25 Random Things About Me
Feb 4th, 2009 by craig
I’ve been tagged on Facebook for the 25 Random Things list. I’m complying, here it is:
1. I grew up in a small town in Southern Alberta, Canada.
2. In high school I played football and basketball. I played a lot of basketball: in addition to varsity high school I played on church and community teams. My senior year I was named a district all star and the most valuable player for our football team. In Canada we didn’t have much baseball, but in the summer I played an awfully lot of pretty serious softball. I wish I could have played hockey – just couldn’t skate well enough.
3. I got my first ticket, for running a stop sign, before I actually had my driver’s license.
4. I have crashed six cars, including one spectacular rollover – end over end twice and sideways twice – but haven’t suffered serious injury. I have also been rear-ended at least twice.
5. One of those six crashes was me rear ending a flat bed truck my dad was driving. I’ve also rear ended my dad while we were both driving tractors.
6. I played varsity badminton for BYU.
7. I’ve lost track (some time ago I lost track) of the number of times I’ve read The Lord of the Rings.
8. My favorite author is John Irving.
9. I play bass in a classic rock band. I play my acoustic guitar at home, and if you listen real hard, sometimes you can hear me sing (hearing me sing isn’t something I generally impose on others – you have make some effort to hear it).
10. I have five grandkids. And a sixth on the way.
11. I hate politics. Really. I hate politics. Sometimes I can be amused by Canadian politics, but I still hate politics.
12. I still enjoy listening to loud music, loud guitars, with loud bass lines and loud drums. There are probably others, but in the current music world I tend to like Coheed and Cambria.
13. My newest favorite musical act may be Flight of the Conchords.
14. Sometimes, to keep myself busy, I cross-stitch. I’ve been working on my current project for probably seven or eight years.
15. I have a small shop out behind the garage where I make wooden toys, mostly trucks and airplanes, but also sometimes checkerboards.
16. I have the best wife in the known universes.
17. I really like to cook. When dieting, not cooking is almost as hard as not eating.
18. I have a smoker made out of a terracotta garden pot.
19. My favorite holiday is probably Thanksgiving, followed by Halloween. My favorite ‘season’ would be Christmas. 
20. I have all but four of Rush’s studio albums (there are nineteen of them) on vinyl, I’ve hung them all on my wall. I also have most of their live albums and collections on vinyl.
21. I have a firm conviction that pie is nature’s perfect food.
22. I have four complete sets of the state quarters.
23. My favorite place to be is home. I really do like going places and seeing things, particularly with my family, but I’m always happy to come home.
24. I believe Netflix is one of the best ideas anyone has ever had, ranking right up there with sliced bread.
25. I’ve always thought my perfect age was 18, though lately (in my fifties) I’m feeling like my current age is pretty perfect.
The #6 fact is absolutely amazing!! LOL. I love A Prayer For Owen Meany. I lost my copy that I had read 3 times and had all marked up and highlighted…..really pissed me off.
Good list.
This is a really interesting list. Being your wife, I’ve known about all the things on this list, but had forgotten many of them, and liked hearing them again. Thanks for your patience on #11 (Craig tolerated my strong opinions and enthusiasm over Obama quite admirably, including putting up and Obama sign in my yard – though he did so with a pained look on his face). #16 was wonderful to hear, though I honestly don’t think I’d even be in the running for that title. I think the number of times you’ve read LOTR since we’ve been married, and who knows how many times before that, is at least 12. And Owen Meany about 7 or 8. Your cross stitch is gong to be really cool when it’s done (Craig does wizards and dragons and things – though he made me a beautiful rose he worked on for years, and only when he would go out of town). Interesting stuff about Craig.
I think you should let Dillon know that you rear ended your dad while you were both driving tractors, and while Grandpa was driving a flat bed truck, you would truly be his new idol!!!
How long did you attend BYU for, I had no idea about that?
I really thought that you were going to be 18 forever…. I am so proud that you have decided to grow up!
I really enjoyed reading your list of things. I also enjoy reading your blog. I wish I had gotten to know you better when you were in Las Vegas. Being at home when your favorite people are there with you is the best thing on earth.
Very thorough list, Craig. You and Kristin are quite possibly the most interesting people on the planet, and that is meant in a great way, and also seem to be meant for each other. How rare is a couple like that! And if we ever happen to be in the same car, I’m driving (although my track record isn’t much better than yours)….
Your list is fantastic. It’s fun to know interesting things about my dad. It’s also kind of cool to hear that my parents are interesting and amazing, especially since I already know that! 🙂 I, too, thought you’d be 18 forever. But I think it’s great that you think your age now is perfect. Wonderful 50’s…
Fortunately you haven’t had one of those bang-up car crashes for a long time! The roll over on your way to (or from?) vegas was frightening!
I love that you love to cook. I love to visit and have wonderful food just seem to magically appear…..
Yes, Michelle, it was pretty amazing: (warning: this picture is not for the faint of heart)
Craig at BYU
Heather
I’ll have to tell Dillon some stories sometime. I drove tractors alot in the summers at MY grandfathers farm. I was at BYU for a year after high school and before the mission, then for a very short time after the mission. I was always getting into trouble with the standards office – hard as it may be to believe my hair was always too long for their tastes.
Chris
Aww… geeee… thanks. I agree, we’re unigue and am real glad we seem to fit so well together. And it’s been a long, long time since I crashed a car, probably 15 years or more. Kris says it’s because she’s a good influence on me – I agree.
Allison
It was from Vegas – stayed up too late partying and fell asleep the next morning on the way home.
Not that I haven’t seen it before, but it is SCARY how much Michael looks like you! I would love to see some baby pictures sided by side! ( Nice short’s, but I do not think Michael would be caught dead in those… but I think I would really be confused if Michael put that exact outfit on! )