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25 Random Things About Me

25 Random Things About Me

Tag and shout why I blogRecently, I was tagged on Face­book by a few friends on this new topic, “25 ran­dom things about me.” The rules on Face­book are dif­fer­ent. I’ve changed the rules slightly for the blogosphere…

Here are the rules.

Once you’ve been tagged, you are sup­posed to write a post with 25 ran­dom things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose five more peo­ple to be tagged. You also have to tag the per­son who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you. To do this, you sim­ply link to their blogs so that they know you responded to their tag.

(You may include the above rules in your post so that the per­son being tagged knows them, too. You may also want to tweet your post to notify them on Twit­ter, too.)

Let’s start with things you may already know…

1. I’m a drum­mer in a band. I have been play­ing drums since I was 11 years old (that’s 30 years now). You can find out more about it here.

2. I was born with flat feet. Yup, in fact, they’re so flat that, when I go swim­ming and walk around the pool, my feet make sounds as if they were “suc­tion cups.”

3. My father was an alco­holic and, for over a decade now, has been insti­tu­tion­al­ized with an alcoholism-​​related men­tal ill­ness called “Korsakov’s Disease.”

4. I can sing a mean karaoke and play piano, too… But just by ear. I’m cer­tainly no Chopin! And the songs I love to play and sing? Croon­ers. Yup, Sina­tra, Ben­nett, Mar­tin, Right­eous Broth­ers, Buble, etc.

5. While work­ing with a hair trans­plant sur­geon in 1997, I lived in New York City, in down­town Man­hat­tan. My apart­ment was about two blocks from Carnegie Hall.

6. While in New York, my friend owned the restau­rant next door, which appeared in the movie “That’s The Ticket,” with Andy Gar­cia, Andy McDow­ell and Chris Lem­mon (son of Jack Lem­mon). (I was there when they filmed it!) My friend was also a sys­tems ana­lyst for a stock bro­ker at the World Trade Cen­ter, on one of the upper floors. He called in sick on Sep­tem­ber 11th, 2001.

7. When I was around 18 years old, I used to have long, blond hair as a drum­mer in a heavy metal band (and we’re talk­ing 80s metal, like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, you name it). Here’s an old pic­ture of me when my hair was just start­ing to get long.

8. I absolutely despise turnip and get nau­seous at the mere sight of the thing.

9. The most sen­sual, sexy, and attrac­tive part of a woman’s body? Her brain. Hav­ing an intel­lec­tual con­ver­sa­tion really turns me on. (Now you know why I mar­ried my Soul Mate, Sylvie Fortin. She’s a genius!)

10. I was into act­ing when I was young. I played in many school plays, and even won awards. My favorite one is the one in which I played Jesus Christ.

11. I’m a his­tory buff, through and through. I love learn­ing the his­tory of cul­tures, lan­guages, reli­gions, and civ­i­liza­tions. Anthro­pol­ogy is one of my favorite sub­jects. I just love learn­ing where we come from and how we became who we are.

12. I have a pho­to­graphic memory.

13. I can say, “Hi, how are you? I’m good” in eight dif­fer­ent languages.

14. I love Italian-​​American artists, whether singers or actors, like Frank Sina­tra, Dino Mar­tino (Dean Mar­tin), Anthony Benedetto (Tony Ben­nett), Robert Deniro, Al Pacino, James Gan­dolfini, Nico­las Cop­pola (Nicholas Cage, who is related to Fran­cis Ford, by the way), Jon Buon­giovi (Jon Bon Jovi), etc.

15. I am a stock­ings man. Yes, I love a woman in stock­ings. When Sylvie puts them on before a night out, I need to ignore her or else we’d never end up going to where we were sup­posed to go. ;)

16. When I was in ele­men­tary school, I had a huge crush on a girl. She loved the atten­tion, but her best friend at the time took oppo­si­tion to this, and kicked me in the tes­ti­cles dur­ing recess once. (Talk about a “crush,” LOL!)

17. I used to love climb­ing trees. I once fell from a tree at about 20 feet high when I was just seven years old, which is why today I have degen­er­a­tive disc dis­ease and a stress-​​fractured spine (i.e., spondilol­y­sis) as a result. I now walk with a cane most of the time.

18. My favorite meal of all time is spaghetti. I love pasta in all its forms, but spaghetti tops the list.

19. I am a hope­less roman­tic. I love fire­places, wine, can­dles, and espe­cially roses. (I love get­ting roses!) It’s my favorite flower. I have a pur­ple rose tat­too on my right fore­arm that I’ve had since I was 19 years old.

