Tag

I’ve always thought those memes that tend to circulate the blogosphere like chain letters did my elementary school were kind of silly, but when I read S.’s comparison of it to a game of tag and the Internet as one big playground, I figured what the hell. Apparently, I, too, have been tagged, and because tag requires the buy-in of all the kids on the playground—besides, I’ve never been one to let a good game die—here goes.

The Rules

• Link to the blog of the person who tagged you. [I’ve already linked the hell out of S., but for good measure, click here to go to his blog.]
• Post these rules on your blog. [Done.]
• List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself. [See below.]
• Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. [S. put a question mark after random, because, I’m sure he was thinking, “What the hell is a random person?” I’ll let the wording slide. But here’s my list of tagged people: Lane Collins, Shawn Gust, Ben Huff, Shannon Kuhns, Jennifer Loeber, Susana Raab, Amy Stein.]
• Let each person know that he has been tagged by posting a comment on his blog. [That’s where I’m drawing the line. I believe in an all-volunteer tag game; I’m not into drafting people who don’t want to be drafted. I’ll distribute the propaganda and try to get them to enlist, but that’s as far as I’ll go.]

My Answers

1. I almost hit Donald Sutherland in the parking lot of Sav-On Drugs on Santa Monica Boulevard.
2. I turned down a job offer to teach in my hometown because, when I used my illegal copy of the master key to the school district (long story) to get into the classroom where I would be teaching, the key broke off in the lock. The broken-off key has been on my keychain ever since.
3. My standard order at Neptune’s Net on the Pacific Coast Highway, known for its fresh seafood, is a grilled-cheese sandwich.
4. I sat in the same row as Senator Edward Kennedy at a performance of The Producers, and all I could think to say when I had to climb over him to get into my seat was, “Senator Kennedy, I’ve always admired you and your brothers.” How frickin’ unoriginal could I be? Plus, what about Eunice?
5. I believed in Santa Claus until the second grade.
6. On a Sunday afternoon, I was on my way out of Big 5 Sporting Goods on Wilshire Boulevard. When I was about 15 feet from the door, Jon Voight walked in. He was incredibly tall, wore a long coat, and was lit from behind by the bright sunlight outside. When I saw him, I gasped, stopped dead in my tracks, and said, under my breath, “Midnight cowboy.”
7. I once bought a Jeep Grand Wagoneer over the Internet.

Tag! You’re it!