Five Things About Me...

As tagged by the Reverend Mr. Punk, here are 5 things you probably didn't know about me (and probably didn't care to know):

1 - I have the (relatively) rare trait of green eyes. Both my parents, my sister and all four of my grandparents had blue eyes. Conventional wisdom says this is impossible but it is true (though very rare). Recent research has proven that human eye color does not follow the commonly accepted genetic rules. I have a link to prove this somewhere but it's late and my green eyes are tired so you'll have to trust me on this...

2 - As an adult, my weight has fluctuated by almost 100 pounds (175-280). Fortunately, at the present, I am closer to the lower end of that spectrum. But it's a constant battle.

3 - I am a frustrated luthier. I have designed and constructed numerous stringed instruments such as dulcimers, a bass and a violin. I've also restored or repaired several instruments. My passion was to be a guitar maker, though, and I built several electric models. My main acoustic guitar is also hand built and was probably my best work. I eventually came to the realization that passion does not necessarily equal ability and I looked to other areas as creative outlets...

4 - Like LP, I once thought it would be a good idea to become a vegetarian. Unfortunately, I love to cook and to eat meat. What was I thinking? I lasted just over a year. Though I lost a lot of weight, I ultimately came to the conclusion that if God had wanted us to be vegetarians, She would not have made all Her other beings so dang tasty!

5 - I am totally fascinated with projectiles. Not in a scientific way - but simply by making inanimate objects fly through the air. Footballs, arrows, bolts, pumpkins, bullets, spitballs, pencils, diet Coke and Mentos - you name it - if it can be hurled, shot, catapulted, blowed up or thrown impressively, count me in day or night!

5 1/2 - The above once resulted in a serious injury and a subsequent surgery many years later. Here's some friendly advice: if you ever try to shoot home-made arrows out of a wrist-rocket style slingshot, please make certain that the arrow is long enough to remain seated in the throat of the slingshot at full draw so as not to shoot yourself full through the back of the hand, thus pinning your young hand to the handle of said slingshot. AND in the following visit to the emergency room, make ABSOLUTELY sure that the novice medical attendant removes every last sliver of errant wood from your hand or you might be visiting the hand surgeon to have the encapsulated scar tissue removed some 20 years later! Seriously.

I hereby tag Supergirl, Carolanne, and Dizzy.