I've Been Tagged

Maybe responding to this "tagging" will pull me out of my blogging slump. I hope so. I just read about this "game" going around the blogosphere from my sister's blog. She tagged me to respond/participate, so now I have too.

The Rules

1.Post these rules
2.You must post 11 random things about yourself
3.Answer the questions set for you in the post you were tagged in
4.Create 11 new questions for your tagees to answer
5.Tag them on Twitter, Facebook or your blog


11 Random Facts About Me
1. I have an abnormally large space between my first and second toes. With said toes, I can pick up a tennis ball
2. My favorite M&Ms are by far the peanut butter kind, followed by the dark chocolate as a close second
3. My favorite band of all time is the Dave Matthews Band. I had one of my first beers, during high school, at a DMB concert in Raliegh, NC, when my older (of age) sister bought me one. For some reason, I'm very fond of this memory. Thanks, Audrey.
4. I regret giving up piano lessons when I was little. I'd love to be able to play now.
5. I love to teach. And I think I'm a good teacher. Whenever I finally "arrive" in a career, I'd like it to involve at least some element of teaching.
6. The other day, I bench pressed 235 lbs. That's 127% of my body weight,  and the weight-loss goal for my friend Robert that if he doesn't reach by next week I get to slap him in the face for free.
7. I love to play music and learn new instruments. So far, I can play, many kinds of drums, 4-mallet marimba and vibraophone, guitar, piano, harmonica, Native American flute and a mean kazoo.
8. When I was unemployed, I learned to juggle and how to solve a Rubix Cube.
9. I can clap with one hand. Not cheating or anything. I can really do it.
10. When I was 13, I caught a 65 lb King Salmon during my first trip to Alaska.
11. I love bad puns! The worse the pun, the better.


11 Questions I Was Asked To Answer
1.What’s your earliest childhood memory? - I have vague memories about my families first house in north Asheville. I remember the hill in the front yard, exploring the woods out back. I remember a small living room and sharing a room with my older brother. One time, during his sleep, my brother rolled out of the top bunk and into the open toy box - it didn't wake him up.

2.What place would you most like to visit? - Australia. Since I was little I've always wanted to go to Australia.

3.What’s the scariest thing you have ever done? - As a young'un, I was terrified of roller coasters. Getting on my first one was terrifying. Of course, since then, I love them! Also, sleeping in the back of a truck while boar hunting as a kid, I was pretty scared because of what my brother kept telling me.

4.When was the last time you got a giggle fit and what caused it? - Sitting on the couch with my wife not too long ago, we both got to laughing and couldn't stop. I absolutely love the sound of her genuine laugh, that giggle sound that comes out without expectation. We got to laughing, I think, because we were both just being absolutely silly - you know the kind of silly you would only be in front of certain people.

5.How many cars have you owned? -
1982 Monte Carlo (a. k. a. The Pimp Mobile)
1995 Mitsubithi Expo (minivan thang)
2002 Saturn Coupe (probably my favorite of all time so far)
1998 Dodge Neon (it didn't last long. Heather was run off the road by a mac truck which totalled this car)
1982? Buick (A great running grandma car given to us by my granda after Heather's wreck)
2008 Dodge Ram (affectionately named Jayne. You know, like the hero of Canton...)
1996 Chevy Blazer (A clunker bought in AK as a cheap get-around-town car. It was cheap and it barely gets around)
Wow, that was more cars that I realized!

6.Who were your childhood heroes? 
Michael Jordan - he was the greatest. I wanted to play basketball like Mike. I used to practice all the time, for hours, in our driveway, but I never got good like Mike.
My dad - As a kid, dad was my hero, and I thought he knew everything and could do anything. Even though he's no longer my hero in that childhood sense, I still think very highly of what he's accomplished in life. And I've also learned that when he doesn't "know" the answer, he's pretty good at making something up that sounds like it could be...hehe (sorry for "outing" you dad).

7.What was your favorite game as a child? - So many to choose from as our family played LOTS of games. Some highlights were Risk, Monopoly, Capture the Flag, Gestures, Scattagories, but the winner would probably have to be Taboo.

8.What book have you read that had a profound impact on you? - I can't name just one.
Blue like Jazz, by Don Miller (this was the first eye opener to me that conservative evangelical theology may not be the pinnacle of Christian theology)
A Fine Balance, by Rohinton Mistry (true stories are always the profoundest)
A New Kind of Christianity, by Brian McLaren (more on the death of conservative theology within me)
The Total Money Makeover, by Dave Ramsey (Priceless practical advice on managing life and money)
The Bible (This list wouldn't be honest or complete without this one, even though I haven't read it cover to cover)

9.If you won the lottery, what’s the first thing you would do? - Pay off school debt, then call Dave Ramsey and ask for advice.

10.Who was your favorite teacher and why? - My New Testament/Greek professor in seminary, Dr. Wakefield, is probably my favorite of all. He really inspired me to learn and be a better person through his teaching. He's now the dean of the seminary.

11.What is the thing you like best about yourself? - My sense of humor and with it my ability to be likeable very quickly.

11 Questions For You To Answer
1. Who was your first kiss and how old were you?
2. If you could go back and change one decision you've made in life, what would it be?
3. Which person, (alive, dead, or historical) has had the greatest influence on your life?
4. What thing in life or moment in life are you the most proud of?
5. When was a time when your heart was broken?
6. Which was your favorite Power Ranger?
7. What is your favorite food?
8. Have you ever reached the end of your rope, your breaking point, your wit's end, been pushed beyond your capacity? What was it like?
9. What has been your favorite pet? (If you've had no pets, your favorite animal?)
10. What word(s) would you like to know the definition of?
11. If you won the lottery, what is the first and last thing you would do with the money?


Now I'm Tagging:

Robert at Soaking up the world (my sister tagged him, now he has more pressure to blog)

Erin at On Call

Vicki at Showing up to the Moment