a meme, from someone else's brain, to mine, to who knows who

Ok. I was tagged to post a meme. I feel like Sally Fields at the Oscars, "You like me. You really like me!"
Here are the rules:
Post eight (8) random facts about yourself.
Tag other people to follow suit.

1. when i was young (hopefully very young), i would pee the bed sometimes. during this time i watched the facts of life, and in one episode arnold (the little kid) was having a discussion with his white dad about wet dreams. so i went to my mom, happily, and said "mom, maybe that's it. i'm having wet dreams." (without laughing or doing anything to make me feel dumb) she said, "no. i don't think that's it." it wasn't until later in life that i understood what wet dreams are. so it turns out that all i was doing was peeing the bed.

2. when i was in 6-8th grades, i used to steal change out of my moms purse in order to buy ice cream at school. i tried to take only a nickel or dime at a time, or a quarter if she had a lot, thinking this would keep her from finding out. who knows if she knew or not.

3. when i was young, i used to spend the summers with my dad. at this time he lived in santa maria (by pismo beach). and one time, my dad, his best friend, AND ME, went to pirates cove, a nude beach in that area. they kept their shorts on...and so did i. but i remember them playing frisbee with topless girls and naked (fully), wrinkled old people walking hand-in-hand down the beach. ah, memories.

4. the first girl i ever made out with was at a christian summer camp (i'd maybe been a christian for a few months) the summer between freshman and sophomore year (so i was about 14.5). for the longest time I could remember her name. but not now. but i do have fond memories of that week.

5. my grandpa on my moms side gave me my first pocket knife. it was so cool. i felt like a man...at six or seven years old. my second pocket knife was from my dad (step-dad), in my stocking at christmas. it wasn't a locking blade. so when i held it blade down and tried stabbing something (i don't remember what), it closed on my hand, cutting my pinkie almost to the bone. aside from feeling nauseous, i was scared that i was going to be in big trouble (or have my knife that i'd owned for about an hour taken away from me). (once again thinking i was sly), i played it off as being cut by something under a lay-z-boy chair my dad and i moved later that morning.

6. the first dog i had was a rottweiler named brandi. i had her for many years. she was a great dog; and i miss her. i hope that the next dog i own is close to being as good as she was. if i had a drink in my hand right now, i'd pour a little out in honor of her memory.

7. i used to be pretty fast. from elementary school up to 7th grade i was the fastest kid in my class. and from then thru high school, i was still reasonably fast. football, baseball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, catch, frisbee, tennis and more. i loved to do it all. and i did it all. now i watch it, or watch others do it. or hope someone throws the frisbee or ball right to me so i don't have to move for it. luckily i never thought i was going to be a world-class athelete.

8. i really enjoy martial arts (kung-fu) on tv or movies. i used to love to watch saturday afternoon kung-fu. my mom used to tell me to go outside and play. but if i had a choice, i would stay in and watch kung-fu.

I tag...anyone who is left. I think the six people that read my blog have either already memed or have been tagged to do so. But, if there is someone I am unaware of, direct me to your blog through the comment section of this post, and do this meme yourself.

That's right

I watched Waterworld last night. Not 'cuz I had too, but because I chose to. How do you like those apples?

To Do List

I haven't talked to my dad and step-mom since before Fathers Day. I've meant to...but haven't. He works nights, and that is part of the problem. The other part is that I haven't made a good enough effort to call at a good time. I do feel bad, but I don't give in to guilt too easily (which would shame me into doing things sooner). Maybe today will be the day.

What 'chu talk'n 'bout, Cricket

Sometime this morning, as I was walking from an office in the back up to my office, I came across a cricket on the ground. It was laying on its back flailing its legs about. So I kick it gently to move it into the 'flower bed' (which is full of bark, small plants and trees that have grown almost as tall as it will be possible for them to grow inside.), which allowed it to turn over and go on its way. As soon as I had shown him this mercy the thought came to me that this could well be the same cricket that was making all the noise a few weeks ago. Well, I figured that the chirping would soon begin...but it didn't. So I say "Thank you Cricket. Thank you for not making me wish that I had killed you."

House Parties

I had a fun time this last weekend at a house party in Fresno. Others that I am friends with had fun too.

uhhh, excuse me

Last night I'm sitting on my sofa watching the San Francisco Giants play baseball, hoping that Barry Bonds will hit a home run when there is a knock on my door. My first thought is "little kids selling candy". It wasn't little kids selling candy. I answer my door and there are two girls outside, both in their mid-20's. One was mildly attractive and the other was not. We stare at each othe for a few seconds. Then the first girl reaches out her hand to shake mine and says that her name is Melina (or something like that) and this is her sister (don't know if she said her name). So I shake her hand and say hi, and then we stare at each other for a few seconds. Melina says, "I'm here to collect (or we're here to collect, don't remember)". And I think to myself "But I don't get the Fresno Bee". It was not for the Fresno Bee. Melina says, "It's $150 for an hour and $75 for a half." (I still don't know if she was to take the money and leave and the other girl would stay...or if they both stayed. My mind was swirling at the time.) So I shake my head and say something like "not me". Melina says "this is the right place" and the other girl says "maybe I should call him again (or call him back)". So I say my street number and apartment number and "I didn't call anybody". Melina looks a little confused/perturbed and they start to walk into the courtyard while the other girl gets out her phone. I then lock my door, close my blinds that look into the courtyard, and sit down on the sofa to resume watching the game. Barry Bonds hits a homerun an inning or two later. That's right, Barry Bonds hit a homerun last night.

Travel Plans

A lot of my friends have been traveling lately. One to the East Coast for part of the summer. One to Florida with his girlfriend for a week or so. One to parts of Europe for most of the summer. And some just went to Las Vegas for a fun weekend with friends. And I've stayed put for all of it. I like to travel. I'd like to go to many of these places. So why don't I (I ask myself)? The easy answer is money. Either I don't have enough to go on some of these trips. Or if I went on some of these trips it would mean missing work - and thus missing money. But there has to be more to it than just money because for years (10, 12, 15 or so) there has always been some reason why I couldn't/didn't go on trips. But to find an answer(s) means that I would have to go looking for an answer(s). And I don't want to do that. Why? Because I'm not a big fan of looking into my past, or into my mind/heart/soul. Maybe I just don't know how. It is much easier to push things away or gloss over them and move on to something different. I've thought of going to therapy before; to see if someone could help me help myself. But I've thought of doing MANY, MANY things. And they usually don't get past that stage. How do I take the next step? What is the next step? I'll have to work on that and then re-evaluate this topic. But I'm the type of guy who is open to suggestions or help. So feel free. Just remember that my ego is fragile, so be thoughtful about what you suggest.