Lost Hero and a Survey.

I wanted to write about this the other day, but I couldn’t.

As you all know Paul Newman passed away the other day. When Heston died I wrote and entry about how I grew up with these guys as my role models and how I was sad that he was gone. Well Paul Newman was a little more than just that. The first movie I can remember watching with my dad was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It was my dad’s all time favorite film and Paul was his favorite actor. As my dad’s condition got worse we watched a lot of television together, because that’s really all we could do, and we watched Butch and Sundance every chance we got. I bought him the VHS tape from my step-dad’s video store when I was twelve and we watched it almost every time we were together, even when he was in hospice. A lot of me is based on how I saw Paul Newman growing up. He tried his hardest to help his fellow man and raised more than $250,000,000 to help needy children. That’s a man right there. He is one of those folks that you can honestly say made the world a better place.

If you haven’t seen Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, check it out. It is so much more than a western.

And now a survey stolen from Beatrix K.

1. Do you believe in fate?

To some degree. I believe we each have a certain potential and that is our fate. It is up to us to strive for that.

2. At what age do you think a person becomes an adult? Why then??

The second that they make the decision to accept the responsibility for their actions.

3. If you had an unlimited budget, how would you change the place that you live?

I am going to assume that you mean my home or neighborhood. My home: I would like to have nice furniture and such. My neighborhood: I would like to see a community center here. There are a lot of kids that live around here and because of the varied incomes around here a lot of the parents can afford to support their kids, but we still have a lot of latch key kids. I’d like a place for them to feel like they can go and have a good time in a safe environment.

4. If you could visit one place in the world, where would it be?

Hmm, I don’t know. There are a few places I’d like to see. I love Hollywood, but I’d like to see Paris, Ireland, Australia and Prague to name a few.

5. If you had a spare hour every day, how would you spend it?

Well I would like to say that I would do something constructive but I would probably spend it watching television since I never get to watch my shows since the kids monopolize the tv most of the time.

6. What was the most gratifying experience you have ever had?

Wow, I don’t know. Honestly I would probably have to say that every day when I hug my kids goodnight I feel like I have done something special. I feel like I am doing a good job raising them even though it is tough at times.

7. If you had to give one piece of wisdom to the rest of the world, what would it be?

It’s okay to be guided by man but never lead by him. Always do what you think is right.

8. What was your first job? What did you learn from it?

You mean where I actually got paid? Dusting shelves and straightening cover boxes at my step-dad’s video store when I was eight. I made fifty cents a week but I got to take home a stack of movies when I was done or watch as many as I wanted in the back office. I almost always spent my fifty cents on a package of candy and a soda to have with my movies (they cost about $1.15 but they gave me a deal since I was family).

9. What do you hope to accomplish in the coming year?

I would like to see my finances balance better and get my feelings in check.

10. If you could choose one fantasy story to live inside of, which would you choose?

Wow, neat question. I always wanted to be one of the knights of the round table. So maybe King Arthur.

11. If you could live in a different time period, what period would you pick?

I always thought I would make a great gunslinger or knight. So either the late 1800’s or medieval times.

12. What part of your daily routine would you like to eliminate?

Cleaning. I hate cleaning.

13. Had you ever had a supernatural or paranormal experience?

If I say yes will you think I’m crazy? I have a lot of stories, but I’m don’t think this is the time or the place for them.

14. What qualities make another person attractive to you?

Laughter. Being able to grasp the funny things in life is sexy.

15. Can money buy happiness?

No, but it can relieve some of the stresses of the day to day life that hinder happiness.

16. If your mother had to describe you to a stranger, what would she say?

This is a tough question for me. I don’t know how my mom sees me. I’m curious to know how she would describe me. I don’t think she talks about me at all when I am not around though.

17. Have you ever had a recurring dream?

Yeah, but I’d rather not talk about it.

18. What is your favorite subject in school?

Well I haven’t been in school in a decade but I really liked writing.

19. If you could choose to be a pop culture megastar or an unknown super-genius, which would you pick?

Well seeing as I am an unknown super-genius…….. I kid, I kid.

20. Do you believe that everybody has a soulmate?

Yes I do. Do I think that they have to be someone that you link to romantically, no. I have two so far, my best friend, Eric, and Lang, who I love and connected with deeply.

21. How has keeping an online diary changed you?

I don’t know that it has. I mean it is fun and it is a good outlet, but I don’t really share too much here. I feel like you people really don’t know me.

22. What’s your favorite way to spend time with a favorite person?

Can I pick three? Thanks.

Lang: really anything with her is fun. we can drive around aimlessly for hours and still come out of it with sore cheeks from laughing so hard.

Eric: Again, anything.

My kids: I love spending time with them, even if it is just hanging out watching movies.

23. What is your earliest memory?

You may not believe this but I remember when I was three years old. I was left behind by my parents when they went to the flea market. I was left standing in the road in my diaper. A nice lady came and gave me a popsicle (it was orange) and I sat eating it with her on my front porch until my parents realized what happened and came back. That lady was Eric’s mom.

