the".
45. I have never been able to tell when to use "lie" or "lay" even though it has been explained to me ad infinitum.
46. I don't think that I am as smart as people tell me I am.
47. I love the smell of fresh cut grass.
48. I am deeply spiritual - along my own lines - and distrust any human religion
49. I am idealist who gets his hopes up too much.
50. I can make a good sushi roll and enjoy the "feng shui" of it
51. People who use phrases like "feng shui" really chap my ass.
52. I had an experience when I was in college that I feel was an actual face-to-face meeting with my guardian angel.
53. I quit piano lessons after only learning to play "Deck The Halls" - which I can still play
54. I would love to be a professional photographer.
55. I shed a tear every time I hear the words, "boy welcome home" in the song "House at Pooh Corner"
56. I don't remember many details of my life from 1986 to 1996
57. My favorite professor/teacher was Dr. June Welch at the University of Dallas.
58. I failed AP Calculus in High School (the only non-passing grade I received in high school)
59. I generally don't like poetry
60. I fear success as much I fear failure.
61. I am not a sports fan of any sort.
62. I am fascinated by the mathematical concept of Pi
63. I wish I was as witty as Mark Twain
64. I want to go to Patagonia and Antarctica
65. I want to build a boat and sail it around the world.
66. I want to be "buried at sea" in the "old school" method.
67. I am scared to die - although finding out what is "on the other side" fascinates me.
68. I want to drive around the world
69. I wish I could have talked to the Pythia at the Oracle at Delphi
70. I am grateful that I have no birth defects, had no major accidents and generally enjoy good health
71. I want to hike the Appalachian Trail.
72. Generally, I don't like bugs of any sort - except ladybugs, which I perceive as harmless.
73. I have never been to Ohio and doubt I ever will
74. I love crystal clear water that allows me to see the bottom of the body of water
75. I got married on December 7th because it amused me (and will always amuse me) - "a date which will live in infamy" (and would love to see her reaction to the fact that I waited until I was 3/4 through this list to mention her... or maybe not... it was intentional!)
76. I dated many women through the years, and never really wanted to get married – until I met Diane.
77. My wife is my best friend.
78. I am a vegetarian of convenience - i.e. I don't go out of my way, but if it there is a vegetarian option, I usually take it.
79. I love cheese - of all sorts, except Brie.
80. I do not like Christmas as it is practiced these days.
81. I want to live in a log cabin.
82. I own hundreds of books that I have never read - and probably won't.
83. I have severe dyslexia, but have always been able to hide it from the rest of the world.
84. I hope I am a good influence on my niece and soon to be nephew.
85. Quitting smoking has been harder to do than quitting drinking.
86. I am horrible about giving gifts to people - I always forget and then make an excuse as to why I couldn't/didn't.
87. I need to say "please" and "thank you" more often.
88. I am composing at least three novels in my head at all times.
89. I would love to be a travel writer.
90. I cover for my overwhelming shyness by being outgoing.
91. I often look off of high areas (cliffs, rooftops, etc) and wonder what it would be like to jump off - even though I am decidedly NOT suicidal.
92. I want to ride my bicycle across the US and Europe.
93. I took the ground school test for my pilot's license, but never took an actual flying class.
94. I often wake after a dream and think that the dream was real.
95. I believe that we are small creatures on a non-unique rock called Earth - and that there are many, many, many other civilizations out there in the Universe.
96. I never studied until I was in college and by then it was too late to learn how.
97. I would like to learn how to be a better friend.
98. I can't paint, though I long to be a painter
99. I am much more neurotic on the inside than I appear to be on the outside.
100. I love my wife deeply.

Now, that wasn't so painful was it?

I really hope that no one really read all the way down... that is so... invasive... oh, and one last thing, I really hate folks who use ellipses... you know... the little three period things... at the end of sentences... the ones that indicate a pause in the statement... yep, I really hate those...