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Twenty-five random things

I did one of these quite a while ago on my blog, but hey, there’s always time to be more random and since I am catching up with old high school friends on facebook, something I never ever expected, some of them tagged me for one of these.

1.) My son was born 3 months early, spent them in the NICU, weighed 2 lbs 5 ounces and I have never felt more blessed in my life.

2.) I conduct our church choir

3.) I love Greenday, guilty pleasure, but I think I like The Killers more, the Ching-Chings are getting my attention lately, if your teenager likes it, I probably do to

4.) My proudest moment was receiving “Volunteer of the Year” from the Natl Kidney foundation, and for all it represented

5.) I teach Ballroom Dance at a High School and love my kids

6.) Mess with my students and you’ll get me in your face

7.) I met Harry Connick Jr. three times, he’s polite but not very genuine, kind of a snob, now I don’t like his music anymore, he spoiled it.

8.) I went to Italy for two years for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

9.) I had my first real deep experience appreciating art standing in The Uffizi in Florence in front of Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus”. I could have stood there all day. I couldn’t believe that little old me was standing in front of such a stunning and famous piece from the 1400’s. It was huge, and in perfect condition, like 9 feet wide…The imagery was amazing, I really got a tear. It was beautiful and still one of my favorites.

10.) During the 2002 Olympics I volunteered a ton. I worked the opening and closing ceremonies. It was truly once in a lifetime. I met one of my heroes at a pre-Olympic event. He signed my credentials pass.

11.) I tried to look cool by talking to the Italian bob sled team up at Park City a couple of years ago at the world championships, they are from a city next to the Austrian border and don’t speak Italian…. Oops

12.) I would never clean my bedroom if I could get away with it, but the living room should be spotless.

13.) My wife was in a comedy troupe in college and we still love to laugh.

14.) I recently went back to school to get my teaching certificate in business and marketing, I got my associates “with honors” last month along the way.

15.) I was terrified all during my high school years, it’s one of my regrets.

16.) I like painting, watercolor is my favorite medium, that doesn’t mean I’m any good, but that’s irrelevant.

17.) I taught myself how to play the piano, that doesn’t mean I’m any good, but as long as no one is around that too is irrelevant.

18.) I picked up the clarinet again a year ago and remembered some of the stuff from band, it came out pretty dang squeaky, but it came out. I borrowed a bass clarinet from the middle school where I was working, practiced up, and participated with a bunch of other faculty along with the middle school orchestra for a group number at one of their concerts… it was invigorating.

19.) Tango is my favorite dance to do and to teach.

20.) One night on our way home from a friend’s house my brother jumped out of a ditch to scare me, I was already scared of that ditch… I screamed and froze… he made it all the way home, waited a bit, came back and I was still standing there trying to scream… he didn’t do that again.

21.) At our high school there weren’t any boys in choir. I thought that was normal. The drama department put on selections from the musical “Camelot” for a talent show. King Arthur dropped out so I got it and a great song. During it a popular girl in the front row turned to her friend and said with surprise “He’s good”. I wanted to jump off the stage and hug her. Instead, I forgot my next line and sang the same line twice. My acting was so bad people thought I was trying to be funny. (Now, remember I was terrified all during high school, so that was a great night… thanks popular girl)

22.) I love cooking fancy dishes, but there are so many things I don’t like to eat that I often don’t eat whatever it is that I made.

23.) My dad’s fresh baked wheat bread and the smell of cooking sesame oil are tied for my favorite smell.

24.) I was afraid that my kid would be one of those ugly babies. I’m cynical enough to know and notice… Either I’m not cynical at all and just another sappy dad, or my baby boy is the most beautiful boy in the world… or somewhere between those two realities. Either way the world could melt away while I stared at him and I wouldn’t mind a bit.

25.) I love putting on new socks.