Red Room Where the Writers Are

And you never sold girl scout cookies? For shame!

AH, but you might have done #89 because you've done #64.

I also think #67a. should read:

"Been dinged for more than $500 in overdraft fees in a single calendar year."

OK, let's play:

 

1. No-brainer

2. Yep, slept under the stars a few times when camping- but darned if I didn't invariably wake up with rheumy-red eyes and snot running from my (allergy-challenged) nose, and at least partially covered by huge festering mosquito bites.  I hated every "back to nature" minute of it, and will only do so again at the point of a gun.

3. Yep, dropped out of college after my first year and joined a professional band (e.g., people actually paid us money to play for them!) in 1967. Had a real blast for as long as it lasted (about a year), and look back on the whole experience with great fondness and not a little nostalgia.

5.  Watching my first (and only) meteor shower (while in the desert) was enthralling, and I shall never forget it.

8. Only those who are certifiably insane would yearn to climb a mountain. I respectfully suggest that you consult a qualified therapist to talk you down from the ledge (so to speak).

9. Yep, I once (reluctantly) held a praying mantis- but only because my wife did so first, and then shamed me into it.

11. [bungee jumped]  See #8.

12. Yep, visited Paris 19 (yes, nineteen) times- but since I was living in The Hague for many years and it was only 3 hr. 20 min. train ride-   that was to be expected. It's my favorite city on the planet (though, with some exceptions, most assuredly not my favorite people...).

13. Yep, and I'm ashamed to admit that I required a change of underwear as a direct result of that experience...

14. Yep, I taught myself to play guitar from scratch. I also taught myself the art of procrastination. In time, I became quite adept at both.

16. Oh yeah, I had food poisoning once, and will never, ever, ever forget it! You know the cliche': "it was so awful I wanted to die!"? Well, food poisoning is indeed considerably worse than death! Life lesson learned: never eat chilli from a dilapidated-looking, low-rent roadside diner...

18. Yep, I grew some turnips once for a school project. Yawn...

19. Like almost everyone else, I found the Mona Lisa to be something of a letdown (expectations were too high I suppose...).

20. Well, I have "not slept" on an overnight train. Not that I was unwilling to try, but because I was unable to relax surrounded by a chattering, jostling, scratching, belching, farting throng of fellow-passengers. Never again!!!

22. Yep, I hitch-hiked all up and down the East coast in 1969 (the much-vaunted "summer of love"); and ended my sojourn at the Woodstock festival. Good times. Really good times..; - )

23. Many a time. Fortunately for me, the work ethic in Holland is more attuned to people of my...laid-back...nature; and there is actually a policy there called "baal-dagen" (literally: "fed-up days"), wherein you're allowed to call in "sick" several times a year merely because you're "sick" of working. I kid you not!

26. Yep, been skinny-dipping [see #22 re "the summer of love"]. Good thing camera cell-phones weren't around back then, otherwise many (formerly overweight) people would now become hapless victims of extortion...

27. Nope, never made it to a marathon- I did jog 10k on the beach three times a week for many years; but that was always quite far enough for me, thank you!

28. Yep, but I was only nine at the time, and only remember the vague (actually, not so vague) odor of garbage (it was during the summer...).

29. Saw just one total eclipse many years ago. Yawn...

30. Watched countless sunsets of course, and a small number of sunrises (though only after "all-nighters"; so I won't try to B.S. you by pretending that I rose at the crack of dawn to be "at one" with nature...).

33. Yep, Niagra Falls was rather imposing, and it wasn't nearly as "commercialized" when I saw it back in the early 60's. Prepare to get WET, even though they provide you with raincoats on the "Maid of the Mist" ferry.

35. Yep, saw an Amish community (in Lancaster, Pa.), but I'm ashamed to admit that about all I remember (I was only 11 or 12 at the time) was scarfing down a delectible slice of their "shoo-fly" pie.  Yeah, call me a Philistine if you must- but I just loves my pie!

36. Yep, taught myself Dutch (see my blog: "Dutch Treat" for all the sordid details...).

37. This is a "trick" question, right?!

38. Yep. At least it didn't reek there like it did in Venice...

39. [ see #8 ]

40. Yep. It was really quite imposing- despite my tender age.

45. Yep, many a time.

46. Not yet... (ask not for whom the bell tolls...).

48. Yep, and wouldn't you just know it- we got caught right smack dab in the middle of a horrific squall (could possibly have been the inspiration for the film: "A Perfect Storm")! 

