Wednesday, February 25, 2009

On the subject of Same Person, Different Life

'Cause we belong together now, yeah
Forever united here somehow, yeah
You got a piece of me
And honestly,
My life (my life) would suck (would suck) without you
- Kelly Clarkson

The new song from Kelly Clarkson really has hit a cord.

It has been a whirlwind journey since returning from South Carolina and the rediscovery of my life. Many would say, Johnny, you are just being overdramatic, but alas, no. There is a new spirit in life right now. I find myself more in love with my wonderful wife than ever. I have a new bond with my kids as part of a bigger family, one with a heritage and story to tell - and continue to tell. I remain the same person, with a different life.

And in the midst of all this, suddenly, people who meant a lot in my life in older days seem to be finding their ways, in even a small way, back into my life. It might be something as simple as a Facebook message, or just a quick note to say hello.

Some of us would rather forget the past - I embrace it. There are a lot of choices I made that I might have changed, a right turn when I should have gone left... giving up on something I should have maybe held onto. And in the past couple of weeks, like rediscovering the past, I have seen the new version of people I knew dozens of years ago and realize that life goes on for all of us.

Getting surreal for a moment, do you ever feel like you are the only person conscious and the rest of the world is a play made just for you? Silly, isn't it? Think about it, people live their lives all around you, but you only have your own perspective.

Now back to the notes. I have caught up with someone I really liked, but she didn't feel the same about me back then. Kind of a case of older person's puppy love. She had been hurt in the relationship she had previous to meeting me, and did not feel that she could trust another man at that time. She is now married with kids and a great career. While her looks haven't changed, her life has become hundreds of times better... and that makes it all the more intriguing to me. Same person... different life.

I caught up with a high school friend who I always thought of as kind of a rival. She was always cool to me, but in the end, someone who I would think of fondly. She was on my bus, so we knew each other pretty well. Now, one of her kids goes to the same school we went to (which is now a merged version of an all boy's and an all girl's school.) Same person... different life.

Then there is my friend I met back when I worked for a cable network. We had not spoken since I had my nasty divorce from the cable channel. It was a huge legal mess, and all the higher ups at the net did not think very highly of me. My friend was a good friend of the head of the network, so I thought the relationship was poisoned.

A Facebook note and friend request made me realize that was not the case. He even started the note with "I don't know if you remember me." The fact is I always remembered what a nice guy he was and was sad that our friendship had not continued. It turns out that his life had taken an interesting set of turns. We hope to reconnect soon to play the game of golf we scheduled years ago, and catch up. So I prepare to rekindle the friendship with the Same Person, with now a different life.

No example of this is better than another of my new Facebook friends, who was a friend of mine when I was a teenager. I knew her under her real name and as a private school educated fine lady of the South. Now, I have recently seen her on Facebook with a totally new name, and living a life as a free spirit in Las Vegas... far away from the Charleston I met her in. Same person... different life.

I guess you could say that every day brings us all a different life, but to see such radical changes in the people I knew one way, and then to be reintroduced to their new life, it's an amazing journey.

So take the time to think about someone you really cared for that you may have lost touch with, one that you just want to say hello to or someone you genuinely miss. Don't be afraid to reach out and say hello. You may be amazed at the results.

Wishing you a happy different life every day of yours! My life would indeed... um... not be the same without you!

Yours truly,
Johnny Blogger

Friday, February 20, 2009

On the subject of an Incredible Journey

The journal of the South Carolina trip continues... later in the week. The days after arriving were so whirlwind, there was no time to blog.. however... where it picks up will give you a great place for me to pick up the story.

Good morning from my parent’s breakfast table. It’s 8:28 on Thursday and what an incredible experience this has been.

You might remember in my getting here entry that I was not sure of how this trip would affect me, and I could not have been more wrong.

Let me begin by saying that this journey is one of the top 5 experiences of my entire life. I don’t use those words lightly – it has been nothing short of life changing. Pretty deep, huh?

I had known what kind of family from which I came, but I had lost touch with the history and heritage that made us Bloggers, er Hortons who we were and who we have come to be. This house, this beautiful house, is now a mess, thanks to yours truly and the army of people whose sole job it is to figure out everything in it and where it is supposed to go. My Mom and Dad would think it was just typical of me to make that mess, but somehow I think they are smiling right now… knowing that finally, a mess that I am making will make a positive difference.

