Doing My Tag Duties

For the non-houseblog.net referrals to this site, I first have to explain that there's this community of house bloggers called houseblog.net with a collection of about 520 blogs pertaining to home remodeling. It's a great way to get ideas, share information, and most important feel OK for having a blog solely devoted to your house. Lately in this little e-community, there's been some tagging going around where you are requested to list five things that other house bloggers don't know about you. And guess what....I was tagged by Chris at The Emery Restoration. (Chris is a good writer and most importantly, has a fantastic sense of humor so check out his site).

The following is a list of five things you probably didn't know about me:

1. I play the irish fiddle. I started about 7 years ago, after becoming a little bored with guitar which I have played (and continue to play) since I was 13 years old. I got attracted to it through a tape of Tom Dahill-Live at Harling's Upstairs, where he sings these great old ballads and rebel/drinking songs. In between the songs are real driving sets of jigs and reels. I hated them at first (busy, too many notes, all sounds the same) and used to fast forward through them, but after awhile it really grows on you. Now, I play out at sessions in Portland sometimes up to 3 times a week.

2. When I was about 4 or 5 years old, I gave my mother a very expensive diamond ring. The problem was - I stole it. But the look on her face when I first presented it to her was so worth the prison time. Ok, I never did prison time but she did returned it to the jewelery store. It was just across the mall where we were eating at Le soup con - now closed down, but the world's greatest onion soup. I so miss it.

3. I moved out to Portland Oregon for the strong consistant wind and large swells that occur in the Columbia River Gorge. Although, I don't go nearly as often, I have logged many, many hours windsurfing on the river zipping back and forth, jumping (and falling) high into the air, and my favorite - riding the 6 foot swells like they're waves. Just writing about it is getting me all ansy.

4. When I was 7 or 8, I was determined to be an Olympic swimmer. I think I was supposed to be in 1988 summer Olympics. Somewhere along the line though, I discovered Marlboros.

5. For my future travel plans, I would like to visit each state before I die. There is so much diversity in the US with regards to both culture and scenery. I think it would be fun just to pick a random state, rent a car and just drive around for a week or more, checking out sites, meeting people, etc. However, if I keep going to Ireland at this rate, I may have to hit a couple of states per year.