40 points about 40

I reached the ripe old age of 40 last week. It's happened to plenty of other people before me, of course, but this is my first time. I had thought about doing a blog post about a "bucket list." Maybe later.

Today, I share 40 nuggets about myself. I don't know if they're interesting nuggets...you be the judge.

1. I have more Led Zeppelin in my iTunes library than any other band. Those that know me will not be surprised. At the moment, it totals 1,351 items, 8 days, 12 hours, six minutes, and 46 seconds (16.79 GB).
2. I love to cook, but unfortunately, my preference is for fattening stuff, like desserts and rich Italian food.
3. I speak German. Need to work on it.
4. I worked in Missouri, from May of '97 to July of '99, at the Missouri Military Academy. I taught journalism, published a monthly newspaper (8 pages most of the time, a 16-page alumni edition twice a year), did the yearbook (two all together; the second one was much better), did 95% of the school photography, etc. etc. Quite an experience.
5. I had my gallbladder out in August.
6. I've never seen "Friends" or "American Idol". Thank goodness!
7. I've been on eBay since late 1997...or maybe 1998. I can't remember for sure. :) I've sold quite a few things on eBay, and I have a perfect rating (i.e., no one has left anything but a positive rating for me).
8. Since April of 2010, I have lost about 20 pounds. I had been at around 167 for years, and found my weight going up, to about 175 (I think I saw 179 once). That's not too heavy, overall, but I wanted to apply some discipline and get lower. I got down to 162 in July of 2010, then hovered around there for about a year. This past summer I wanted to see 159.9 on the scale...I saw it, and kept shedding. Now I hover at around 155.
9. I've worn glasses (or contacts) since the 5th grade.
10. I've been to MLB games in Denver, St. Petersburg (Tampa), Detroit, and, of course, St. Louis.
11. My favorite novel is War and Peace. I re-read it every five years, and the next time will be next year (which will be appropriate, since it's 2012).
12. When I was VERY young, I used to think mustaches were nose hair that kept growing out onto the lip. Weird, huh?
13. I don't like fish, but I've had a taste of sushi a couple times and it has been rather interesting.
14. I've never had a broken bone (unless the pain in my right hand is a broken bone!)
15. I had appendicitis once when I was 13. It went away. No, really.
16. I don't recall ever buying anything from The Gap or Banana Republic, and definitely not Aeropostale or A&F.
17. When I was in elementary school, I played flag football with a future NFL All-Pro. 
18. In 6th grade, in flag football, I intercepted a screen pass and scored a TD. I'm always surprised that you don't see screen passes intercepted once or twice a season in the NFL or college game. That year,  we were supposedly the best team, not that there was a tournament or anything, but I remember the coach always saying he had a "rich" friend who was going to buy us pizza for a little victory party (because, back then of course, only rich people could afford pizza). It never happened.
19. The first concert I went to was Air Supply, at BYU. I was probably 8 or so. My sister took me...or, maybe more accurately, went with me.
20. Until this year, I never had a cell phone bill (employers always paid it).
21. I kinda like ironing my shirts. It's therapeutic.
22. Haven't read any of the Harry Potter books (and probably never will), but I think the movies are lots of fun. In some ways, they may even be better than Lord of the Rings.
23. I think clearer when my hands are on a keyboard (i.e., when I'm writing)
24. I have more books from Tom Clancy than from any other author...but he's pretty much washed up now, right? His last good book came out in 1998.
25. At Thanksgiving, I like dark meat.
26. I can eat pumpkin pie anytime of year...but only with whipped cream on it.
27. I used to collect comic books. I've sold most of the more valuable stuff I had. Man, I wasted a lot of money on them back in the day...thanks goodness I could recoup some of it.
28. Many people know I cook a great steak...but not too many know I am not as good with chicken. The whole salmonella thing, I guess...
29. I have a somewhat distorted view of the value of $5. Here's what I mean: I've often had co-workers who would eat out for lunch almost every day. I would go maybe two times a month. Part of my reason for not going is the $$...but also the calories, and I always read on my lunch break. But, when I go to Gourmandise, Salt Lake City's primo French bakery, I'll drop big $$ on pastries. Raspberry tart for $5.50? Sounds like a deal to me!
30. I used to think Dan Rather was a cool cat, and I watched the CBS Evening News every day. Man, was I sick.
31. I've never been west of California...unless you count the Czech Republic. ;)
32. I've been in eight countries besides the U.S., and in 27 states (not counting "just flying through").
33. Sometimes I've been in a state of denial.
34. I don't like Polo-style shirts (you know, knit cotton, three buttons). I always feel dorky in them...Aside from T-shirts, I don't like short-sleeve shirts generally, even on hot summer days.
35. I've had pizza in Pisa, filet mignon in Manhattan, gelatto in Florence, and baguettes in Paris.
36. I've never spent more than about $30 on jeans, but have spent more than $100 on shoes...several times.
37. I hope the NBA dies and doesn't come back.
38. I think Tom Petty is a genius. 
39. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.
40. Wow, there are actually 40 things about me that are mildly interesting.