Seven things about me

Alec and Rick both meme-tagged me for this one, but it took me a while to think of 7 things about me that might be interesting. Here’s my list:

I can turn my feet backwards. I forget exactly how I discovered this, but it’s always made for a good conversation starter at parties.

I was a total drama nerd in high school, which led to acting in the first Edmonton Fringe Festival in 1982. It was a minor part as Queen Clytemnestra’s lover, but I got to wear a toga and carry a whip. I considered studying drama after I graduated but decided to pursue my B.Sc. in Genetics instead.

My first job after high school was as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces. I earned sharpshooter awards for assault rifles and sub-machine guns. I also learned how to put a serious shine on a pair of army boots.

I spent the spring and summer of 1990 traveling throughout the UK, spending about half my time in England and half in Scotland. This was the absolute best summer of my life. In all my travels, my favourite spot was the Orkney Islands. I lost my best ever pair of sunglasses while climbing up Ward Hill on the island of Hoy, so if you’re ever there and spot them let me know.

My daughter is named for the Irving Layton poem “Song for Naomi”

I have epilepsy. I had my first seizure when I was 30, and have had 3 more since then. All were grand mal seizures. The first medication I was on was Dilantin which made me mentally sluggish and gave me a dry mouth and swollen gums. After my latest seizure the neurologist changed my medication to Lamotragine which allows me to be more mentally alert, although I find I am more forgetful and more easily distracted. It would be nice to find some sort of middle ground.

The best concert I’ve ever seen was The Who in B.C. place in the summer of 1989. They played two nights. I had tickets for the second night but a friend managed to get floor tickets for the first night. Listening to The Who play “Love Reign O’er Me” live was a transcendent moment in my life.

I’ll tag Brian Lamb, D’Arcy Norman, Kelly Christoperson, George Siemens, Stephen Downes, Alan Levine and Scott Leslie if they feel like participating. I promise not to send any bad karma your way if you decide you aren’t interested.