25 Random Things About BeLikeMichael (that you were afraid to ask)

This was a facebook thing, but I always enjoy talking about me (thus, this blog and, well, ALL blogs), so here goes:

1. I know most of the words to Shania Twain’s “Man, I feel like a Woman” and Christina Aguilara’s “Beautiful”. I’m not proud.

2. I’m going to live to 117, but am a little upset it’s not a prime number.

3. I haven’t watched a contemporary TV show in over 20 years and feel I haven’t missed a thing.

4. My kid’s names are sourced from film, music and literature, but I wanted to name them “Happy Happy” and “Cinnamon Roll”. I lost the argument, but do take pride in their given names and can’t wait to explain to them why we chose their names.

5. I miss both my (now deceased) brothers much more each passing year than I did at the time of their passing.

6. I used to ask girls to dine at “Le Chateau Blanc”, but actually meaning “White Castle”, a (mostly) East Coast fast food place known as much for its loyal fans as its after effects on your digestive tract. It turned out to be a good personality measure depending on their reaction upon learning the truth.

7. I am firmly convinced there will NEVER be another band like The Beatles, in any measure of music, popularity, impact on the world, etc, despite what articles on the Pop Band du jour may claim.

8. In college, I got ants in a car that I actively drove several times each single day. To this day, it baffles me as to how it happened.

9. I’m going to sorely miss holding my kids when they grow out of it, but my back will thank me.

10. “Sunset Blvd.” is my favorite film noir of all time and “Heathers” or “Clerks” is probably my favorite comedy.

11. The last CD I bought (a few years ago) was “Famous Recording Artists” by The Shitbirds. It rules.

12. The best time of my life (to date) is the four days in the hospital when I first became a Father. Just me, my wife and our daughter and this pure joy I can’t describe fairly.

13. People that dress their pets and talk about them as if they were human really scare me. Overly religious people have the same effect on me.

14. I think David Cassidy (Partridge Family) has a great voice and I still play Partridge Family songs with regular rotation. The same goes for The Monkees.

15. My first cat’s name was “Ear-Mite Ich”, named for a feline disorder and a fish disease. He disappeared once for 29 days, returned home dehydrated and 5 lbs lighter, but lived a full life.

16. In high school, I was unknowingly recorded (audio) on a visit to a friend’s house and as a result I stayed away for years afterwards. I shrugged it off, but I felt violated. This is why I will hate T.I. for all eternity, but I’ve stopped wishing harm on him, so I guess I’m growing up.

17. I use numbers to understand/memorize nearly everything and I subconsciously (and constantly) count random objects, like sides on street signs. I’m not weird; I was a Math Major. Q.E.D.

18. I fractured a bone in my hand when our (now deceased) dogs were fighting a few years back and I tried to separate them. I now wear my “OSKR” scar proudly and actually thought of this (then future) time while in the emergency room.

19. It takes an awful lot to offend me, though I can’t recall it ever happening. On the flip side, I (usually) unwittingly offend people and have to clarify my words/actions and it completely and utterly exhausts me.

20. I scored a 5 (highest score) on the AP Math test in high school. I’m still proud of it.

21. Every time I’ve written the date since December 8, 1980 (the night John Lennon was shot), I write a “J.L.” next to the year. It started as a random tribute and just continued to the point where it’s now automatic.

22. I was once told, “What do i expect from a guy who eats Cap’n Crunch for dinner?” as the last words of someone I had briefly hung out with.

23. My favorite all time TV show is The Donna Reed Show and the original (Rod Serling) Twilight Zone is a close second. I have nearly every episode of each on tape/DVD and DO watch them.

24. I almost quit college in my junior year, but the Dean convinced me to stick it out. It was the best advice I’d been given and I wish I had thanked her properly.

25. I secretly enjoy Tom Arnold’s films and have seen almost all of them.