25 Random Things About Me

So, if you’ve got a Facebook account, you’ve probably seen the ’25 things’ post before. The deal is pretty simple: You write a note, include 25 things about you, then tag 25 people to do the same.

Well, this isn’t being published in Facebook, and I’m not tagging anyone… But I turn 25 today – so what a better day to do post this?

1. I once owned a full-sized arcade cabinet. I can’t remember which game it was – it wasn’t very good. I saved up 40,000 tickets at the arcade for it, though. Then I sold it to buy a Wii.
2. Speaking of which, I’ve never owned a non-Nintendo console. Portable or home, all of my systems have come from them and I don’t picture that changing any time soon.
3. I often relax by folding origami… And have done so for years. I don’t memorize models, but love the activity of folding them. I just started work on a big project, too.
4. I’m a Disney fan – and that applies pretty much across the board. My iTunes has specific playlists for Disney music and my DVDs were (and will likely be again) sorted Disney-first for the longest time.
5. Pixar comes before Disney. While they’re the same company now… they weren’t always. I’ve seen almost every pixar in theatres – most of those on opening day… Some of them several times.
6. I also adore board games. A night of Monopoly, Blokus, Scene It, Bohnanza and Reversi trump a night out at a bar any day.
7. Though I’m very much a dog person – I considered owning a cat for a brief period after I left school. I was working a hectic schedule, and didn’t feel I’d have time for proper dog care… but missed the companionship. The ‘no pets’ rule where I was living quashed that plan, anyway.
8. I built my first personal computer in 2001 using a bunch of parts I was given, and $5.40 for a power cable. It ran for 4 years as my desktop and is still in use today (Though, with new hard drives and a new case) as my home theatre PC.
9. Through high school, I was much of a “shutter bug”  and ALWAYS kept a camera around. I ended up with hundreds of pictures… mostly of floors, ceilings and fingers… And no longer carry a camera most of the time.
10. I did go to college for four months – then left with a smile on my face. After speaking with the professors and dean, I realized that I already knew much of was was going to be taught to me… And concluded that simply paying in time and money for a piece of paper was silly.
11. I’ve known my wife since we were both young. We met at the campground our parents had sites at and saw each other every summer until my family stopped camping there. Her parents are still there, and we make it back up the the campground every summer now.
12. I’m a regular blood donor and a volunteer with Canadian Blood Services. One of my best friends got me interested in donating blood just after my 17th birthday.
13. I recently committed to running the triathlon in August of next year, though will be falling back on a duathlon if I can’t nail the swimming bit.
14. I really like making people smile. It brings me nothing but pleasure to know – even if someone won’t admit it – that I’ve brightened up their day… or even just a part of it. I want to do this more often.
15. My music tastes very WILDLY. So much so that iTunes shuffle simply doesn’t work. Country and techno are among the top genres in the collection… But I’ve got everything from acapella to musicals to Disney (see #4) in it too.
16. I am an Olympics nut – but not for the sports… I love the spirit of the games. The thought of wars, battle and fights pausing for a few weeks so that every nationality can come together in peace to play appeals greatly to me. I actually have an Olympic flag I’ll ‘fly’ in some form during the games, and used to have the Olympic anthem as my cell ring tone.
17. Speaking of cell phones – I hate them. That’ll surprise some people, given how long I’ve owned one. I love being connected to people, places and the web all of the time… but hate that pretty much every phone I’ve owned is a pain to setup or use.And I ALWAYS forget to charge them.
18. I swam in the Atlantic ocean during my honeymoon and intend to swim in the Pacific someday. While on the subject of travel goals, I want to see all 14 of our capital cities. Ideally, from both the ground… and the air.
19. I once weighed 265 pounds, and worked off 65 of those with Dance Dance Revolution, a steady (Same thing daily) diet, and the help of a dietitian. I’ve bounced back up a little, but am working on it again.
20. That said, if you want to win me over with food? Chicken fingers, plum sauce, poutine and beer. Unless I’m staying sober that night… Then it’s root beer.
21. I have a strange thing about my hair. I like to use it… almost as an identity. It’s been various colours, lengths and styles through the years, and I change it up periodically… But only after an insane amount of thought has gone into it.
22. I really enjoy pet fish. I was given my first ones from a co-worker years ago, and have almost always had fish around ever since. As a result, while I enjoy the sport and people aspect of fishing, I would much rather throw every fish caught back than eat them.
23. I -LOVE- getting personal mail. Not email, actual go-through-the-system-and-arrive-at-the-door mail. Especially postcards.
24. Speaking of cards – a card is often the part of the gift that matters most to me. And, as such, I would much rather get JUST a well thought out, well selected card… Than a post-it note on a really cool gift.
25. I don’t like being the centre of attention, really, and though I take my birthday in good humour now – I used to absolutely HATE my birthday. I was surprised with a birthday party when my hatred for my birthday was just about to hit it’s tipping point, and have been more OK with it ever since. My web connections are making it easier, too.

That’s it! Do any of these apply to you?