1) I was born in Casper, Wyoming
2) three weeks before Nixon resigned his Presidency
3) I was 33 days late
4) cesarian
5) I am the oldest of three
6) My printer lives in Baltimore, MD
7) which I visit about 100 days a year
8) I was once called “Brother Blue” by a Franciscan Priest
9) who raps
10) and plays jazz bass
11) when I had blue hair
12) I love travel
13) I have visited all 50 states
14) Canada (lots)
15) Iceland (five times)
16) Ireland/Norther Ireland
17) Italy
18) Benin
19) Togo
20) Ghana
21) Norway
22) and lived in Ecuador for a month
23) estudiè español
24) I hope to visit 40 countries by 40
25) visit defined as spending at least 6 days
26) My favorite author is Paulo Coelho

27) I am dyslexic
28) have ADHA
30) When I am home I listen to my XM Radio at least 14 hrs a day
31) I try and rock climb everyday that I am not traveling
32) I love my work
33) I can get out of a straight jacket
34) pick off little green army men with a bull whip
35) ride a unicycle
36) juggle five balls
37) and do a handful of card tricks (not all at once)
38) One night I did card tricks for every person in a pub in Norther Ireland
39) in groups of two or three people
40) and didn’t pay for a drink all night
41) I have been known to see 6 movies in the theater in one week
42) and as many as 3 in one day
43) almost always alone
44) Touch of Evil is my favorite movie
45) I try and go to mass daily
46) I have a bite mark on my right hand from 1991
47) the bite is human
48) because I was tickling someone who didn’t want to be tickled
49) I have a crush on Deborah Gibson
50) when I was growing up I did not have a crush on Debbie Gibson
51) but i did on Susana Hoff
52) In high school I was on the math team
53) I graduated form the Catholic University of America
54) with a degree in computer science
55) the year I graduated I was the only comp. sci. major to graduate
56) in the three previous years one person transferred to another college
57) the other 9 left the program because it was too hard.
58) Iceland is my personal spiritual homeland
59) The Icelandic Horse is a magic creature
60) which I can talk to
61) I drive a 96 Mitsubishi Mirage
62) I loose sleep over wasting my giftedness
63) not being honestly who I am
64) leading people away from their dream
65) and not have the courage to follow my own
66) I was an all-state soccer goalkeeper (twice)
67) I wish I was a better dancer
68) I enjoy giving back rubs
69) I use to write lots of letters
70) and wish I did more today
71) I am growing my hair out for “Locks of Love” (again)
72) I lived on the streets of DC
73) for a week in college
74) to bring awareness to the homeless ministries on campus
75) I love shoes
76) but have a hard time finding the right size
77) because me feet are so big
78) If I were ever to lock myself away for three months to write a book I would do it in Bergan, Norway
79) I was two months short of my 21st birthday when I kissed a female the first time
80) I have held a baby penguin in my arms
81) and seen 10,000 puffins in the wild (at one time)
82) I act with great passion
83) often without considering how it will impact others
84) I have never felt as old as I am
85) I am the president of the Joia Farmer Fan Club
86) I fancy myself a graphic designer
87) which means I am not one
88) but wish I were
89) Vietnamese is my new favorite food
90) I was able to order exactly what I wanted off a menu that was only in Norwegian and Vietnamese
91) I was the only person in the restaurant who didn’t speak either language
92) One of the few skills I truly believe I am good at is making mix tapes
93) I juggled in an open air drug market in Florence, Italy
94) it was almost 30 min in before I realized that is where I was (the drug market, I know I was in Italy the whole time)
95) Long walks are good for my soul
96) I have never been able to lie to a cold wind
97) I can fold a dollar bill in to the shape of a heart
98) and a moth
99) that has working wings
100) I love rumble strips

The stories we tell about our lives are not true. It’s not that we are liars, but we don’t remember what really happen. For proof of this watch family members fight over a piece of family history that everyone was present for. The truth that is contained in the stories we tell is the truth of who we thought we were, who we think we are, or who we would like to be.

I don’t own a TV. Well that’s not true. I own a very nice TV/DVD combination, but it has been in its box since February (my last move). So with the exception of a little Sportscenter late at night on the road I don’t watch TV. Being at my folks over Christmas I managed to watch more TV in those three weeks than I did in the whole year prior (and I don’t think that is hyperbola). I watched way to much stuff, but one thing I saw on TV really challenged me (which is nice for time to time to have the idiot box challenge you), but it came in the oddest of places, VH1. The name of the show was called Driven. The show isn’t too different from Behind the Music, but the way Driven tells the story of an artist is through interviews with the people from a persons life. They interview grade school teachers, soccer coaches, high school friends, and relatives. The crux of the show is showing how hard the particular artist worked to get where they are, to show how driven they are/were.
Now I have no idea how true the stories told were. Not that I am doubting the integrity of any of the people who were interviewed, but the show is a colasue of perspectives, none of them complete. With bits and pieces of lots interviews, I sure the producers could have told lots of stories, and given the particular artist different histories. None of that is really important. What is important is the fact that there are people out in the world who are driven (rock stars not with standing).

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1. What does it say in the signature line of your emails?
“Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” St. Francis of Assisi
2. Did you have a senior quote in your high school yearbook? What was it?
“As he rode along thinking of nothing at all.”
3. If you had vanity plates on your car, what would they read?
Never in a million years
4. Have you received any gifts with messages engraved upon them? What did the inscription say?
Picture frame “Thanks for being the best date ever.”
5. What would you like your epitaph to be?
He was generous.
[via The Friday Five]