I’ve been tagged

November 17, 2007 in Uncategorized

OK, Adam I’ll play your silly little game. Looks like we have Janet to blame for this.

5 interesting things about me…

1. I once played Little Michael in our middle school production of Peter Pan. I had to wear red footie pajamas on stage in front of everyone. Thankfully, I have no pictures like Adam does of his acting career.
2. I’ve helped train search and rescue German Shepard Dogs. I have an uncle in Idaho who is the coroner for Blaine County (the Sun Valley area where Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, Arnold, etc have homes). He is on the county’s search and rescue squad and trains the dogs to find people lost in the mountains. So one time when we were there visiting him, he takes me and my brother out in the middle of no where on a 90 degree day with his group and all their dogs. He tells us to walk down a trail, over a bluff, and then to split up and go different directions off the trail at least several hundred yards, find some shade, and wait. I sat alone in the mountains for a couple of hours. It was simultaneously one of the most boring yet most exciting things I have ever done. It’s the main reason we have a dog that is part Shepard.
3. I like most all music, really everything except rap. But even to that exception there is an exception. I’m secretly an Eminem fan. I don’t own any of his music, but if I happen to catch it on the radio I’m always fascinated by it. His rhyming ability is just phenomenal. I obviously don’t listen to much rap, but he’s the one rapper I know that doesn’t just rap about how many girls he sleeps with or how expensive his jewelry and cars are. He writes about his relationships with his daughter and ex-wife, his childhood, his business, etc. He is obviously very passionate. I don’t agree with his responses to a majority of those issues, but I appreciate that he addresses them. I enjoy his creations on several levels but am then reminded by his responses of the sinful, fallen world we live in and that is how I would respond also (though not so poetically) if it wasn’t for Jesus. So when I do catch one of his songs on the radio, I enjoy it and then I try to stop and say a pray for him. I pray that God would draw near to him and show him that Jesus is the answer for all the painful things he writes about and that he would use those talents he has to glorify his creator. I’ve started to have a similar appreciation for Nickelback with songs like Rockstar (sarcastic social commentary) and Never Again (anger against domestic abuse).
4. I’ve attended somewhere in the neighborhood of 400 high school basketball games in my life (about 20 per year for the first 18 years of my life, a few here and there while in college and after, and then about 20 last year when I kept stats for Delphi High School). I was born in December on a Friday evening (about the time the JV game usually starts). While I didn’t make it to a game that night, I’m told I was there a few weeks after that. My uncle was the coach at South Bend Riley and up until I was in high school we followed the team wherever they played. In high school I played for NorthWood in Nappanee, IN. So I was at all those games (and then married my coach’s eldest daughter because I just couldn’t get enough of the guy). College was hit and miss but I usually got to several games a year, usually at NorthWood when we were home but also occasionally at Mishawaka where my cousin is the head coach. Then last year I got back into following a team by keeping stats for Jessica’s school (Delphi) where this year I am a volunteer assistant coach. If you think 400 is a lot, my father-in-law has WON over 400 games in his coaching career. I don’t want to attempt to figure up the number of games he has attended once you count his childhood, games he’s coached, and games he’s scouted.
5. I really enjoy my job, but sometimes I wish I was a farmer like my dad. While I realize the results of my labors have a real impact, technically I push buttons that make lights (the monitor) and magnets (the hard disk) change. With farming there’s something tangible that is very satisfying when you can stand at the end of a field at the end of day and see a field that is freshly plowed and ready to plant. Then going inside to take a shower, not realizing how dirty you, and seeing the the dirt flow off your body.

Looking back at the list, maybe not so interesting, maybe more 5 odd things about me. But with me the line between interesting and odd is a fine one.

I’ll keep the pyramid scheme going by tagging David, Alicia, and back to Whipple Words but this time Ben needs to answer.