Each discovery, every find, there is a new story, a renewed sense of family. A thing I can call mine, an item that was about to be forgotten, but now, passed on. Everything that needs to be accounted for – all 40 pages of items to be divided amongst three children and a special friend, is being found piece by piece. Some will be sold, as there is no room in our smaller houses to hold what this huge place once did. Some will be left as there is such a thing as too much information, but in its discovery, heartwarming stories have been recalled and new ones written.

Take for example one box of papers I found yesterday. In it, childhood photos of my father from 1920’a – report cards from his elementary school where he received straight D’s. However, back then, D was the top grade. My Dad was a smart cookie.

Also, a growth chart tag from the Department of Health, which would now be the kind of thing the pediatrician gives to a parent to show percentiles and weight and such. This one came with some tips for healthy child living. Some of these included:
Take a full bath at least once a week. Drink as much milk as you want, but avoid coffee and tea. Eat some fruit and vegetables. HAVE A BOWEL MOVEMENT EVERY MORNING. Now that’s not something you see on today’s health tips – good advice though!

Later in the day, I would find my own childhood doctor’s chart. The complete look at my life was not contained in a folder with multiple coloured stickers. No, it was just one piece of folded paper with things like “heart and lungs fine” through a chronological journey through my childhood.

In the attic were other boxes of random things, including my childhood books and pictures… lots of football and baseball books. One envelope included every ticket stub from every sporting event I went to with my Grandfather.

Poppa was an incredible man, who spoiled me rotten. He came from a background of politics and banking and was actually in Harry Truman’s cabinet (if you are a Truman fan, this house would have been your Valhalla.) While Poppa had treated me beautifully in life, my memories of him after his passing have never been as sweet. He died as a very mean person, especially to my Mom. I never forgave him for that, but the stance softened over the years.

It was not until I unpacked another photo box that I had a new and full understanding for him. He was the kind of person who sent pictures to me and to my Dad, and sometimes even Mom (his daughter) with the inscription, “with great affection and warm wishes, John W. Snyder.” My Grandfather could not say, “I love you,” especially if it was something that was going to be around for posterity.

My son, who is one of the most loving people I have ever seen, has taken an affection for this great grandfather, excited in the discovery of Poppa’s Secret Service badge (he wasn’t an agent, his department ran the Secret Service!) and field glasses and presentation pointers, all things that fascinated me when I was his age.

Thursday night was spent with my longest known friend, Mary Stuart. We wanted to play on the beach with the kids… and play the kids did, with dips into the frigid ocean. We took pictures, shed tears and realized that this is where we wanted to be.

Gale rejoined us at the house and we all went to a big dinner. Afterwards, we stepped outside, and we all said our goodbyes to “Mess.” Gale, knowing the importance, asked the kids to “give them a minute.” I walked over to the Land Rover she loved so much and preceded to collapse into her arms with the tears of hurt, joy, sorrow, pain and happiness. I know I will see my friend again someday, it just seemed like there was some kind of finality with that embrace… and it scared me.

Friday afternoon… high above the eastern seaboard on a plane that can best be described as a cigar. Panic attack as I got on the plane… but I was able to step outside before takeoff to calm myself. Still racy though.

On to a more positive thing… the final moments of our trip.

For the past couple of days I discovered love letters from my Dad to my Mom. They were written over a number of years, mostly for special occasions… a new house, Valentine’s Day, Christmas. Each was beautifully crafted with just the perfect words… discussions of a journey taken together.

As the very last thing ever done by the Horton family in that house, I decided to have a impromptu ceremony. I brought out my wife, daughter and son to the very spot where my wife and I were married almost 15 years ago. We took a couple of pictures. I asked my daughter to stand next to her mom, with my son standing at my side. I then put my honey’s hand into mine, and renewed my vows to her, promising to love her for the rest of my life and to make this family one of love and strength. We all cried. Then, my love said the words that touched me the most. “You are just like your Dad,” she said. My heart was filled with enormous joy.

