05 January 2009

Twenty-Five Random Facts about Me

A friend recently tagged me with a request to list 25 random facts about myself. So here we go, in no particular order:


  1. I am unabashedly a dog person.

  2. My daughter has had me wrapped around her little finger since the morning she was born.

  3. I have been a fan of Starbucks coffee since they had only five stores.

  4. A Volvo saved my life.

  5. I have read seventeen of the eighteen "J.P. Beaumont" detective novels by J.A. Jance.

  6. I enjoy NPR almost as much as I enjoy Rush Limbaugh.

  7. My favorite college course spent an entire quarter reading and discussing Tolstoy's War and Peace. I still think about that class and draw insights from it today.

  8. The novel I have read and re-read more than any other is Huxley's Brave New World.

  9. I believe there are few sights in nature more beautiful than a sunset behind the Olympic Mountains and Elliot Bay.

  10. My dream car is a fully-restored 1975 Volvo 164E with the 4sp+OD manual transmission.

  11. I have completed 24 double century bicycle rides, but none since 1999. The future Mrs. Yeoman Farmer snapped this photo during the 1994 Seattle-to-Portland ride:

  12. I once rode my bicycle 306 miles in a single day. I plan to never try that again.

  13. I wish I had discovered tandem cycling, with a child stoker set-up, ten years ago.

  14. I have visited every U.S. state except Alaska, Nebraska, Arkansas, Mississippi, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

  15. If I could live anywhere, it would be a farm in rural Snohomish County (WA) between Monroe and Duvall.

  16. I lettered in forensics in high school, and still have my letterman sweater.

  17. I worked at McDonald's all the way through high school, and liked it enough to return for every vacation during college. Despite my "crunchy" orientation, I still eat there when on the road.

  18. I once wrote a letter to William F. Buckley, Jr., encouraging him and National Review magazine to use feminine pronouns when referring to countries. He published the letter, but responded in the negative.

  19. Misuse of apostrophes drives me crazy.

  20. Reading Richard Nixon's book, The Real War, at the age of 14, was what sparked my fascination with politics and current affairs.

  21. I think Casablanca is the best movie of all time.

  22. I proposed to my wife after completing the 1995 Hemet Double Century ride --- and carrying the engagement ring in my pocket all 200 miles while she drove support.

  23. My favorite childhood vacation spot was LaPush Ocean Park, along the Pacific coast.

  24. I was in attendance for Gaylord Perry's 300th career pitching victory on May 6, 1982.

  25. I thank God every day for the wife and beautiful children he has given me.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice post. By the way, my dream vehicle is a 1964 Dodge Pickup! Used to be a '68 AMC Ambassador... but I can actually use the pickup! God Bless!

Anonymous said...

#19 - You are not alone! I have fantasies of starting a grassroots organization the mission of which is to send letters to offending businesses and sign owners, pointing out their errors not only with apostrophes but spelling and grammar generally. The world would be a much better place for the intervention!

Anonymous said...

Holy Smokes! I didn't know that about the Volvo... never heard that story, or saw the picture. It doesn't look like anyone could walk away from that! By the way, my dream car is a Volvo P1800, like The Saint used to drive. Safe AND sporty!

TYF said...

The Volvo crash happened on my 24th birthday, when a freak snowstorm kicked up while driving from Detroit to Chicago. Got crushed by two semi-trucks. All the first responders thought they'd be pulling bodies from the wreckage, but I walked away with barely a scratch.

I agree the P1800 is a very cool car, and I'd love to have one, but I still have my dad's old 1975 Fiat spyder. That's kept me satisfied in the sports car department, and it's been in the family so long I'll never sell it. The 164E actually has power, which is something I've never had in an old Volvo.

Anonymous said...

I had a 122s was going to rebuild but ran out of money keeping my 145 wagon going. Old Volvos never die but always need life support. I also had several of those front end plow animals. Always been told by old, old timers, as I am getting closer to being an old timer, that swine, porkers, hogs, could tear up an anvil. However, they never change their position as politicians, they are always rutting for you. It is more expience but I prefer whole foods.
My wife enjoys reading your exploites. Wish we could have made contacts as you sold your Illinois farm.