49. Yep, did the whole Italy thing all in that one memorable trip. But I remember being fascinated by Pompei most of all.

50. My stout-hearted wife has been all the way up to the top several times; but I invariably prefer to wait for her at the base-   just in case a fellow tourist who suffers from, say, a fear of heights, is in desperate need of a helping hand as to what restaurant to choose for lunch...

51. Yep, snorkeling at Eilat (Red sea). That was truly an unforgettable experience!

54. Yep, "drive-ins" were common back in the day. I remember seeing George Romero's "Night of the Living Dead" at a drive-in, and then needing a fresh change of underwear afterwards (I believe my date was kinda put-off by that shameful display of cowardice. She never returned my calls after that night, and even got a restraining order against me)...

57. Yep, started a record store in Holland back in the late 70's because I wanted to be my own boss. It ultimately became very successful, and I grew very bored with it after a while.

58. Yep, I took up tae kwon do (the Korean version of karate), and eventually (many lumps and bruises later) earned a brown belt. I was proud as punch (pun intended) at having achieved that distinction; but am every bit as proud of the fact that I have never, even once, struck anybody in anger in my entire life (despite a frequent desire to do so- especially when driving in heavy traffic).

65. [ see # 8 ]

71. Yep, I've eaten caviar- and I loathed it (it was the "good stuff" too- "Beluga")!  Much ado about nothing if you ask me- unless you happen to love the taste of wildly expensive greasy salt...

73. Yep, stood in Times square (a number of times), and even saw the (in)famous "Naked Cowboy" once. He has great abs, and quite a lucrative racket going for himself...

74. Yep, I was fascinated by the Everglades- and went back there several times in my life. Be sure to bring along a case of "Deet" (unless you happen to like mosquitos...).

75. Oh yeah! Nuff said...

78. Yep, been on the back of a speeding motorcycle. Not recommended for the faint of heart (bring a change of underwear- don't ask me why, just do it).

80. YAY!

81. Yep. (see other Italy-related numbers).

82. Yep, bought my first brand new car two years ago when I first laid eyes on the 2007 Mustang GT. It looked remarkably like the 1967 model that I'd learned to drive in- only much better (e.g., faster!). Up until that moment, I'd always been satisfied with driving really good second-hand (excuse me- "pre-owned"!) vehicles- mostly Bimmers; but when the Mustang and I laid eyes on each other it was love at first sight. Although I just turned 59 [see my blog: "Happy Belated Birthday to Me!"], I swear to you that I don't feel a day older than eighteen every time I get behind the wheel! And I have the "warning" tickets to prove it...; - )  P.S. My vanity license plate is:  "TYPE A". Nuff said?

83. Yep, and I could actually...feel...the weight of its history. If only there could be peace one day...

84. Yep. Well, sort of. I had a large house-boat custom built while living in Holland, and the day it was delivered from the wharf to our berth in the Hague, it seems that it failed to clear the lowest bridge by about one inch! A large crowd, and several police cars, had gathered to watch the "spectacle" (by which I mean me jumping up and down on the roof like a Lunatic on crack at the sheer stupidity of the person responsible for doing the calculations); and, after several hours had passed, a newspaper photographer dropped by to record the incident for posterity. They finally managed to...force...it under the bridge by partly crushing the roof (!), but the insurance ultimately paid for that. I still tend to develop a marked twich whenever I think back to that fateful day...

88. Yep, had chickenpox. It was a good excuse to let my mom spoil me rotten (I milked it for all it was worth).

91. I'm actually pretty good friends with a (somewhat) famous Hollywood actor/(Oscar-winning)producer/film director. We're both avid collectors of pre-1914 pioneer aviation ephemera- and our mutual love of that hobby quickly developed into a real frienship. I abhor "name-droppers" though, so that's about all I have to say about it.

93. Of course.

94. Yep, had a daughter (well, my wife actually played the starring role). And now a granddaughter. The granddaughter is much less stressful and lots more fun (sorry about that Nessa!).

99. Yep. Stung by a wasp too, and a yellow-jacket, and a hornet. I hate 'em all (except for bees- who don't sting just because they're Evil)...!

100. Yep, many a time (including my own book).

Well, now you folks probably know more about me than does my wife.

Of course, I shall vehemently deny any and all embarrassing confessions (especially those relating to soiled underwear). Wouldn't you...?!