The rest of the family left the house while I stood one last time in the house. I looked around the great room, now littered with the pictures and effects of a lifetime, all sorted into different categories with tags of a neon color. Instead of the disarray, I gazed upon a room that was haunted with the memory of my parents… a room I would never step into again. I fell to my knees, and kissed the ground and said “I will always miss you,” a comment made towards both my parents and the house itself.

I stepped outside where I was met by my wife. I stood on the bottom step, not wanting to move, knowing that one step forward would be the one step away from the place I must always leave behind.

Driving from the property, the Pussycat Dolls song “I hate this part right here,” was on the car radio. Definition of appropriate.

Our last stop in our stay in the South Carolina Lowcountry was Angel Oak, the oldest tree west of the Mississippi. This massive live oak with branches so large it looks like a labyrinth of trees entangled into each other. It was something that had been there in that spot for more than 1500 years… a symbol of endurance. I saw it as a sign of the enduring love I have for my parents and the continuing love I have for my wonderful wife and incredible kids.

I did not want to take this trip, and now I cannot imagine what life would have been like if I did not. I am blessed with a wife who cared enough to make me do it.

This journey was one of the most beautiful experiences in my nearly 46 years, a gateway to a new life. I shall see the world through new vision from this day forward, with the appreciation of the life that given to me, the life lived in formation of character, and the new life as patriarch, father, and just plain old grown up me. My Dad referred to himself in those aforementioned love letters as “the Grey Head.” I am not quite there yet, but as I make that transition, I will cherish the opportunity rather than dread it… thanks to my father’s final lesson, nearly three years after he left this earth. Thanks, Dad. I love you.

On the subject of Air Travel

Hello readers… the following entry is a journal kept on my companion called Mac for my trip back to my parent’s soon to be former home… a place of memories for me, even though I did not formally live there, but still consider it one of the houses I lived in. This trip is to say goodbye to their memory, their belongings, and a place I will always remember as the spot where I began my life as a grown-up and a married man. So, if you enjoy a spirit walk, please feel free to take this one with me. I won’t promise it will all be fun, but I hope you can see little things with which you can identify. Let’s begin.

Saturday
Greetings from 37-thousand feet where it is 11 pm… United Airlines on my way to Charleston, SC by way of Washington, DC. Nothing short of the word bittersweet can describe this unexpected trip across the skies. A trip to my parent’s final resting place with an ever so short connection in the city of my birth.

First a little ranting. Leaving Seattle was almost a message to tell me – get the hell out of here. On our way to the airport… no less than four lanes of the main interstate – I-5, were shut down thanks to construction for “our convenience.” Once we muddled thought that, we reached Southcenter where we looked for a place to eat. Once we were able to traverse the maze that is the Cascade Garage, we were met with a 75-minute wait for dinner. That wasn’t gonna happen. (Um, what happened to people not wanting to spend money in this economy, but I digress.)

My family is not made up of the veteran knowledge in traveling that I have. For four years, the airplane was my second home. Well, it only took a trip through security to make me realize how much things have changed since I got off the road four years ago. A 30 dollar tube of skin cream was confiscated by the TSA. It caused a holdup of about 15 minutes. Once through security, we headed to the main restaurant in the airport – Anthonys. It was 8 PM. We were informed that they were only serving the late night menu, and no kids menu? Wha? 8 PM – late night?

So we went across the food court, and got the kids some pasta at the Pallino. What was pictured as a hearty plate of spaghetti was in actuality a meager plastic bowl. 20 bucks later for two crappy bowls of pasta… we went back to Anthony’s for grownup food. It was okay. Giving a positive credit where it is due… the waitress was awesomely nice, even filling our water bottles for the trip with ice water. Well done, her.

So to the gate we go, and there, we get on the plane… and the seats that I spent an extra 200 bucks for. Now you have to understand that to get a guaranteed seat on Untied (sic) Airlines, you have to buy “Economy Plus” which goes for an extra 49 per seat. My extra money bought a seat right next to a baby. My wife’s 49 dollars went straight towards a seat with a broken entertainment system and a short guy who slammed his reclining seat right into my wife’s knees without even an acknowledgement. Way to go, dude!

