absent.canadian

Last April (yes, almost 7 months ago), Ginny From The Blog tagged me.  I’m somewhat belated in my response … but better late than never.  And with a nod of respect to the Plaid Toaster, I’ll do this as a bullet list.

So … as tagged, here are ten random things about me that you may not know (and may not need to know – but it’s still fun, right?)

• I have been on the Internet “proper” for over 15 years now.  And I used electronic bulletin-boards for almost a decade prior.  I’m not sure what’s worse – having been “online” for a quarter-century, or having spent virtually all of my conscious life with a computer as my primary mode of communication.
• I once tripped and fell and broke my clavicle.  It was during a high school dance.  I did my driving test with my arm in a sling, and passed on the first try.
• I have owned seven cars.  Six of them were roadworthy.  Five of them were Volkswagens.  I experienced flat tires in four of them. Three of them needed a lot of work when I bought them.  Two of them were bought new.  I rebuilt the engine in one of them.
• My family had one of the first Sony D-50 Discman CD players back in 1983.  I know this because one of our first CD’s was Tina Turner’s “1984″, and I thought it was so cool to play a song called “1984″ in 1983.  I still have that Discman, and that CD.
• The coolest tape I had to listen to during our high school ski trips was Billy Idol’s “Vital Idol”.  I would play it over and over when I was skiing, imaging myself on stage rocking out with Billy.
• I had my first car accident in 1995.  I had my second car accident in 1995.  I have not had a car accident since.
• My first cell phone was a Nokia 100 that I bought in 1995.  It’s still at my parents’ house in the basement – possibly in its original box.
• When I was visiting my parents two years ago, I visited my old dorm room at Trent University.  In 1993 I signed the back of the mirror in my wardrobe with a black magic marker.  That same mirror is still there with my signature (and many others) on it.
• There’s nothing that infuriates me more than gum chewing.  It makes me physically ill to listen to someone smack gum.  Cracking gum edges me dangerously close to violence.
• I have never used a drug, nor have I ever smoked.  Ever.

I had the pleasure of feasting with Ginny at Coopers BBQ today. Remarkably, she began our culinary excursion with a gift; a little postcard booklet from the “Sanctuary of Perpetual Adoration and Convent” in Quebec. I have since learned that this booklet dates back to the 1930’s, and I’m just tickled that she thought of me when she saw this at the flea market.

We debated many things, including the merits of Volkswagen automatic transmissions (Mike’s conclusion: they traditionally have weak bands and are poorly lubricated. Ginny’s conclusion: it gets me to the mall), peer pressure to get a newer car (Mike’s conclusion: women who drive older Volkswagens are automatically one degree cooler in my books, so back off), and whether or not to have an “about me” page on your blog (Ginny’s conclusion: do it!).

But the crowning jewel of today’s lunch was when Ginny was lamenting the idea of a car payment. In her own sweet way she admonished the idea; “I wouldn’t be able to go clothes shopping every week!”

On the way out, I uttered a silent prayer to the Volkswagen gods on her behalf.