24. If you could build your dream house, what would it be like?

Don’t get me started on this one..

25. What are your entertainment habits?

Movies, movies, movies. I love music, tv and video games too, but movies are my passion.

26. What’s the best book you’ve ever read, and how did it change you?

Maniac Megee by Jerry Spinalli (I think I spelled his name wrong). I read it in the fifth grade and then again every month for about three years. It was the first tie I ever felt like maybe someone knew how I felt. It gave me the courage to be who I knew I was.

27. What do you like to do on a rainy day?

Curl up and watch movies with a pretty lady and have hot chocolate with marshmallows.

28. Is there a voice of reason in your life? Is it you or somebody else?

Eric and Misty are the obvious answers, but my daughter Brittany is one too. She is so smart and has not seen the c

orruption of the world yet, so she offers amazing insight.

29. What qualities make a person beautiful?

Their ability to accept others for who they are and understand that each of us is the star of our own story.

30. You are given $100,000 to spend on yourself – how do you spend it?

Just myself? Well i would pay off my bills and buy a car, a motorcycle and put some down on a house. That would be nice.

31. If you could pick one skill to master, what would it be?

Something related to making movies.

32. Who is your favorite relative?

Living? My uncle Troy. Dead, my dad.

33. Do you think you are finished growing up? If not, when do you think it will happen?

I feel like I am as grown up as I ever want to be. I never want to stop building forts and having pillow fights.

34. If you pick one celebrity to look like, who would it be?

This is going to sound cliche, but Brad Pitt. If you look at him his face has personality and isn’t just that pretty boy thing. He looks kinda funny if you look at him too long.

35. What makes you comfortable?

Knowing that the people I care about are safe and happy.

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36. If you could remove one trait from yourself, what would it be?

My eating disorder.

37. What was the worst book you ever read?

I don’t know. If it was that bad I stopped reading it.

38. What is something you’ve learned that you wish you hadn’t?

Well I figuratively took the red pill a few years ago. I wish I hadn’t.

39. If you had to pick the three happiest moments of your life (thus far), what would they be? 1. My kids being born (though one of their births was tragic).

2. The 3 Doors Down concert with Misty.

3. My first football game in high school. I proved a lot of people wrong that day.

40. If your life was a TV program, which one would it be?

Hehe, Dexter maybe.

41. Have you every been in love with somebody who could not return your feelings?

Well she could have, but she didn’t. If she had our marriage would have worked.

42. If there was a reality show of your life, what kind of people would watch it?

I think people would actually be really entertained by my life. I know I sometimes wish people got some of this stuff on tape.

43. Do you consider yourself a spiritual person?

Yes, very.

44. Do you think your life is controlled more by yourself or by others?

I make my own destiny, good or bad.

45. Have you ever had to take the blame for something that wasn’t your fault?

Yeah, I was a middle child, that was how it always went down.

46. Have you ever been helped by a stranger?

Yes, and I have always tried to “Pay It Forward”.

47. What scares you the most?

Losing one of my children.

48. What was the best thing you have ever won?

I won the D.M.C.A.A. (Denver Metro Christian Athletics Association) MVP for basketball in 1998, my junior year of high school. I was voted by all of the coaches and players in the league as the most valuable player, not just because I scored the most points in the season but because of my attitude and sportsmanship.

49. What person had the most positive influence on you when you were growing up?

Christopher Reeves.

50. What was the dumbest thing you ever spent money on?

Oh man, I have to admit this? I once paid for gold on World of Warcraft.

51. Do you think love conquers all or are there some things even love can’t fix?

Sorry but love is not all you need.

52. If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?

Movie producer.

53. What is your best talent? Do you share it with other people?

I’d have to say my sense of humor, and yes I subject people to it all the time.

54. What is your favorite music? Has it changed as you’ve gotten older?

I really like everything, it just depends on my mood.

55. What is the best gift you’ve ever given someone else?

I don’t know.

56. If you could get one present this year, what would it be?

Tickets to see 3 Doors Down. Oh wait, I already got that!!

57. What is the most useful thing you own?

My iMac.

58. Do you have any special holiday traditions?

Well I did, but I lost them when Tisha moved out.

59. What do you have to be thankful for?

The people in my life.

60. Who’s the wisest person you know?

Kermit the Frog.

61. If you could pick anyone to be the leader of your country, who would you pick?

Bill Clinton. Yeah, that’s right.

62. If you could change one thing about your best friend, what would it be?

His fiancee.

63. Did you have a favorite toy when you were young? Do you still have it?

My G.I. Joes. I had a Snake Eyes that was sort of rare and yes I still have him.

64. What’s your favorite season of the year? Why?

Spring. I love seeing nature spring to life..

65. If you could pick any person to have a fantasy relationship with, who would it be?

Hmmm. I don’t know that I have one.