You have to realize that this trip began as my wife and myself taking a week to fly to empty my parent’s house, which sold after nearly three years following my father’s passing. When we made the decision, we had enough reward points from our bank to get two tickets. Heck, if we needed to, we could get four. When we were not able to find any folks to look after the kids, we then needed to include the kids in the travel plans. We had enough points… so no big deal. That would be the case if the fare did not double in the one day that we waited to buy the tickets. So now a free trip for two was a thousand dollar investment… and that was before the 200 dollars for the guaranteed seats one way and the 60 bucks to check one bag each – a policy started to offset “fuel prices.” Well sounds like they like getting the money.

We’re on the plane and after a few curt words from the flight attendants… we are having our first drink service. The only good thing at this point is my favorite comedic actress, Kristen Wiig is playing the surprise lady on the in flight entertainment
11:22 pm.
The movie is starting now. Never heard of it… so we’ll take a timeout. Baby is getting a bottle now… so there’s some hope for quiet. I should be dead tired… but I am wide awake.

11:31pm.
Movie stinks, so I am listening to XM on United Airlines. Billy Joel followed by Steely Dan.

You, dear readers, have already heard about my parent’s house in a previous blog, so I won’t go through the details again. My desire to go back was absent until some encouraging words from my wife. Sadly, the simple trip with the two of us became a production of gigantic proportions when we could not get anyone to watch the kids. I was looking for a time to say goodbye, and give her the same opportunity. Now it’s a chance for the whole family to do it, and after working through some very angry feelings that I was pushed into the trip, I am optimistic that this will indeed be the positive life experience that I was kind of sold on by my honey. We shall see.

3:45 AM
No… it’s not much later… just changed my clock to Eastern time. Funny thing about that. When I did I was working on a project in Final Draft, a screenwriting software.

I am starting in on a new writing project – a short play about the dynamics of a Tuesday Night Bowling League and when a team gets together for the first time. I was five pages into the new script when my time change kicked off the activation of my program, and so my writing has ceased… hopefully to be unlocked and picked up later.

The kids are handling the trip well. My daughter and wife are watching the movie, which stars Alfre Woodard, Kathy Bates and the woman who plays Dr. Charlotte King on Private Practice. She’s not wearing any leather in this movie, so I almost didn’t recognize her. – (Note: She’s still no Kate Walsh!)

In the headphones, it’s Watercolors on XM… which is a recording as it repeats about every two hours. I remember a flight on TWA when I was 15 to Spain and France where the tape lasted about 1 and a quarter hours. I memorized every song on that one which included David Gates (of Bread fame) singing Never Let Her Go and Santa Esmeralda’s only hit “I’m just a sould whose intentions are good, oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood.

3:53… Hey… there’s the first yawn. This plane is as hot as my office or my control room. Must be nearly 80 in here. Thank you Untied Maintenance Department. Signing off for a bit. Need to stretch.

5:16 AM. I have anxiety meds that I take for serious anxiety, like when I am on an airplane… thanks to clostrophobia. It was on one of these same red eye flights from Seattle to Charleston that I had my first bout with the fear. I was stuck in the window seat of one of those small planes, and felt locked into the chair. When we sat on the tarmac for more than an hour and a half, I freaked, and ever since, I have suffered from that fear.

Well, one of the side effects of the meds it is supposed to make you sleepy. Well, I’m sleepy alright, but I am also Dopey, Sneezy, Droopy and Doc. I can doze if I lean on the armrest of the seat, but if I lean back in my seat… no luck. I guess sleeping on this flight is not in the cards. Well, at least I have you all to keep me company.

My wife is playing Bubblebuster on her phone. She is addicted to that game like I am addicted to Facebook. It’s her go to diversion. I don’t get the attraction to it.

On the plane, 30 Rock was just followed by that CBS show with Haley Cuoco. Never watch that one, but she sure is a cutey. As for Tina Fey, there is a certain charm to her, but like my dear Kristen, me thinks the crush is truly comical.

Well I think I am on my third rotation of the same songs on XM… yep. Chuck has just come on the plane TV. I loved this show when it first came on but lost interest when 24 and Heroes became about all I could handle on Monday nights.

