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Have I Ever . . .

Just in time given that I had nothing pressing to write about this evening, Jim over at the Parkway Rest Stop posted a meme that I decided would be interesting to complete. Thanks Jim.

Have I ever:

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink— I was answering No when I remembered that I used to manage a bar. We routinely purchased rounds of cocktails. Our house drink was the Aqua-Velva (nasty stuff) that we would make by the pitcher. That was a long time ago.
2. Swam with wild dolphins— No, but I have with Manta Rays, sharks, manatees, and lots of other marine life. The Manta Rays were wonderful. They toyed with us, letting us follow for some time. Then, with a flap of their wings, they were off. There is no way we could have kept up.
3. Climbed a mountain — Yes, but the mountain is not what one normally thinks of. Mt. Everest it was not.
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive — No, although I have ridden in one at a high rate of speed. Frankly, I was not impressed. While the engine is wonderful, the interior was blah.
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid — No. Egypt is not one of the places I am itching to visit, although I suspect I would enjoy the pyramids.
6. Held a tarantula — Yes. I purchased a tarantula and a scorpion one year for my fourth graders. I did not mind the spider, but the scorpion was not to my liking. Now that I think about it, I also held Mr. Amos’ tarantula in high school too.
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone — Yes. Enough said.
8. Said “I love you” and meant it! — Of course. How does one marry and have children and not have that?
9. Hugged a tree — Yes.
10. Bungee jumped — No. I suspect that I will not participate in that either. Twenty years ago I would have, I think.
11. Visited Paris — No. While Gert is eager to return to Paris, I have no desire whatsoever to visit.
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea — Hmmm . . . in a boat? Probably not. I have certainly watched a lightning storm from the shore, however.
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise — I would be suspicious of anyone who hadn’t done that.
14. Seen the Northern Lights — No, but I would very much like to.
15. Gone to a huge sports game — Yes.
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa — No. I am willing to visit Italy to do so as long as I can also take a gondola through Venice too.
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables — Yes, I recall tomatoes and zucchini as a boy. Now all we grow are blueberries, which of course, are not vegetables.
18. Touched an iceberg — No. Maybe when I see the Northern Lights I will have that opportunity.
19. Slept under the stars — Yes.
20. Changed a baby's diaper — I have a two-year old. Of course I have.
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon — No, but I would like to.
22. Watched a meteor shower — I do not think so.
23. Drunk champagne — Yes, when drunk and when not.
24. Given more than you can afford to charity — No, but I give to charities. More than I can afford indicates I wouldn’t be able to afford the computer on which I am typing this.
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope — Yes. I have never been good at recognizing much up there, but I have looked. High School had an observatory that I recall using on a number of occasions. Interestingly, one of my mates who I used to go up there with now teaches astronomy at the university level.
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment — Hmmm . . . I am not certain at the worst possible moment, but it seems to me it is possible.
27. Had a good fight — Yup. When a boy, physical. As an adult, verbal.
28. Bet on a winning horse — No. Interestingly, I have been to the track but once. I was in college or just out of. Craig and I went to Delaware Park. We lost every race. At the end of the night, there was a losers’ drawing. We weren’t picked. But we were vocal and they selected us to spin the wheel anyhow. Everyone else won dinner at a casino and other such prizes. The high cash value on the wheel was $200. Yes, we hit that on our spin. So, no, I did not bet on a winning horse, but I did win at the track.
29. Asked out a stranger — No. I was never good with the ladies like that.
30. Had a snowball fight — Indeed. One of the finest was my freshman or sophomore year at college. Rosanna, a friend of mine from Tegucigalpa, Honduras had never seen snow before. On the first storm of the year, everyone in our quad donned their bathing suits, someone cranked The Beach Boys, and we took off for fun in the snow. I recall dragging Rosanna around the quad in the snow. This, like every other snow storm ended in an all-out snowball fight. Great fun!
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can — Yes, but I am not proud of it.
32. Held a lamb — Yes. One was named Timmy. A teacher friend of mine lived on a farm and she and her children raised animals for 4-H. One day she brought a lamb into school for the younger students to see. She stopped off in my classroom to show my students as well. Timmy was cute. But he decided to pee all over the rug. He woulld have looked etter on my plate, methinks.
33. Seen a total eclipse — Not that I recall.
34. Ridden a roller coaster — Yes. I do not ride them much any more, however. The best that I recall was the one at the Six Flags in Houston.
35. Scored a winning goal — Yes. I played soccer a bit in eighth and ninth grade. While I was not great, I had a penchant for scoring goals . . . and game-winning goals at that.
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking — Pretty much every time I dance I fit that description. That explains why I do not dance much.
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day — No. Why would anyone do so?
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment — Of course. The ebb and flo of life requires it.
39. Visited all 5 continents — Hmmm . . . we teach there are seven continents. And no, I have not visited them.
40. Taken care of someone who was drunk — Yes. The first one that comes to mind was when I was awoken at ten o’clock (I lead such a boring life, eh?) one summer night by my friend Paul. Paul had past three sheets to the wind some time earlier and needed a ride out to the Point. I picked him up and as we stopped at the light of Perry & Broadway, I was pulled over. damn summer cops! It was 4th of July weekend and this bozo wanted to ticket me because my tailpipe was dangling. When he saw Paul, he began to hassle me big time. I hate it when folks think they are superior. I let him have a piece of my mind and how I was being responsible. Funny how being assertive got me out of trouble that time.
41. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country — I think I did in Bermuda on that fateful evening. That would have been 31 July 1991.
42. Watched wild whales — Yes, I took a whale watching excursion out of Provincetown a long time ago.
43. Stolen a sign — Hmmm . . . do pink flamingos count? There was a famous (infamous?) night in college to impress a girl where there was not one flamingo left in town that didn’t show up outside of someone’s dorm room. The things we do for love . . .
44. Backpacked — Yes, many times.
45. Taken a road-trip — Greenwich Village, blackberry brandy, video poker, whippets.

