100 Things You Might Want to Know, or Might Not.

This was actually written on November 29th, 2003 and most recently updated in 2008. I changed the date of the post to put it at the beginning where it's easiest to link to from the main page. I'll be keeping it current as necessary.

1) I'm twenty seven.
2) I'm a fire control officer (former navigator) in the United States Air Force. I am a Captain.
3) I'm Californian. I grew up in Torrance, and lived there for my first eighteen years, before attending college in Santa Barbara at the University of California where I received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics, then travelled to Officer Training School (OTS) at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL, commisioning on October 31st, 2003. I then went to Randolph AFB in San Antonio, TX, for Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training (JSUNT), after a temporary jaunt back to Maxwell for the Air and Space Basic Course graduating in March 2004. Earning my wings at Randolph in February 2005, I then travelled to Fairchild AFB outside Spokane, WA for Combat Survival training and then NAS Pensacola, FL, for water survival training. After a lenghty casual period back at Randolph I then continued my training in the C-130 at Little Rock AFB, AR. I moved on to train in the MC-130P at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM, where I was informed due to a mixup I would not be able to fly that aiframe. After some more casual time I was sent to Hurlburt Field, FL, and given a change in crew position. I am now a fire control officer on the AC130U gunship having gotten checked out in early 2007. I have been on multiple deployments. Have no fear, #3 is definitely the longest of the 100 things.
4) Depending on who you talk to, my political stances vary widely.
5) My birthday is May 4th, 1981. I was born at 2:45pm.
6) For four summers during college I worked as a temporary worker in Los Angeles. It sucked. I probably won’t work in Corporate America™ ever again.
7) I have no idea where my life is going, and like it that way.
8) When I’m old and retired, I’d like to do things like write a book, perform on a stage, and tell stories about the good ol days to anyone who wants to listen.
9) I tend to like things the way they are. Not necessarily resistant to change, except that I tend to be resistant to change.
10) When I was younger I would read two books a day. I still read more than most. Whether it’s the morning newspaper or the cereal box depends on the mood.
11) I have zero piercings. That will not change. Not surprisingly, zero tattoos as well.
12) I'm about 5' 11", 180 lbs. For a long time I figured I’d eventually be 6’. I’m not.
13) My parents were born in California. In fact, I’m a fourth generation Californian.
14) My parents have been married for over thirty years, and they were twenty nine and thirty when I was born.
15) I have an older sister who is 29, and a younger brother who is 24. I stole all the good genes.
16) I’m a closet Disney fan. I used to collect Disney memorabilia. Obsessive amounts of it.
17) I played organized soccer for 12 years, and still juggle whatever happens to be laying by my feet regularly.
18) I listen to radio stations that aren’t at commercials. I only listen to the radio when in the car. 19) In high school I volunteered as an AYSO soccer referee, and as an interview and speech tutor and competition judge.
20) I drive a red 2003 Nissan Altima 3.5SE. I’m very proud of my car, and feel it suits me perfectly. Practical is the best word to describe it.
21) In high school, I was on Academic Decathlon, collecting over a dozen individual medals.
22) During my first two years of college, I gained thirty pounds.
23) Since then, I’ve lost thirty.
24) I’m a passive driver. However I have two speeding tickets from 2001 that finally dropped off my record recently, both in the 80s on the freeway.
25) Among fellow military members, I’m only called by my last name. Among friends at home, by my first. Among family and relatives, by my full first. This seems to suit me.
26) I love trivia, and was once in the semifinals for Who Wants to be a Millionaire, one step away from flying to NYC.
27) I love the idea that the universe is endless.
28) I took Spanish for three years plus a quarter of AP. I can still get by understanding it pretty well. Translating the other way is rough. I also know how to say I love you in several other languages.
29) Once upon a time, I wanted to live in Maine in the middle of nowhere. Or Alaska.
30) I now think they would be nifty places to visit.
31) One of the worst things about me is my competitiveness.
32) I don’t know anyone else like me. I think if I met someone like me we’d have a good time, most of the time.
33) I love books in series. I become obsessed with finishing them if I start them, shelving all other projects in the meantime. I'm the same way about computer games.
34) I love books and movies that make you think when you finish reading or watching them. Even more so if you’re still thinking days later.
35) I used to collect DivX movies. I have over 500.
36) I’m not very fashionable. Now that I largely wear uniforms, this is no longer a problem. For the most part, I wear what people buy me. I like cool looking wolf shirts. No one else does. I also have an extensive collection of t-shirts with smart ass remarks.
37) I prefer shorts, and sandals.
38) I wear size 11 shoes. My second toe is slightly longer than my big one.
39) I crack my knuckles religiously.
40) I’m qualified on the 9MM Beretta handgun.
41) I own a house. I bought a widescreen lcd flat panel tv. I sleep in a king size four post canopy bed.