Speaking of Monday Nights, three of the stars of Monday Night Raw, The Miz, John Morrison and Chaz Gaspar of Crime Tyme were walking through the airport as we were ready to board. My son was thrilled and wished that John Cena was heading through. No such luck.

5:40 AM
Time in the air over 5 hours… and we are descending. My son is looking outside hoping to catch a glimpse of the Nation’s Capital. I am hoping to catch a glimpse of the inside of my eyelids. No such luck. Happily, I must say that other than the regular aches of being a big guy on a plane, and the cabin air much too hot until literally 5 minutes ago, this has been an uneventful flight. The baby hasn’t made a sound. Wow.

Bottom line… my butt is tired.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

On the subject of Dreams and Memories of a Palace

"So leave the memories alone,
I don't want to see,
The way it is, as to how it used to be,
Leave the memories alone, don't change a thing,
And I'll hold you here in my memory"

After three years, my father's house sold yesterday, and with it, the dreams of everything he worked for.

That house was his pride and joy. On the waterfront, bigger than life, a place to truly call home.

I never got to live there for an extended period of time... only a vacation, a holiday or two, but it was my home as well. They had built a separate apartment above the garage that was originally designed to be my room... instead it turned pink and became the guest room. And that's OK.

On a ocean fed creek, "UpDaCreek" was a palace of its time, without being ostentatious. Driving up to it, it just had a feeling of welcomeness unlike any other. From the porch that swung all around the house to the understated landscaping to those hanging plants that twisted in the summer winds, the house seemed to say "come on in and sit a spell."

All on one level, my folk's place had the great room of all great rooms. 30 feet by 30 feet with one wall totally windows to see the creek outside and the ocean beyond. Outside the french doors was a screened in porch with a series of rocking chairs. The porch started on one end of the house and sprawled all the way to the other end.

It was this porch I will remember the most. On an autumn day in 1994, after a week of driving rains and floods, the most beautiful day appeared. Most people in the south that Saturday were probably watching College Football. I was standing in the midst of many of my friends, and family, on a porch turned wedding chapel. In front of my parent's room, where the hanging swing usually was, my love and I exchanged vows and promised ourselves to each other for the rest of time.

The rest of time now will not include that place we stood. I somehow knew that as each and every time I went to visit my parents, or my Dad after Mom had passed, the last thing I would do is go stand on the very spot and remember, and dream, and swear I would be back there again.

The last time I stood there was June, three years ago, when I left my Dad's house after laying him to rest in the creek behind the house, just where we had spread my Mother's ashes five years prior. They will forever be a part of that landscape, their dust a part of the earth they loved so much.

My Dad told me on his death bed that at least he could die knowing that the house could help pave the way towards making life better for all of us. He had no idea of what the economy would do to those dreams.

My wife and I are talking about going back to help empty the house, a task already underway thanks to the executors of the estate who want to have the closing as soon as possible. I have mixed feelings. Do I want to go back? Can I go back, or will the memories be too much?

One of my favorite tribute songs, best used for of all things Pro Wrestler Ric Flair, is "Leave the Memories Alone." It's kind of how I feel right now. The sadness is overwhelming.

But it is in this sadness that I reach out. There are friends of mine that hurt much more today. From the loves they thought they had that turned out to be lies. From the jobs they sweated on to only be told that sweat was in vain. From the kids they love that need to heal from tragic accidents. They need my steady mind, my unwavering hand, my hug to let them know someone is there for them.

So maybe the dreams of my Dad's house did not die yesterday. Instead they live in the spirit described above. Dreams are not defined in dollars, they are instead built on love... so they do live.

Thank you, Dad.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

On the subject of Questionnaires

When I was on the dating scene, I used to believe that my dates were sometimes more like interviews... with me being Larry King (without the suspenders and age - but rather back when he was cool.)

Anyway, the latest thing in the world of cyberspace and Facebook is these viral 25 random things where you write 25 random things and tag 25 other people to do the same thing. Some people think of them as a pain, while others, like me, embrace the challenge. I posted my 25 in the last blog.

The other day, my friend Brent posted a new one with 48 questions, but went out of his way to say he was not tagging anyone... so that it would be something that, if found interesting, the person reading would not be guilted into following suit.

