100 70 Things About Aaron

1. “The Empire Strikes Back” is the best movie ever.
2. Fat equals flavor.
3. I’m named after two great-grandfathers (my mom’s maternal grandfather, Aaron, and my dad’s maternal grandfather, Edward).
4. I knew I was going to marry Suzy on our first date. Getting her to marry me is my greatest feat.
5. My first car was a 1984 Ford Thunderbird (black, 302, V8): it was my chariot from the summer of 1989 to until 1996, when I traded it in for a new Pontiac Grand Am, which sucked in comparison to my Thunderbird’s glorious majesty.
6. I never cut class, smoked or drank in High School.
7. I made up for those conservative practices in college.
8. The first time I saw Animal House was when I was 8 years-old. Bluto Blutarsky (John Belushi) was is my hero.
9. I buy lots of interesting books. I’m awful about actually finishing them.
10. I find facials very relaxing.
11. I tan.
12. I was among the first of my friends to marry.
13. I thought I was among the last of my friends to have a kid, but it turns out I’m right in the norm.
14. I am an AWESOME cook, which supports my theory that fat people know how to cook.
15. I like being intoxicated, but never alone.
16. I’m a little scared of falling from upper levels of high, open structures, especially if all the separates me from the vast openness is a railing.
17. I’m very irritable when I get hungry.
18. I believe Open Source will save us all.
19. I Google myself more than I’d like to admit.
20. I earned my Eagle Scout badge on my first break in my freshman year of college.
21. I used to have a bad habit of downloading music from time to time, which negates my vocal support of Intellectual Property rights.
22. Like a lot of people, I’m chock full of contradictions.
23. I was in Amsterdam just after the second Gulf War broke out in 2003. It’s a beautiful city, the people were so warm and the vibe was so awesome, I long to return and stay there for a few years.
24. I’m known to laugh obnoxiously (and uncontrollably) loud in movie theatres.
25. I mix lines from movies and songs into my conversations too frequently and casually to notice.
26. I rub a lot of some people the wrong way.
27. People that like me seem to REALLY like me.
28. I have some self-esteem issues, as evidenced by my knack for self-deprecating behavior and an incessant need for self-clarification.
29. Maintaining a personal blog makes that obvious, as does a “100 Things” list.
30. I can be really funny sometimes, but oftentimes I feel like I have nothing to say.
31. I prefer McDonald’s fries, but I prefer Burger King’s burgers.
32. Giordano’s Stuffed Spinach Pizza is so good, it should be illegal. My favorite pizza joint in Chicago is Pizzaco.
33. I can’t stand being around people whose obnoxiousness eclipses my own.
34. I’m an idealist and a teacher.
35. Coming up with 100 things to say about yourself is really hard (if you’re me).
36. I have all five albums by Wang Chung, and I’m not afraid to admit it.
37. I am such a huge fan of Prince that he could probably record his taking a crap after “Burrito Night” and I would buy it.
38. I have a tattoo of the Rebel Alliance symbol from Star Wars on my right shoulder. My brother, Kevin, gave it to me on Christmas morning.
39. I’m color blind, but most people who hear that think I can only see in Black & White.
40. I used to wear a t-shirt that reads “Jesus is my Homeboy” when I traveled, and strangers were always really nice to me when I wore it.
41. I spoke Spanish before I ever spoke English.
42. People’s misconceptions and ignorance about things related to me can be very amusing, depending on the context.
43. My bestest of friends are those I can argue with at length with love and respect.
44. People may evolve over time, but they don’t change.
45. I love big, dumb, slobbery dogs.
46. Del Amitri is the most underrated band ever.
47. My first kiss was Holly Konopka, when I was (briefly) in Kindergarten.
48. South Park is one of my favorite cartoons. Cartman makes me chuckle even on bad days.
49. Gummy Coca-Cola bottles and Nerds Rope are the greatest candy inventions ever. With an endless supply of both and an endless supply of Cherry Icees, I could find nirvana.
50. Coffee doesn’t need a flavor. It needs a cup. Maybe a saucer underneath it. (Thank you, Dennis Leary)
51. Kopp’s Frozen Custard is the best frozen custard in all the world, and I challenge anyone to bring me a better frozen custard.
52. I enjoy golfing as an excuse to pound a six-pack in the sun with friends — my cheating is so obvious, it really can’t be called cheating.
53. The only Jewish holiday I practice with regularity and conviction is Passover, though my observance is a bit askew from “traditional.”
54. I’m so metal that you probably can’t conceive nor handle how metal I am.
55. As metal as I am, I listen to a lot of happy-sounding progressive radio.
56. My  blogger code is  B9 d++ t+ k+ s+ u- f i++ o++ x- e++ l c–.
57. When I was 9, my entire family was involved in a serious car accident. I was in the hospital for a little over a month and sustained injuries to my pancreas, spleen, kidney, elbow and collarbone.
58. I have a pretty storied history with the medical establishment. I’ve had a tonsilectomy (age 4), a hernia (age 6), an ACL and Miniscal tear (age 30). I also had tubes in my ears several times as a little kid. I’ve suffered tendonitis in my foot. Basically, I’m not cut out for a lot of hard labor.
59. I love many styles of music. I have tens of thousands of songs in my library, including classical, opera, reggae, blues, country, folk, hip-hop, pop, jazz, and every style of rock music. Hard to believe, though, I’m very picky about what I listen to (and try to influence what my friends and family listen to, as well).
60. I love making playlists and mix CDs for people.
61. As I get older, I find that I am left to solve more and more problems. I don’t know if that’s because I’m visionary or because I’m delusional (or a little of column A and a little of column B…).
62. I’m not satisfied with being outstanding. I also have to stand out, though I regret this tendency from time to time.
63. I’m a hard worker, mostly out of a sense my per-stoner-non-grata might give off that I’m lazy.
64. Bagels should not be sweet, nor should cream cheese. Plain is fine, but if you have to go with flavors, choose savory over sweet.
65. When I was a sophomore at UWM, I tried out for  American Gladiator  after donating a pint of blood and downing a Mickey’s. I got knocked off the mat in the bow staff trials, but it was the most spectacular defeat I’ve ever suffered.
66. I tear up at the most lame, melodramatic parts of movies, like when Nemo finds out that his dad is trying to save him, or when John Travolta introduces Nicholas Cage’s son to the rest of his family in Face/Off.   Yes, I know.   I’m quite girly.
67. I’m easily annoyed by people on conference calls who a) don’t mute their phones, and then b) start having conversations blissfully unaware of the fact that we’re actually asking THEM to mute their phones.
68. I get my haircut (and my beard trimmed up) by Belmont Barbershop pretty much every two weeks.
69. Have Karaoke, and I *will* rock the mic.
70. I like being the last one to bed and the first one to rise. I like making sure everyone gets to where they need to go and rests peacefully, and I like to help them start the day right.