#2

I used to be a rock climber.

I think at this point in my life I'm pretty secure in using the words "used to." I'm too fat and out of practice to ever go back to that life again. Maybe.

I've climbed Devil's Tower, in the Needles/Black Hills near Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota, in Yosemite, in Colorado, and in bunches of gorges and crags here in the east.

Some of my favorite memories are of sun warmed granite, bloody knuckles, trusted partners, and near-paralyzing fear.

While talking about those days sometimes make me feel like the middle-aged washed up high school football player re-living his glory days long past his prime, one thing remains for me: Even if I never make it back there, I've done those things. Nothing can take that away.

#3

I'm a perpetual student, but I like it that way. I go to school for a few years, then take a few years off. I would, perhaps prefer a few less "off" years. Academics keeps the mind exercised and sharp. If I don't keep myself challenged intellectually, I end up with a lazy, slow brain.

And then I stop blogging. And no one wants that.

#4

I detest laziness in others and in myself.

That said, I'm probably one of the laziest people I know.

#5

I quite like beer.

Funny, I was never a drinker in my early years. I honestly didn't even have my first beer until I was well into my 21st year of life. Heineken at Applebees in Trotwood.

Beer is good.

#6

"I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians." ~Charles de Gaulle

As I go through life, I've decided that one of my most solemn responsibilities is to make sure that my children and grandchildren enjoy the same liberties, rights, and opportunity that I have. I've determined for myself that providing a good education for my children is one way to accomplish this, and the other is to do everything I can to keep the country and my community moving in the direction I believe it should be going.

I threw myself into politics for the first time in 1996, and every election cycle since then I've found myself increasingly involved. I have no plans to be a candidate for anything; I've already seen my name on a ballot so there's no real novelty there anymore.

I prefer to continue to be the smoky-back-room and secret mission sort of guy, and I just look forward to the day when Keith and I can share that Georgetown apartment: Keith as Mike's driver and me as... umm, I don't know... "Minister of General Mayhem?"

#7

On November 1 1987 I got to meet Bono behind the Hoosier Dome before the Rattle & Hum concert. He's a short bloke. I've never written about this one before, so it'll be a bit longer than my other items:

Landon and I had gone to the concert, and decided to get there about 9 hours early, for no particular reason. As we walked around the outside of the massive Hoosier Dome, we found the garage entrance where the limos would undoubtedly arrive, and noted that there were people hanging around. We saw a few folks we knew, so we decided to hang out a while and see what was up. The crowd grew to probably fifty or so people, and eventually, the limos came whipping around the corner and into the garage. Girls screamed, people waved and yelled, then the garage door closed and more than half the people left.

With nothing else to do, we hung out back there a bit longer, talking to other U2 fans we had met. More people left, and it started to drizzle. Even more people left, talking about walking across the street to get some dinner before the show started. Broke-ass poor, Landon and I didn't have any money for dinner, so we decided to hang a bit longer. Just as the six or eight of us who were left were deciding it might be time to go find our seats and started walking away, a door cracked open and a crew member of some sort yelled for us to wait. I figured we were in trouble.

He called us over to the door and said, "You guys have been standing out here all day and Bono wants to come out and meet you." Turning very serious, he added, "Any yelling, any grabbing, anything stupid and we take him back inside and it's all over."

I remember looking at the girls that were in our little group and telling Landon, "If one of them screams, I'm going to punch her in the mouth..."

None of them did, and the next thing I knew, one of my biggest heroes walked through the door, right up to me, stuck his hand out, and said, "My name's Bono, what's your name?" Bono then stood around, signed autographs, and talked to us all for a good fifteen or twenty minutes. I didn't have anything on me for Bono to sign, so he drew a picture of the Edge on my Joshua Tree shirt, which he also made sure to laughingly point out wasn't officially licensed merchandise! (Ooops.)

Considering the wave he and the band were riding in 1987, I found him to be genuine, humble, soft spoken, and quite convivial. I'm not sure if I more enjoyed meeting Bono, or being punched by President Bush.

#8

I am equally happy alone, or in the company of my family or friends.

While I absolutely enjoy the time I spend with friends or family, I also very rarely find myself "lonely" when I'm alone. I have absolutely no problem sitting at a bar or a restaurant alone; although if I find myself alone, a friend who walks in is almost universally welcomed at my table or next to me at the bar, because my favorite memories always feature people I love.