Following Hannah's example...
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Traveled to Florida and China. Adopted a daughter. Became a dad. (this was a pretty cool year!)
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn't make any, and will likely not make any for '09. Having said that, my priority last year was to add Jenny to our family. My priority this year is to be a better dad (fortunately climbing learning curves is a passion of mine.)
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No.
a) happier or sadder? Happier, generally.
Oh, and if you've read this far...
...You're turn! Consider yourself tagged!
From Hannah, Brittney, and Yogi:
The Letter A
What is your age? Too damned old. I did not know there would be math.
What annoys you? People who think they are alone on this planet. You know, like the seagulls in Finding Nemo, it's all (for them), "mine!"
The Letter B
When is your birthday? May 30. Every year.
Who is your best friend? Kristen
Who's your crush? Kristen
When was the last time you cried? December 6
What's your favorite kind of dog? Someone else's- never been much of a dog person I guess.
What day of the week is it? Friday
Have you ever been in the emergency room? I should own stock in them as much as I've visited.
What's the easiest thing ever to do? Hard work.
Do you use fly swatters? No. Prevention is better.
Have you ever used a foghorn? Nope. Although my brother and I had airhorns as kids. Drove the neighbors batty!
Are you a giver or a taker? Giver. Some say that I can't even take a compliment well.
Do you like gummy candies? They're ok, but candy isn't my thing.
What color is your hair? Brown with red/auburn (and now gray) bits.
Have you ever ice skated? Loved it as a kid. Hockey is soooooo fun.
Do you play an instrument? I learned piano as a little one. Still play guitar. Have tried mandolin and violin- don't have any of them close to mastered.
Do you wear jewelry? I wear my wedding ring. Also wear a watch- does that count?
Do you want kids? Yep
Where did you go for kindergarten? Horace Mann elementary
Do you still watch Disney movies? Sure. See above.
Do you like mangos? Yep.
What is your real name? David (well, John David, but I go by David)
Whats your favorite number? π
Do you prefer night over day? I like both!
Are you an only child? /spits out coffee... I have three brothers and two sisters..all younger
What are your pet peeves? Extreme self-centeredness. This comes out as: loud, public cellphone conversations, rudeness, the public sharing of bodily fluids, not watching mirrors while driving, greediness, and so on.
What's a personality trait you look for in people? Three things: smarts (more quick wit than "book learning"), interest in things "not me," and a sense of humor.
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." Oscar Wilde
Are you quick to judge people? Naah.
Are you one to cry? Sometimes, I guess. But, I'm not a very "leaky" person generally.
Do you like snow? Yes.
What time did you wake up? about 6:30 AM
Underwear or boxers? Briefs. Today.
Where do you want to go on vacation? New Zeeland. Must walk the Milford Track.
Have you seen the x-games? no
Do you own a xylophone? No
What's one thing you yearn for? Time
Do you believe in the zodiac? Well, it is a thing, a way of organizing/describing the sky. Do I think that it tells us about our future? No.
Favorite zoo animal? Lemurs
You! You're it!!!!
If the lovely Mimim can persuade the ever-grumpy Warhead to do this, I should respect her wish as well.
Here goes.
(If you've read this far-guess what? You're tagged too. Get on it!)
1.
wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper. Never quite understood the "gift bag" thing. Unless folks are just being lazy. That I get.
2. real tree or artificial? Real tree. Well, a dead, formerly real tree, I suppose.
3. when do you put up the tree? Whenever I get to it, usually the second week of December.
4. when
do you take the tree down? Just after it becomes too much of a fire hazard to ignore.
5. do you like eggnog? I do now. I've had an on-again, off-again affair with the stuff. Warhead's description may put me off of it for another decade.
6.
favourite gift received as a child? Army "tanks" that ran around a circuit of small tubes. The tubes carried air to switches and other in-track thingies that allowed you to shoot projectiles from the tanks. Very cool. If they were sold today in the US, the manufacturers would probably go to jail.
7.
do you have a nativity scene? Nope.
8. hardest person to buy for? My wife.
9.
easiest person to buy for? None of the above.
10.
worst christmas gift ever received? Just one- you're kidding right? I suppose my least favorite were pairs of socks from distant family members. Actually, I tend to like what people get me.
11. mail or email christmas card? Mail.
12.
favourite christmas movie? I guess it's a toss-up between "It's a Wonderful Life" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
13.
when do you start
shopping for christmas? Too late.
14.
have you ever recycled a christmas present? Nope.
15.
favourite thing to eat at christmas? Beef Wellington.
16.
clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored/Coloured
17. favourite christmas song? Personent Hodie
18. travel at christmas or stay at home? Generally, I travel.
19. can you name santa's reindeer? Only Donna.
20.
do you have an angel on top or a star? Right now, nothing. Kristen is looking for a new topper.
21.
open the presents christmas eve or morning? Christmas morning.
22. most annoying thing about this time of year? Ugly materialism/shopping/traffic/my attitude.
