Monday, January 05, 2009

25: Because I'm at least 1 better than Keifer Sutherland

You may or may not be able to see Elizabeth's original Note on Facebook. There is also a version on her blog. Since my blog posts get automatically imported as Facebook notes*, I'm doing this here first (here being my blog), and then I'll tag people who I list after the fact. *I had this all set up, but apparently, the last post it imported was in October, so I set it up again. The way this seems to work is: I got tagged, so I get to list 25 random things, facts, habits, goals, etc. about myself, and then I tag 25 people, including the person who tagged me, and if they haven't already done it, they need to do it too. 25 people seems a bit overkill to me, and liable to give some the sense that they can fall through the cracks unnoticed, but I don't make up the rules.
  1. I am NOT the third triplet! The third triplet is Anna, well, actually, she's the first, and then came Josh and then David. People tend to get confused about this, since Josh, David, and I are male and Anna is not. Somehow they miss the two and a half-year age difference.
  2. In case you've been hiding under a rock lately, I'm going to be a daddy! The due date is July 2nd, 2009.
  3. I have read all of Jane Austen's novels, much to the chagrin and consternation of my wife, who has read none of them, and is quite resolute in that position.
  4. I am learning Koine Greek, which is the language in which the books of the New Testament of the Bible were originally written. The second quarter starts tomorrow, and I need to brush up on my vocabulary at some point.
  5. I am conversationally and compositionally competent in Spanish, which I learned in high school, primarily from Miss Conrado.
  6. The absolute best video game ever is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. I recently played completely through the Master's Quest version of this game.
  7. I am an INTP, and I like it.
  8. I was league champion in high school track & field for the 110m high hurdles (Once, that is, Andy Osterello, the other hurldler from La Serna, finally graduated a year ahead of me).
  9. Elizabeth never fails to make me to laugh when she's being silly.
  10. As of January 2nd, I now have a total of 5 nephews (and 0 neices--someone should get on that--ahem) : Andrew, Joshua, Matthew, Eric, and (most recently) Ethan.
  11. My wife won't let me shave.
  12. The day after my wedding, my dad broke his back.
  13. I love kids. So much so that Elizabeth made certain "inquiries" about my behavior while we were dating.
  14. I like skiing and hiking and paintball, and deep theological and philosophical discussions late into the night.
  15. I learned East Coast Swing, and then took lessons in Lindy Hop, and then a little bit of Salsa.
  16. I met my wife on the dance floor at Century Ballroom. I met her intentionally, because I noticed her as soon as she walked in the door.
  17. I take the Great Commission to mean that it's my responsibility to point those around me to Christ, especially those who are already Christ's disciples.
  18. I grew up in a church without a "Pastor", but with many elders who shepherded and taught the body of Christ. What I miss most is the weekly breaking of bread (a.k.a., "communion" or "rememberance"), in which all of the men of the assembly are welcome to take a part in leading the worship and rememberance of Christ: who he is, and what he has done and will do.
  19. When I was in 10th grade, I liked to make games and fun and/or useful programs on my TI-83 graphing calculator. My brother told me that I could actually make money doing things like that, and so I majored in Computer Science.
  20. I also like to know how things (and the whole universe) work, so I picked up a minor in Physics.
  21. I switched from Mint.com to Wesabe.com! Mint has nice interface widgets, but Wesabe supports Elizabeth's bank.
  22. I have a Linux box running Gentoo, which is the best distribution, ever.
  23. I hate small talk. I like to talk about the important stuff. Right away. When you've just met me and you think that's a little too confrontational.
  24. I also tend to wear my convictions (and opinions) on my sleeves (it can be hard for some to tell them apart), which tends to make people a bit hesitant to express any sort of disagreement, which is a shame, because that prevents us from talking about meaningful things, and possibly discovering that we aren't so far off from each other as it might seem.
  25. My moniker 'burndive' comes from a science fiction trilogy in which the word means 'to hack' as in a computer.
People I'm tagging:
  1. Elizabeth, because yours was the original post, so I have to ;)
  2. Becca, because you tagged me too before I could get to it.
  3. Deborah tagged me too! I guess I'm slow.
  4. Heather because you're all artsy-smartsy (pretty sure I didn't score any points with that one).
  5. Sarah because you're my little sister and I love you.
  6. Sara because a cathartic textual effluence is good for the soul.
  7. Cliff because you moved away.
  8. Becky, because you don't have enough survey thingies already and you totally have spare time.
  9. Angie, because you live on the other side of the continent.
  10. Amy, because we just met, and you're really cool.
  11. Beckie, because I haven't seen you in like, forever.
  12. Tim, because you'll probably laugh and not do this, but just in case.
  13. Jeremy, because you have a habit of thinking before speaking.
  14. Elise, because you're 21 now, and can totally go to Century on Wednesday nights.
  15. Brian, because you bought HD DVDs too.
  16. Steffani, because you're pregnant TOO!
  17. Liz, because all I hear about these days is your brother's quixotic moustache.
  18. Nathan, because you're in France.
  19. Brittany! Surprise!
  20. Gwen, so that you'll have smile wrinkles when you grow old.
  21. Alanna, 'cause you're a nurse.
  22. Victor, because March 5th is a really cool birthday to have.
  23. Jenny, because your spirit is free!
  24. Caleb, because you're a gourmet chef.
  25. Matt, for absolutely no reason whatsoever.
You're it.
fin