All these questions seem to take me back to college. Of course, spring semester senior year was a road trip. Then there were the runs to Dead shows on the spur of the moment. I can safely say “yes” to this question.
46. Gone rock climbing — Not specifically, but I have scaled a “mountain” of rocks by scrambling.
47. Midnight walk on the beach — I grew up at the beach. This was routine.
48. Gone sky diving — After the episode linked in #41, I returned to the States
determined to take up a “dangerous” activity. It was either sky diving or scuba diving. I opted for scuba. Any thoughts of sky diving are long gone.
49. Taken a train through Europe — Having never been to Europe (unfortunately) means I have never ridden a train through it.
50. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love — No. I’ve been heartbroken, but not for that long.
51. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table, and had a meal with them — Believe it or not, some places are designed just like this. Yes.
52. Milked a cow — Once, long ago. My sister’s church group took a trip to upstate New York. I tagged along. We traveled in a Winnebago. There were two 8-tracks for the entire trip: Warren Zevon’s Excitable Boy and Billy Joel’s Piano Man. I learned both thoroughly that week(end). Anyhow, the farm we went to was a dairy farm and we had our turn at milking.
53. Alphabetized your CDs — Is there any other way? For the record, they are
alphabetized by artist and then chronological within. Yes, I have OCD.
54. Sung karaoke — My in-laws do not have a function without it. Once, just once, I joined my bride for a rendition of something or other . . . it was disasterous. This is why I now drink at these functions.
55. Lounged around in bed all day — Truly one of life’s gifts. Yes.
56. Gone scuba diving — Yes, many times. I have several certifications, but I
haven’t been in a while.
57. Kissed in the rain — Yes. This is another that I am suspect of those who have not.
58. Gone to a drive-in theatre — Yes. Growing up I recall going. My mother recently visited and recounted us going as a family. Of course, I went later too. We have a local drive-in that re-opened after many years of being closed. We have yet to go although I found a cache at the base of the screen.
59. Started a business — Not a real one.
60. Taken a martial arts class — Nope, although there’s a scavenger hunt I have been meaning to complete that would have me do so.
61. Been in a movie — Nothing commercial.
62. Crashed a party — Yes, famously one at a Rutgers fraternity many years ago. That’s all you get . . . sorry.
63. Gone without food for 5 days — No. Food is another of life’s joys. Why not
partake?
64. Gotten a tattoo — No. I definitely subscribe to my parents’ views on this issue. When I was about 18, some of my friends got tats. I think my folks took note of that. They reminded me of something I liked when I was younger and asked me if I still thought that was cool. They said a tattoo was just like that. Whatever I think is cool at 18 is unlikely to be thought the same when I am 50. Looking around, I think that was splendid advice.
65. Got flowers for no reason — Well, whoever gives flowers does so for some reason. But yes, I have received them just because.
66. Performed on stage — Unfortunately, yes. American Pie has not been the same since. I was also in Romeo and Juliet.
67. Been to Las Vegas — Nope. I would visit, but it is not at the top of the list.
68. Recorded music — Lots, but never my own.
69. Buried one/both of your parents — Technically, no. Dad has died, but he is not buried.
70. Been on a cruise ship — Yes. La Boheme, I believe it was. There is a