Have you ever ridden in a hot air balloon or a helicopter? Where did you go?
I've never been in a helicopter, but have done the hot air balloon thing many, many times.
When I was doing my undergraduate degree, I was very good friends with a balloon-pilot. His family owned the (then) largest manufacturer of hot air balloons. Not only was he a pilot, but he was a flight instructor and dealer's representative.
We would fly passengers a couple of times a month, and I would fly about every quarter. If you haven't done it, I strongly recommend it. When you are "neutrally bouyant" (neither climbing or descending) you are essentially a part of the air mass you're traveling in. Everything is perfectly still and quiet. It's really something.
Hot-air ballooning is the only job I've been fired from (sacked for those of you that speak island english). We were to fly the Playboy (yes, that Playboy) balloon over the "topping off" ceremony for one of their casinos. To make a long story short, we had to abort the launch (from a barge at sea) when the barge captain got crossed-up trying to run with the wind and stay alfoat in the swells. We trashed the (very expensive) balloon and got canned right after the event. At least I got to meet Christie Hefner. :-)
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
Bugs Aero
2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
Chubby Hubby Tollhouse
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)
J Ran
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
Green Falcon
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
David Baltimore
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)
Ranjo
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)
The blue scotch
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)
Leslie Robert
9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy)
Vetiver mint
10. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names )
Van Meter Dallas
11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)
Tussing Tuskegee
12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)
Autumn Orchid
13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + "ie" or "y")
Banana Poloy
14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)
Life Sequoia
15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”)
The Kayak Storm Tour
I blame Brittney, Yogi, Shambly, and Whiskey Kitten.
And if you don't know who Broderick Crawford is (and I assume most of you are too young to have seen his TV show)... GET OFF OF MY LAWN!
What websites do you visit every day?
Submitted by Chez Michelle.
Every day?
News:
New York Times
Chicago Tribune
BBC
Google News (custom page)
News in the Great Lakes (clipping service thingy)
Business Week
Nussbaum on Design
Wired News
Work related:
World Changing
Tree Hugger
Information Aesthetics Weblog
Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance
Open the Future
X-plane
Google Analytics
Net Impact
LinkedIn
Yahoo/Google Finance
Hope the boss isn't reading:
Flickr
Rebecca's Pocket
Lifehacker
Engadget
Caterina.net
Vox
All-in, I spend about an hour each day on the above.
Who taught you how to cook?
Submitted by Donna.
I became interested in cooking about the time I got my first chemistry set--I was around the age of seven. I have always seen the two as pretty related. So, some of the credit/blame has to go to Morrison and Boyd, a host of authors writing for publishers like Wiley and Scott-Foresman, Little, and Brown, and many over worked and marginally qualified graduate students.
My mother helped me get my scout merit badge in cooking, so I guess she's on the list too. Kristen and I have taught each other a bit as well.
The real truth is that I'm mostly self taught. I love to cook and share meals. There's nothing like eating well with friends!
From yogi, who blames brittney bush...
If you read this, consider yourself tagged and go do it yourself. you know, if you want to. Don't blame me, blame Brit
You.
Can.
Only.
Answer.
With.
One.
Word.
1. Where is your cell phone? pocket.
2. Your partner? kristen.
3. Your hair? hopeless.
4. Your mother? smart.
5. Your father? wise.
6. Your favorite item? camera.
7. Your dream last night? tension.
8. Your favorite drink? wine.
9. Your dream car? fast.
10. The room you are in? living.
11. Your ex? non-existant.
12. Your fear? irrelevance.
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? smiling.
14. Who did you hang out with last night? wife.
15. What you're not? rich.
16. The last thing you did? lunch.
17. What are you wearing? jeans.
18. Your favorite book? pynchon.
19. The last thing you ate?: sub.
20. Your life? busy
21. Your mood? post-noncommittal.
22. Your friends? who?
23. What are you thinking about right now? finishing.
24. Your car? blue.
25. What are you doing at the moment? typing
26. Your summer? short.
27. Your relationship status? great!
28. What is on your tv? dust.
29. When is the last time you laughed? Morning.
30. Last time you cried? movie.
31. School? Chicago.
32. Last tragedy to happen to you? miscarriage.
33. What are you listening to right now? traffic.
34. Favorite weekend event? football.
35. Worst Pet Peeve? interweb.
36. Dream Job? fanatasy.
37. Your computer? Mac.
38. Outside your window? grey.
39. Beer? definitely.
40. Mexican Food? Sure.
41. Winter? cold.
42. Religion? pass.
43. Vacation? lovely.
44. On your bed? cat.
45. Love? best.
56. Fall? colors.
Normally, this is all ice and snow this time of year. Well--not this winter. I guess Yogi and Norby got all of our snow.
Testing how the flickr-based posting system works...
This little guy is hiding from the household cats. The kitties have managed to pull the tree over once already this season, so the birdy has reason to feel a bit nervous.

on Year in Review...