Bold Moves

I have another one coming, but this is quicker. I got this from superbeck. Bold what you’ve done.
  1. Started your own blog. (Here)
  2. Slept under the stars. (The first time was in the desert. I've also NOT slept under some shooting stars, while snuggling, and waiting for Search and Rescue to call us back.)
  3. Played in a band. (The only thing musical I can play is chairs.)
  4. Visited Hawaii.
  5. Watched a meteor shower. (Oh, indeed, yes.)
  6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
  7. Been to Disneyland.
  8. Climbed a mountain. (Lassen, Shucksan (base camp), Rainier (base camp), Si)
  9. Held a praying mantis.
  10. Sang a solo. (haha, no)
  11. Bungee jumped.
  12. Visited Paris.
  13. Watched a lightening storm at sea.
  14. Taught yourself an art from scratch. (I don't know if swing dancing counts. I ended up taking lessons in this, too.)
  15. Adopted a child.
  16. Had food poisoning.
  17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
  18. Grown your own vegetables. (Hey, I helped!)
  19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
  20. Slept on an overnight train.
  21. Had a pillow fight.
  22. Hitch hiked.
  23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
  24. Built a snow fort. (And an igloo, too.)
  25. Held a lamb.
  26. Gone skinny dipping.
  27. Run a Marathon.
  28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
  29. Seen a total eclipse
  30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (Seriously, who hasn't done this?--oh, wait, some people around here never see the sun.)
  31. Hit a home run (BSF Softball, baby! (Lassen too))
  32. Been on a cruise (Long Beach -> Catalina -> Sand Diego -> Ensenada)
  33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (I was half asleep in a van on the way from Buffalo to Perry Sound)
  34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors. (Bridgewater, Nova Scota. Also, Germany & The Netherlands)
  35. Seen an Amish community.
  36. Taught yourself a new language. (Again with the "taught yourself". The only way to truly do this is by immersion, and even then, others are inevitably helping you. I choose to bend the rules. I learned Spanish in high school, and now I'm learning Koine Greek. Also, I "taught" myself English as a child. My family and community had nothing to do with it.)
  37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. (I'm satisfied with just a cottage below / A little silver, and a little gold.)
  38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
  39. Gone rock climbing. (fun fun fun!)
  40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
  41. Sung karaoke (Once I sang "Timmy and the Lords of the Underworld" on Rock Band at Kent's house.)
  42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
  43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
  44. Visited Africa
  45. Walked on a beach by moonlight. (Don't try this in Costa Rica: you'll get eaten by mosquitoes.)
  46. Been transported in an ambulance. (I slid on my socks right across the bedroom and my head met the dresser drawer handle.)
  47. Had your portrait painted.
  48. Gone deep sea fishing. (With my grandpa.)
  49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
  50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
  51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (Snorkeling in Catalina).
  52. Kissed in the rain. (There's always some sort of rain falling in Seattle, so I'm sure Liz and I have done this.)
  53. Played in the mud. (There's no other way to play Soccer.)
  54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
  55. Been in a movie. (I think this one is for the benefit of those who haven't. My first movie was Snow White. I think I was in middle school.) -- Edit: Un-bolded. Thanks for the comment, Caleb.
  56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
  57. Started a business.
  58. Taken a martial arts class.
  59. Visited Russia.
  60. Served at a soup kitchen.
  61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
  62. Gone whale watching.
  63. Got flowers for no reason.
  64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma. (This is on my to-do list.)
  65. Gone sky diving.
  66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
  67. Bounced a check.
  68. Flown in a helicopter. (To Alctraz.)
  69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. (Cinnamon the stuffed puppy.)
  70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
  71. Eaten Caviar.
  72. Pieced a quilt.
  73. Stood in Times Square.
  74. Toured the Everglades.
  75. Been fired from a job.
  76. Seen the changing of the guards in London.
  77. Broken a bone. (I've chipped a tooth, though.)
  78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
  79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
  80. Published a book.
  81. Visited the Vatican.
  82. Bought a brand new car. (2004 Hond Civic.)
  83. Walked in Jerusalem.
  84. Had your picture in a newspaper.
  85. Read the entire Bible.
  86. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. (Also on the list.)
  87. Visited the White House.
  88. Had chickenpox. (My sister put rocks in my socks!)
  89. Saved someone’s life. (A very large woman in a wheelchair out of control down a hill at CSUPomona.)
  90. Sat on a jury. (I was elected foreman.)
  91. Met someone famous.
  92. Joined a book club (I guess you could call it that: we're going to start up again soon. I think we're finishing off Mere Christianity, and then going on to Desiring God.)
  93. Lost a loved one.
  94. Had a baby (Due July 2nd, 2009!)
  95. Seen the Alamo in person
  96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
  97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
  98. Owned a cell phone. (Since 2000.)
  99. Been stung by a bee. (Most recently on the top of the head at Hick's Lake.)
  100. Read an entire book in one day. (I'll look up from whatever book I'm reading, and realize that the sun went down, and I haven't eaten anything today.)