frightening photograph of me floating around boarding the ship in my brown three-piece suit. Yikes!
71. Spoken more than one language fluently — One of my great failures, along with musical talent, is that I, despite taking French, Spanish, and Latin, am incapable of speaking another language. Although, I think I do pretty well with English.
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over — Yes. Yes. Absolutely, yes!
73. Walked a famous bridge — I cannot think of one. Would the Roberto Clemente bridge in Pittsburgh count?
74. Had plastic surgery — No!
75. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived — Perhaps. Looking back on when I was broadsided by a truck, I think it could have been a lot different. But had I not survived, would I have been able to answer this question?
76. Written articles for a large publication — I had a column for the local daily a few years back. It does not have the subscribers the Wall Street Journal does, but it thousands, presumably, read my work.
77. Tried to lose weight seriously — Not really. Certainly no sustained effort.
78. Been in the military — Nope.
79. Read a good book — Yes. Again, who hasn’t? The book I always point to with this kind of question is A Prayer for Owen Meany, but there have been oodles of good books I have read.
80. Piloted an airplane — No.
81. Petted a stingray — No, but refer to answer #2.
82. Broken someone's heart — Yes.
83. Broken a bone — Yes. I think the only time was when I was six and broke my left wrist. I think it was fractured falling off a bicycle in Easton, PA and then broken as I leapt off the couch at home.
84. Eaten sushi — Yes, many times. I believe the first was with my mother at the
restaurant that replaced Peaches way back when.
85. Had your picture in the newspaper — Yes. Many times, although I do not believe recently.
86. Parasailed — No, but would be willing to do so.
87. Skipped all your school reunions — Not all, but as my buddies know, it is
unlikely I will return again.
88. Shaved your head — No, but I do cut it close.
89. Caused a car accident — According to the police report, I did. My first
accident was my fault despite the police calling it no fault. I did not argue.
90. Pretended to be “sick” — Yes, I have done so. It didn’t work too well as a
youngster, however. Mom sniffed those episodes right out.
91. Swam in the Pacific Ocean — No, I have never been on the left coast.
92. Saved someone's life — I have no direct knowledge that I have done so, but it’s possible I did.
93. Fainted — No, I have not. Passed out? Yes.
94. Been in the room while someone is giving birth — Yes! Watching your child’s birth is one of those things unlike any other.
95. Hitchhiked — Unsuccessfully.
96. Adopted a child — No.
97. Been caught daydreaming — I suspect I have, but cannot recall a specific
instance.
98. Been to the Painted Desert — The furthest west I’ve ever been is Oklahoma City or perhaps just west of Wichita this past summer. So, no, I have never been there.
99. Called off a wedding engagement — Well, I was engaged to someone prior to my wife. It was called off, kind of mutually, but was not instigated by me.
100. Become a follower of Jesus Christ — I am baptised, confirmed, and receive the sacraments. I think that satisfies this question, unless I have misunderstood.

Also blogged on this date . . .

• Up a Tree - 2009
• Where Does It End? - 2008
• Katz Cries About Her Own Poor Performance - 2007
• Codey's Primary Screws Taxpayers - 2007
• Apple Pie - 2007
• It's Obvious - 2007
• Not Drafted - 2005
• Pajamas Media - 2005
• Winslow Wildlife - 2001