20. My favorite drink, besides Star­bucks Cof­fee (espe­cially Suma­tra) is Jamieson’s Irish Whiskey. Either on the rocks or with Pepsi. ;)

21. When I was a kid (about 12 years old), I used to play a role play­ing game on the “pre-​​Internet” (a local BBS) called “Scepter of Goth,” which was much like Dun­geons and Drag­ons. I had a 64K Radio Shack com­puter with a 300-​​baud modem. I was a high-​​level Bar­bar­ian Chieftain.

22. My nick­name, which I had all my life, is Spike. At my last two high-​​school reunions, most peo­ple called me “Spike” and some didn’t even remem­ber my real name.

23. Since falling from that tree when I was young, I have a deathly fear of heights. I don’t mind fly­ing, but I hate air tur­bu­lence with a passion.

24. I wore glasses from a very young age until I was 35 years old, when I had lasik eye surgery. Now I wear read­ing glasses. (I know, I know… I’m get­ting old!)

25. Finally, I have a secret crush on Lea Thomp­son and Molly Ring­wald. Yes, I’m a prod­uct of the 80s, LOL! A close third is Juliann Moore. (I guess it’s some­thing to do with red­heads, huh?)

So as my five cho­sen souls to tag are Ryan Healy, Jack Humphrey, Brian Clark, Clay­ton Make­peace, and John Carl­ton.

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This post was written on Friday, January 30th, 2009. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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  • What a fantastic idea and way of sharing those little tidbits with your readers. I think I'll do one about me for my blog as well.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Aaron
  • Michel,

    This was a really fun post - thanks for sharing :)

    Loved the pic of you with your "heavy metal" hair.

    All the best.

    Stu
  • Heh heh...good stuff Michel. So next time I see you entertaining a group at the piano in some after-hours bar during an event, I have every right to yell, "Play some MAIDEEEEENNNNN!" ;)
  • Melanie
    You win my most favorite guru email of 09 award. Just fun. No pushing for the sale. Thanks.
  • @Aaron Dwyer - my pleasure, Aaron.

    @Stu McLaren - You're welcome. You should do this, too, on your blog. Very cool and fun exercise.

    @Jay White - Now that's funny! I can almost picture you holding out your hands and making the two-finger "devil's sign" with your index and pinky up! ;)
  • @Melanie - Wow. Thank you. ;)
  • Lan
    Hi Michel - that was such a nice post and... GREAT SCOTT! was that really you in that pic? Reminded me of a Muppets character (his name escapes me at the moment). LOL.

    All the best,
    Lan
  • "Wow"Michael that was very interesting. Mostly all I ever did was just hard work. As in construction work. After serving in the Marine corp I went into business and never got a job anywhere. I would be a boring thing if I did and article like that. The most You realy need to know is that at a very early age I learned to believe in the father and he has walked through the sands of time with me and held my enemies at bay. Latetly I am consentrating on the power of attraction and helping others. I hope to be able to bring to the table years of expierence and much of the new programs.
    Everyone please follow me on twitter Retweet my kind words and love and humor. If some one smiles and says I love you, smile and say I love you back.

    Twitter.com/tireponyman
  • Great information.

    My wife wasn't happy with my answer on facebook. When she tagged me my response was:

    "1. I don't like to follow rules :)"

    I will have to go back and actually follow the rules this time. I can see how others might benefit from it.
  • I was tagged with this a few days agao and posted mine on my facebook page.Just added it to my blog at http://holleedazeink.blogspot.com. Thanks for sharing yours! Very interesting.
    We also have the same back problem - mine from a car accident. Does not seem to be holding either of us back though! No pun intended.
  • TheBadBlogger
    Oh, I din know you were a drummer, hmmm... most top players in marketing sure are musician... like you, Frank Kern and John carlton ... may be one day you all should join hands and create a band to play music, I bet there will be many fans out there...
  • Michel,

    Excellent post mate. We share #9 #15 and #19 (minus the rose - can't stand them. I prefer tulips). I love intellectual and powerful women but not the ones who use such as a "weapon" - THAT really turns me off coz I detest bullies in all forms, male or female.

    This is SO cool! I am DEFINITELY gonna run a thread like this in the near future as I have this BIG hurdle to get over regarding my "true" identity and this would be a perfect non-threatening way to do it.

    ATM, I have a hot thread running on Internet Marketing and it is going wild. Some posts are huge and so full of detail. I can't even keep up with my replies so I am just reserving spots at various intervals and coming back to them later to fill them in.

    But this idea really enthuses me. It is perfect for what I have in mind and I can't wait for the IM thread to dry up (yeah... really!) to get to this. Thanks so much for the email alerting me to this idea and I hope you don't mind if I "pinch" it. I will give you credit for it in the opening comments.

    Thanks dude - and it was rather enlightening to read a lot of that stuff about you above. The 1980's pic was, um... interesting. LOL!

