25 Random Things About Me

(As of 2/15/09)

1. I was struck by lighting, twice. Interestingly, both times I was with fraternity brothers. Could God be trying to tell me something?

2. When I was in 4th grade, I made everyone call me “Paul,” after my hero, Paul Warfield (a wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins).

3. I eat about 20 pounds of German gummi bears a year.

4. Twenty seven years later, I still have not completely gotten over my high school girlfriend. She has no idea (we have not talked in 24 years).

5. Grace Kelly in Hitchcock’s “To Catch a Thief” is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She actually takes my breath away.

6. My daughter and I got braces together this year. Yes, I look 14. The good news is that I am going to look sooooo hot in September when they come off.

7. I LOVE Broadway Musicals and I am not gay.

8. I have been going to the same cigar shop (1 to 2 times per week) in Lexington for the last 10 years. Martin’s Cigar Shop has about 30 “regulars” that sit around on discarded living-room furniture, smoke cigars, watch UK sports, drink bourbon, and gossip. They have become my best friends.

9. I dream of moving to Key West and never wearing anything but shorts and flip-flops again.

10. I miss my Sigma Pi brothers from Brandywine (1982-1984) more than they will ever know.

11. My feminist academic friends would disown me if they ever found out that I was interviewed by Playboy Magazine about my book, and loved it! Sadly, I was not invited to the mansion.

12. I love making lists.

13. My BB Gun was the best toy my mom and dad ever got me. I recently got my kids their own Red Ryder BB Gun (no, they won’t shoot their eyes out). 14. My son (James 9) and I love eating corned beef and watching all 12 hours of “Lord of the Rings” together. We have done it over 10 times, so far.

15. My daughter (Abigail 12) and I have watched every episode of “So You Think You Can Dance” together. We even went to the touring show where, according to Abby, “Dad yelled like a little girl.”

16. The single accomplishment that gave me the greatest sense of pride and achievement was building a play fort for my kids from scratch.

17. I get Tastykakes (a cupcake made in Philadelphia) delivered to my home in Lexington by the case and freeze them. To me, it is the taste of South Jersey.

18. I only started liking Bruce Springsteen after I left South Jersey (circa 1982).

19. My favorite smell in the world is Coppertone Suncare lotion.

20. The recent death of my 81-year-old friend, Bill Keightley, has saddened me more than I expected. I think of him every day.

21. I am more insecure about more things than many of you might suspect.

22. I have owned 4 Yellow Labradors in my adult life. They are the perfect dog/friend.

23. I still love listening to Michael Jackson’s “Off the Wall” album.

24. I collect pocket knives and Zippo lighters.

25. I have 29,000 songs on my iTunes.

27. Math was my weakest subject in school (get it, because I was only to give you 25. I crack myself up!).

28. Speling wes my secind weekest subjecked.