I shared this photo of myself from the early 1970s with a couple girls at the office the other day and was tickled at their reaction. What can I say, I know how to work a pair of plaid shorts and an American flag cap.
One said I was full of surprises, so I figured I’d put that rumor to rest with a list of 25 boring things about yours truly. As you can see, I’m perfectly harmless.
1. My favorite tv show of all time is 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show'
When the ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ premiered in 1970, I was 8 years old & smitten with Mary Richards (and her friends Rhoda Morganstern & Phyllis Lindstrom from the very first episode).
I've seen each show so many times that I had no plans to purchase it when they began releasing the seasons to DVD, but of course I did and I’ve probably watched these discs more than any other in my collection.
(I really need to do a blog-tribute to these guys soon!)
2. I write with my right hand--but I doodle, toss, bowl, bat and whisk (heh) with my left. That’s a normal thing, right? Who knows, who cares!
3. I've lived in this apartment building since October 16, 1994. At the time I was seeing someone fairly seriously and told my landlady I’d probably only be here a year. Who knew?
My apartment building, where I live pretty comfortably--it's on a quiet street & only a block from civilization (bus stop, shopping and a dozen or so pizza parlors!)
4. The last (vinyl) record album I bought was in 1981--John Lennon & Yoko Ono's 'Double Fantasy'.
5. The Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes, Peoples Choice Awards—blecch Don’t these people get enough attention & accolades? Why aren’t glitzy awards presented to IT people like me? I worked some real magic this year & didn’t even get a pat on the head!
6. I subscribed to Playboy Magazine from 1982-2002. On my 20th anniversary with them, I cancelled the subscription--and tossed out my entire collection!
7. I have never seen 'Citizen Kane', 'Lawrence of Arabia', or 'Doctor Zhivago'. But I did just buy “Citizen Kane” on Amazon, so I’ll be nipping that one in the rosebud soon enough!
8. Every Thursday night, I have a ritual where I scrub my bathroom & kitchen from 7-8pm. For like the last 20 years, too.
9. I never really learned to swim. But I still prefer being in water over my head, if you think I just hang out in wading pools.
10. I've always worn glasses—but hate getting my picture taken while wearing them. (Go on, try to find a photo of me wearing glasses—go on… okay there is a couple out there!)
11. I didn't get my first car (or my driver's license) until I was 39 years old. I still don’t like driving unless I absolutely have to, this is why God gave us feet—and public transportation!
12. I have a shy bladder. But not a shy mouth, apparently 
13. I prefer sleeping on my couch versus my bed. In the winter, I often make up my couch with sheets & blankets and sleep there all week. My mom used to do this too.
14. I have never seen any of these popular shows: 'The Office', 'My Name is Earl', 'ER', 'Dancing with the Stars', 'Law & Order', 'The Amazing Race'...the list goes on & on.
15. My favorite classic monster is the Bride of Frankenstein. My God, what’s not to love!
16. Since the year 2000, I've seen my brothers Duke & Steve a total of 3 times. Here’s the 3 of us with Dad in the 1990s, the last time we were all in one photo together. (That’s me, Duke, Steve with his boys Stevie & Ed, & Dad.)
17. I've never owned, held or shot a gun.. And I’ll go to my grave thinking no one who isn’t a cop or soldier should, either.
18. I’m a cat lover. Growing up, our family had 2 cats, Gretchen & Mimi. I had 3 cats of my own--a striped cat named Popsi Cola, a Siamese named Ming, and my favorite cat Gumby, that my sister Shawn & I rescued as a newborn kitten. It's been 20 years since Gumby’s been gone & I still think about her.
19. My favorite author is Shirley Jackson but Stephen King is in a close tie for that honor! Shirley wrote such classics as "The Lottery", "The Birds Nest" & "The Haunting of Hill House". Get her collection of short stories, she is dark & stunning.
From ‘The Haunting of Hill House’: “No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone."
20. I drink iced tea--by the gallon. Seriously, I brew at least 3 gallons of the stuff per week. I was a soda-fanatic most of my life (did you see the name of my first cat? Popsi Cola?) until my thirties, when I discovered I could get my caffeine rush without the added 16 teaspoons of sugar per 12 oz. serving.
21. I’m a Trekkie. Yes I own every series & movie made on DVD, and maybe a few model ships here & there, and a hundred Trek books and 30 commemorative pins and a couple phasers & a communicator or two. But no costumes!
22. I like to draw, and write short stories.. I'm not saying I'm talented, but I still enjoy doing both just the same. (Explore my blog, you’ll find some!)
23. I am the only one of six kids that never married.. 
24. The celebrity I've had a lifelong crush on is...Sally Field! I know my sister Shawn will say "Doug, I thought it was Barbara Eden" but that was just a phase I went thru during Barbara’s “I Dream of Jeanie” years along with every other American male in their right mind!
Anyway--Sally was adorable in ‘Gidget’ & sweeter as the Flying Nun. In the early 70s when ESP was all the rage, she delivered the goods in ‘The Girl with Something Extra’. And just when I thought I couldn’t dig her any more, she slipped on a pair of 1960s eyeglasses and became the deliciously crazy ‘Sybil’. And that’s just her early tv stuff… Go Sally!
25. When I was 7 years old I wished I could fly like Superman.. I still do.