    Gary Simpson

    PS: I am a big Noddy Holder and Slade fan. I ran a music thread last week and it was a LOT of fun. Maybe I could "pay you back" with that idea.
  • Hey Spike,

    great idea, so I got inspired and did my own 25! :-)

    I must admit, I was surprised about a few things on your list that I didn't know about. The music/drummer bit in particular. I watched your drumming vid - it was great!

    You can read mine thru the link on my name that WP hyperlinks in the comments. :)

    All the best


    Eran
  • Michael, very cool. I totally agree on #9, and Dina and I continue to have a great relationship 25 years after marriage and almost 30 after becoming a couple. We hike together most days, and talk.

    Here's how to say hello, how are you? in Tibetan: Tashi delek. I knew a few hellos. But I collect thank-yous (about 25 languages so far).

    I was tagged to do a similar exercise recently (just 16): It's only posted on Facebook: http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/...

    Shel Horowitz
    Author, speaker, and good-time guy :-)
  • Hi Michel,
    Great post. It's refreshing to see such an honest and personally revealing blog post (and it's very well written as well...).
    Thanks for sharing.
    Kenny
  • @Random Stuff About Me : EranMalloch.com - You were 11 like 30 years ago ---- My gosh! I'm EVEN older than you! That's pathetic, because you're ALWAYS talking about being old.

    Ya know it's never bothered me - my age. But this year, the idea of being 50 is really cool. It's like a WOW! thing and I can't get over the fact that I'm feeling GOOD about it.

    Jan
  • Michel,

    I did it and it was a LOT of fun. God knows what people are gonna think of me now. I think I have just destroyated my credibility for all time - LOL!

    Gary Simpson
  • @Shel Horowitz--Ethical Marketing Expert - That's very cool, Shel! And thanks for sharing the Tibetan greeting. That's another one added to my list. ;)
  • @Jan Verhoeff - Sorry Jan, but do I know you??? I think u got me mixed up with someone else? If not, please refresh my memory :)

    Eran
  • @Eran Malloch | AdWords Consultant - She's responding to my post, but clicked "reply" in your comment in order to comment.
  • Michel,

    What an interesting and fun post.

    Okay, I had a secret crush on Molly Ringwald too! ha ha

    But as a teen, it was Brooke Shields all the way.

    I think I'll do my 25 now!

    You're an inspiration!

    David
  • Maxjohan
    Tasty post Michel. You really have a photographic memory.

    Are you in mensa?
  • Hi Michel

    This is my first visit to your blog and I can see that I have been missing out on some great information. I obviously need to spend a while having a good look around.

    I was prompted to come here because Gary Simpson tagged me to complete my list of 25 things, which I have just completed. Not always easy to decide what to put in and what to leave out. Did I get it about right? Let me know please!

    Anyway it's done now so thanks are due to you (in a roundabout way).

    For what it's worth I agree with you about #9 and vice versa!

    Hilary
  • Hi Mike,

    I have responded to the tag - you will find it on facebook. I'm also posting a similar response on TTP next week. I tag 1) Bill Bonner, 2) Michael Masterson & 3) Tom Phillips.
    Cheers,
    Clayton
  • Looks like my tagging John Carlton finally forced him to post his 25, at:

    http://www.john-carlton.com/2009/02/06/too-much...

    Very cool, indeed!
  • Hah. I love how these things hit the blogosphere.
  • I wonder how a photographic memory might helps with internet marketing! Very interesting reading the background details of successful online marketers. Helps to connect.
  • Really interesting thanks Michael, interesting to see your personality traits and hear about your flat feet!
  • Michel,

    Great stuff. So many of my friends, and my wife have done this and me, not yet... but you're inspiring me, as are others. Okay... thinking.

    I have to laugh... there are a few things that catch my attention, one I'm envious that you still have some musical talent. Me, played guitar in my teens and quit for athletics and still have an amazing musical ear but no skills... soon.

    Also, Sumatra from the Sbux... have to enjoy some together some time. When I'm at Sbux my drink is the Americano but anywhere else, it's only Sumatra! That's the best, richest...and no one makes one that comes close to theirs.

    ~ Shawn Phillips
    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
    author: Strength for Life
    Creator : Full Strength, Nourishing Success
  • things about me? LOL Michel you make me laugh man.

    People hate when others talk about themselves but I guess the amount of the comments and replies this post has received people must really be interested in you.

    I'm only joking by the way, don't take my sarcasm literally.

    :)
  • Hi Michel,
    A few months ago you gave me some names of copywriters to use in my new book. Now the book is done and selling on my website. You said you don't write newspaper ads anymore, but I'd love to have you "review" the book, and consider selling it on your site--that is if you like it.

    Looking forward to hearing from you and sending along the book.

    Warm regards,

    David Fowler
    Cardiff by the Sea, CA
    760-822-2133
  • This a great idea of sharing your interest, like unlike etc...
    I enjoy reading it.. We are the same... My singing capability is for karaoke and for bathroom only... =p
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