The strange part of this happened at dinner on Friday night. My family and a couple of family friends went out to dinner and decided that a half hour wait at Red Robin was not going to be fun (there were three hungry kids involved here.) So instead we went to a local pizza place and arrived for their half hour wait. Resigned to the fact we had to eat somewhere, we waited... and waited... and waited. 75 minutes later, we were finally seated. (To their credit, the establishment made up for it with a boat load of free appetizers.)

Expecting it to be a night of silent disgruntled conversation (the wait had made everyone edgy.) It turned into one of the most fun nights my family has had out in a long time. My daughter, who usually does not even like talking to me, had brought a book called "More Coke or Pepsi." It is, in essence, the same kind of question book as my friend had filled out. This one is made for tweens (probably girls) to share facts about themselves. We laughed and were having lots of fun doing the questionnaires.

So maybe these viral things are a way to feel attached. Maybe, people should not be offended when being tagged for such "nonsense." Maybe, it is a friend wanting to engage through cyberspace with you... and isn't communication the foundation of any friendship - in person or in cyberspace...

With that in mind... here are my answers to the 48 Questions. Enjoy, and have fun with comments. If you'd rather see it in Facebook, it's over there as well.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
I was lucky to be names after my father AND mother… how many of you can say that? Jon is from John, my dad. Dru (my middle name) is from my mom, who was Drucie.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
When wasn’t? Actually, I think it was watching the Grey’s Anatomy with the kid who needed the transplant from the serial killer.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
I don’t ever write in cursive. I print all caps and most everything I do write is on a computer.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Ham (Appropriate, don’t you think?)

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Two. A 9 year old son (I will call him Mini-Me,) and an 11 year old daughter.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I think I would want to be more of an athletic type, maybe even one who loves the power tie scene, but I am not sure I could take the egos of the friends that go along with that.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Rarely, and that’s not sarcastic.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yep, and they cost me dearly when I had Mono in 1992. I just got a job at CNN and had to spend my first two weeks at my new job at home.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
No.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Rice Krispies, with a craving for Capt’n Crunch

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Nope.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Haggen Daas Lemon Sorbet or Vanilla

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
If they seem to be a kind person or someone I will have to protect others from.

15. RED OR PINK?
Red (My high school color)

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
The fact that I could have been an athlete, but did not have the tenacity to apply myself.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My Mom and Dad.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST?
I think it is a wonderful exercise in looking into yourself, and sharing nice things with others.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Actually, I’m in my bathrobe and slippers at the breakfast table on a Sunday morning after a late night out… however, this question has a typical answer which is black (pants) and blue (shoes). YES Blue shoes!

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The tapping of a keyboard and my son watching MythBusters. Most of the time, I listen to Capital Radio in London on my computer or iPhone or BBC Radio 1 on XM.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE
Blue

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Summertime rain at my childhood home.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My wife.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Yes I do. One of my new favorite people to be around.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
College football and good soccer.

27. HAIR COLOR?
Brown, going gray

28. EYE COLOR?
Brown

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No, but I have an awesome new pair of red glasses that I love to wear.

30. FAVORITE FOOD
Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding, Brilliant!

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy Endings – can’t stand any movie with gore in it, and I am not talking the global warming movie.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Ironman on DVD, Paul Blart, Mall Cop in the theatres

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Again, bathrobe… but because of work… most of the time it’s purple.

34. Summer or winter?
Summer

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Anyone that knows me knows that I am a big time hugger.

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
My friend Mary Stuart.

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
The people who “think” they are my friends.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Coffee with Groucho by Frank Ferrante

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
I have a Wacom tablet.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Last thing I watched on TV was Friday Night Smackdown… yes – wrestling.

42. FAVORITE SOUND(S).
My daughter and son happy.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Rolling Stones from my high school days. Start me up!

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Maui to the west, Whistler to the north. Munich, Germany to the east, and Miami, Florida to the south.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Being friends to people who can’t stand each other.

46 WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Washington, DC.

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
People who actually enjoy doing this, and don’t think of it as another viral thing.

48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER?
Blind date. Only blind on my part though. She had already seen me on TV.

I hope you enjoyed it.... be well everyone!

Yours truly,
Johnny Blogger