42) I was in relationships with very few women prior to getting married. I am friends with all of them.
43) My wife and I were married on February 6th, 2005, at the Shades of Green resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I now believe in the phrase "everything happens for a reason" although I don't understand it.
44) My eyes are blue on the outside, green in the middle of the iris, with a yellow ring around the pupil. They appear different depending on what I’m wearing.
45) I love taking pictures. On both sides of the camera.
46) I love many kinds of meat, and seafood.
47) I think thunderstorms and lightning are amazing and beautiful.
48) I'm good with keeping touch with people. I almost always remember birthdays.
49) I love watching many kinds of sports, including many you wouldn’t expect.
50) I’m a gamer.
51) I almost never wear jewelry outside of my watch, wedding ring, and dog tags.
52) I’m agnostic, if anything. I respect others’ opinions.
53) I procrastinate too much. At times it causes problems. At others, it creates moments that make life worth living.
54) I used to type papers for cash as payment at around 100wpm.
55) I prefer dramas. At times I’m in the mood for a good action flick or comedy.
56) I wasn’t voted Most Likely To Be anything in high school.
57) Back then, I ran a 5:05 mile. Recently, my fastest has been 5:59. I am no longer a stick figure. I have completed multiple marathons, and a Half-Ironman. I'm eyeballing a full one.
58) I stopped running cross country my junior year when I was injured in the first race to focus on Academic Decathlon. I regret not keeping up with my running during the next few years.
59) I enjoy a plethora of music. Music that makes you feel ranks at the top of the list.
60) I have many female friends, and few male ones.
61) I've killed bad guys, to defend good guys.
62) I would enjoy learning many different kinds of dance, in private.
63) I rate movies on a 1 to 7 M scale. A single digit number have received 7 M’s.
64) When I get married, I want it to revolve around smiling. Now that I am married, I'm glad it does.
65) I hope I'm wealthy enough one day to own a house in the complete middle of nowhere for vacations, while still regularly living in or very close to the city. Edit: I now own a house somewhat in the middle of nowhere, but within a few dozen miles of a decent city. Not bad.
66) I did not join a fraternity in college. I didn’t see the point.
67) I can make my family laugh until they cry. It’s occasionally not intentional.
68) I don’t see marriage anytime anywhere in the near future. This could change instantaneously. Marriage is a one time thing for me, regardless of future circumstances. (Edit: I figured I'd leave the first half of this one in here because after all, it was proven correct.)
69) I've never been to a strip club.
70) I love being awake when few people are.
71) I love random poetry, but rarely the poems that are seen as “great.”
72) I was asleep during the morning of 9/11/01. I watched the replays and heard about what happened hours later.
73) I've been to forty three states. And so far, eleven countries.
74) I'd love to travel the world, and am on my way.
75) I like having things exactly where I left them. Thus, I like living by myself. Alas, some things have to change.
76) I think my eyes are my best feature.
77) I'm one of those annoying people who almost always has an opinion.
78) I'm equally a dog and cat person, although basically neither. I was bitten badly by a dog in high school, and big dogs still scare me.
79) Insects, spiders, and snakes don’t bother me.
80) I love Starburst, Peanut M&Ms, and Snickers.
81) I don’t have a birth mark, but I have a few scars, and stories to go with them. Pretty good ones.
82) I take Centrum every day, and rarely get sick. When I do, it’s like a train wreck.
83) I'm a 70s weather person. If it’s cold enough to notice or hot enough to notice, I’m out of my element.
84) I've noticed that the discovery that a woman is intelligent makes them instantly more attractive.
85) I love the sound of water, and will always have a fountain of sorts in my abode.
86) I asked my wife to marry me less than 7 months after we met. Whoda thunk.
87) Light N Fruity is my favorite kind of pie. Followed quickly by pumpkin. And then Dutch apple.
88) I basically never wear cologne, or put anything in my hair.
89) Children like me. I think it’s because I smile.
90) I am impressed by natural beauty, and disgusted by artificial.
91) I’d like to live to be at least 100. Immortallity would be great, if technology allows it.
92) I love people who cause me to think. I love looking people in the eye.
93) I’d really like to find the perfect companion. (Edit: and well, I did.)
94) My favorite place to hang out besides in front of the computer is outdoors during a beautiful sunset. Edit: Disneyland is in there too.
95) My room has few decorations. Edit: My house has more. Outside my computer, I’m not very materialistic.
96) My word is extremely important to me. As a consequence, trust is the number one requirement I need in people.
97) I’ve never tasted one drop of alcohol, smoked one cigarette, or used any kind of controlled substance. I never will.
98) It would be nice if there were more of us.
99) I think the right person for everyone is out there, somewhere.
100) It took me about an hour to write this, most of it thinking. Hopefully it took you less time to read it.