dad gummit...
I hate these things, but everyone else is doing it, so what the hell...

1. Started your own blog
Uh, yeah... Who thinks of these questions, anyway?

2. Slept under the stars
Many times... voluntary, out of necessity and because I've been too ossified to move...

3. Played in a band
For a brief period, as a keyboard player in a jazz/prog rock band. Too much like work... Also was in an Irish/English folk band for a while.

4. Visited Hawai’i

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland.
The happiest place on earth in the middle of three hundred square miles of asphalt and freeways... Disneyworld is better.

8. Climbed a mountain
A small one. But it required lots of ropes and carabiners and terror. Never again...

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo
When I was tin-whistler and vocalist for an Irish/English folk band named "The General's Revenge".

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris
France, no. Texas, yes. I assume they mean France...

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
Once from a private boat, far enough off shore to not see land, at night. Reminded me of the scene where Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr are watching the night sea battle from the shore of an island in "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison". Spooky.

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
If woodworking counts, then yes. Also photography. And crochet.

15. Adopted a child
Three, actually. Not legally, but took them in and got them through high school, into college and on their way. I guess that counts.

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables
Oh, yeah, I love to garden.

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
No, but I saw Mona Lipinski's underpants once...

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight
Well, you see, there was this girl and tequila and, well, you get the picture.

22. Hitchhiked
Used to be my main mode of transportation back in the day. Also to Florida and back twice, Alabama once and from San Diego to Toms River, NJ.

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
Isn't that what they're for?

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping
Well, you see, there was this girl and tequila and, well, you get the picture. Yep, same one from the pillow fight. And her best friend. Ahem...

27. Run a marathon.
Do my home remodeling projects count..?

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse.

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
My two favorite events of the day. Never miss one or the other, if I can help it.

31. Hit a home run
Only because the ball went into Mrs. Jackson's yard and no one would jump her fence to get it... I assume we're talking baseball here, right? If not, refer to number 19 above...

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community
From the inside, no less. Life changing.

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
Put into perspective, yes, on several occasions.

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing
Yes, in preparation for #8. Equally terrifying. And hard.

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

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

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing
Yep. Gonna go again, one of these days.

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. After I got over the terror of being able to breath through a tube while my head was under water, I was fine. Even saw a small shark.

52. Kissed in the rain
Tequila girl again... Haven't thought about her in a long, long time.

53. Played in the mud
You're not going to give this any rest until I spill my guts about Tequila Girl, are you? Dream on...

54. Gone to a drive-in theater
Too many times to recount. Wish they would come back, although modern behavior would make them less than fun, I suppose...

55. Been in a movie
Played a zombie in a yet to be released movie. It was a blast.

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business
Does a Roller Derby League count?

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
Like Jimbo says, if you have daughters, you've sold Girl Scout Cookies...

62. Gone whale watching
Does people watching on Seaside Heights beach count..?

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
Tried, on several occasions, but was turned down because of my medical history.

65. Gone sky diving
Twice. In one day. Once was enough.

66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar
Love it. Champagne taste on a beer budget though, so it's only once a year.

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades
With someone who lived there. It's nothing like what you've seen on TV... It's another planet.

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone
Yes. Several, in fact...

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
Oh, yeah. Used to race motocross and run enduros when I was a teenager. Also refer to number 77 above...

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

From the top and the bottom. Real lesson in perspective.

80. Published a book
Still working on it...

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
Chickens... and fish I've caught.

88. Had chickenpox
Twice. The second time prevented me from making it to Woodstock. Probably saved my life...

89. Saved someone’s life
A little girl's. Long story. I'll tell it sometime. High spookiness content, though. Maybe not.

90. Sat on a jury
Tried to, but the wouldn't have me.

91. Met someone famous
More than I could count. I've been lucky to have traveled in circles where I could hang out with lots of actors and musicians, most of which are excellent peeps. Some not so much so, but most are. Also won a trip to to see Oscar De LaHoya fight, which included hanging with boxers in a bar beforehand. Met George Foreman, Lennox Lewis and others. Foreman is Foreman. Lewis is huge and scary.

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby
Well, technically, Mrs. SOG had them, I was around earlier in the proceedings though. All kidding aside, two of the best daughters anyone could hope for.

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee
Many, many times. Used to help a bee keeper back in the day. And I always get tagged a few times every summer when working around the grounds.

100. Read an entire book in one day
Many times. That's what coal stoves, coffee and snowy winter days are for, aren't they?

---

Well, there you go. In thinking about some of these, there's some excellent blog-fodder to be had. Maybe I'll share some of those stories, one of these days...

How many of these have you done..?





wander with me...