In elementary school a few times a year we got to go to the computer lab and we would load those huge floppy disks into the computer and wait for the fun to begin. We would do our best to lead the expedition to the new frontier. Keeping our party safe with as few losses as possible.

Am I a banker or a famer?
When should We leave?
What supplies to pack?
Ford or Ferry?

Once you had made all those choices…you died of dysentery.

What was your favorite childhood game?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUs7iG1mNjI

Somehow there are times that the record industry is able to find the perfect mix of music and lyrics and it seems like the planets have aligned to create…the worst song in the world.  You know that song? It’s the one that can make you want to scratch your ears off the instant you hear it?

Well yours are probably different than mine, but here are my top three “if I hear this again I might start throwing things” songs:

Blue-eiffel 65
This is why I’m hot-Mims
Make em say Uhhhh-Master P

Also most things by John Mayer – Black Eyed Peas and anything from Soulja Boy.

Whats on your ‘never wanna hear this’ list?

Do you remember parachute pants? A style mostly attributed to a certain rap artist, but I’m not sure that they were ever really cool.

And this is coming from someone who wanted them badly. I thought hammer was the epitome of cool. I had the steps in my hair and maybe once even an initial shaved into the back. I tried it all, but the look just wasn’t complete without the pants.

I never had an official pair of parachute pants. The closest I came was a pair of elastic wasted/velcro fastening pants similar to what Diedrich Bader wore in Napoleon Dynamite(minus the stars and stripes). In my book it was still not close enough.

Sometimes I still bust out in to a hammer slide if no one is around…

Was there a style you had to have, but looking back realize how silly it was?

Sometimes I don’t like shopping with my wife. Yeah, I said it. But the reason is that our shopping styles are so different. I liken my personal style to that of a hawk. I enter the area, sharp eyes scanning for my prey. As I spot it I quickly swoop in and snag the unsuspecting product before soaring back up and out of the store to enjoy the spoils of the latest hunt.

My wife, however, is different. She will enter the store and create a large arc around the general area where she’s interested. Looking, yet not really engaging with any particular item. She continues her narrowing concentric circles until at last she arrives at her prey. Then she lands, spends some time picking through to find the best particular pieces and only leaves once she’s sure there is nothing left for her there.

Now, there is nothing wrong with either of these styles. In fact, my wife is probably more thorough if anything. And I still enjoy going with her just to spend the time together but I always think before I go, ‘Can I be a vulture today?’

Whats your shopping style?

There are two types of people….
Well ok, we know that’s not true, but in terms of personal views people tend to lean in one of two directions – either black and white or shades of grey.

Black and white thinkers tend to be much more resolute. There is a definite in every situation and they find it. This view has it’s advantages. The ability to clearly divide an issue means that they tend to be much better decision makers. There is also a thread of consistency in their thoughts and actions.

The shades of grey folks, though, are seen as more mature. It is thought that their ability to see all sides of an argument is a benefit. Systematically looking at a situation with an objective view can provide some very important details, but it can also cause ‘analysis paralysis.’ To many things to consider and the person may just retreat and procrastinate until the decision no longer needs to be made.

I know that parts of me fall into both of these categories. I work very hard to utilize the best of both. I see myself as an objective person, yet I’ve felt the pull to procrastinate rather than decide. I also think sometimes things just need to be black and white in nature. A decision needs made so make it. I’m getting better but I’ve still got some work to do.

Are you a black & white kind of person or shades of grey?

I’m not what you would call a ‘sports guy’, but I’m not sure why. I really like watching a good competition, and learning the ins and outs of a game and postulating the pros/cons of a certain strategy is right up my alley, but I can’t get into it. I think it may be the time commitment. Up to three hours each per game and thats just for your team. Then theres the time watching espn for the analysis of the other teams so you know what your coming up against and how that will affect your team. This is of course an extreme but for some it’s reality. For me, I just catch the games when I can.

Are you a sports fan?

You know, it gets to be about this time of year and I start thinking that it would be great to do something outside other than shovel snow. My mind drifts to the warmer seasons and the activities I enjoy like grilling out in my yard while reading a book, or sitting under the shade of a tree watching people go by, or things like ultimate and disc golf.

Yes, I’m one of those guys. What’s that? No, I’m not a hippie per say but there was a time in college when I wouldn’t have had much of a defense.(long hair, no shoes) I just really enjoy games played with a ‘Frisbee’, here’s three reasons why.

1. Sport of integrity – The players govern the games. You call your own fouls, watch out for each other, and you can be penalized for not upholding the ‘spirit of the game’.
2. Everyone can play – Ok, so I may have had a bad experience in junior high not being picked for the team but people are encouraged to participate and learn without being benched or cut.
3. Great Skill – Even with the low barrier to entry, if you can huck a plastic disc 75 yards in the wind – you’re a beast. Sure the perfect spiral or a wicked curve is nice but I’ve never seen a hail mary or a slider go flying straight sideways because ‘the wind caught it’.

All in all its a great game. If you’re not with me then we should play together sometime and maybe I can change your mind.

What are you looking forward to when the weather warms up?

This is something that Erin and I are trying. After seeing the video over a year ago I thought, ‘hey why not?’

What is the story of your most serious injury?

I have to say I’ve been pretty lucky when it comes to the injury department. I can’t remember any broken bones or anything serious like that. But when I think of my worst injury I immediately remember the time I fell out of the tree.

I spent a lot of time at my grandma’s house as a kid and my brother and I were left to our imaginations to pass the time. We were playing in a field behind her house one day climbing trees and making up spy/ninja senarios, you know typical boy stuff. I was at my post, which had the best vantage point to detect any possible infiltrations when I heard it.

That familiar sound of splintering wood followed by that instant where time seems to freeze. That moment, likened to a Wile E. Coyote cartoon, in which the only reaction one can muster seems to be ‘uh oh’ as your mind becomes aware of the pain that lies ahead.

And this wasn’t a graceful fall. I didn’t tuck into a ninja roll or land kneeling on one knee only to rise slowly and adjust my tie. No sir, I landed square on my face. Luckily my focus was drawn away from my loss of dignity to the strange combination of numbness, tingling, and pain I was feeling in my face/head. All things considered, I was pretty lucky to escape with only a bloody nose and a brusied ego.

Whats your most serious injury?