Se7en Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Me

The rules:

1. Link to your original tagger(s) and list these rules in your post.
2. Share seven facts about yourself in the post.
3. Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names and the links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they’ve been tagged.

I was tagged by Will Campbell

1) Despite seemingly being a rather conservative play by the rules sort of guy, I am actually a bit rebellious and contrarian when I wish to be. Hence I am not tagging anyone with this meme however feel free to tag yourself and credit me as the tagger. I also do not send out chain letters or other such things so do not bother sending them to me unless you intend the chain to be broken or are looking to see what will really happen to someone who breaks the chain. It is a testament to my fondness for Willian (or Doug as I think of him and as he does not note in things the rest of you do not know of him)

2) Depending on who you are you probably do not know I am 30 plus year veteran of the Boy Scouts of America. Now in my second career in scouting serving as Pack Leader to my son’s pack I spent 30 years in my first career in scouting going straight through from Cub Scout in Pack 33 through Eagle Scout and on to Assistant Scout Master of Troop 33. On top of earning Eagle I am a member of the Heyoka (if you are in doubt about number 1 look up the role the Heyoka played in their tribes) chapter of Malibu Lodge 566 in the Order of the Arrow where I hold the Vigil Honor. My retirement from scouting came at the insistence of my wife when we our son was born and she was the same person to rat me out for the die hard Boy Scout I am when my son was of age to join Cub Scouts. Needless to say I am a big believer in what Scouting can do for boys who participate in the program.

3) I have saved at least 3 lives by performing CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver on people in need. I also served as a Junior Life Guard for many summers and have performed more rescues from pools then I probably remember. If you do not know CPR and or the Heimlich Maneuver I highly recommend taking a course on both. The life you save may make a big difference in someone else live and nothing is worse then standing by and watching someone suffer while you regret not having learned these basic life saving skills. Each and every time I saved someone I was shocked that no one else present had any skills or ability to aid the person in need.

4) I hold a degree in Philosophy from USC. Despite having been actively involved in media and television since the 6th grade, my education took a slight detour after a case of mono derailed my gentleman scholar grades in my sophomore year resulting in my not being admitted on transfer to either USC or UCLA’s film/television programs. However having completed Philosophy 101 at CSUN with what the professor claimed was a rare A+ (interestingly rare for me to get an A as well as that professors reluctance to give out A’s) I was encouraged to continue my studies of philosophy. Given that UCLA in a rude and probably actionable manner has revoked my un-conditional acceptance as an undeclared Junior (a requirement to be considered for the film/television program in the first place), I was left choosing between CSUN and or USC’s Philosophy program. Given USC reputation in the area it was a natural choice.

5) I was prior to being a responsible adult catching up to me, an active rock climber. I spent every weekend mastering routes like Hoof in Mouth and Mozart’s Wall at Stoney Point off of Topanga Canyon and the 118 Freeway. It helped that I weighed a mere 115 pound in those days. If there was limitless time and money I would love to climb again.

6) I am allergic to shrimp, other crustaceans and therefore by association all those fine contrast dyes used in x-rays. I discovered this while having dinner with my then future father in law for the first time who like me at the time loved shrimp and who I shared a large platter of some of Chin Chins finest only to have my eyes swell up so badly the optometrist I saw the next day considered calling an ambulance upon seeing me in the waiting room. While I am sure my grandmother would have found humor in my no longer being to eat these items she considered treif, it does put a crimp in my dining choices in restaurants especially considering my wife insists that I not eat red meat out of house because of her concerns about mad-cow disease.

7) I am still a professional press/sports photographer as I work professionally as such once a year. Each year for the last 22 years I have been hired by MarathonFoto to shoot the LA Marathon. My services are assigned to the LA Marathon Committee and I shoot the race as well as local coverage and sponsor documentation. Each year an album of mine and other photographers work is presented to the LA Marathon and these albums are on display in the LA Marathon office.

As stated above I am not tagging anyone who does not desired to be tagged. Should the mood strike you send me a note and I will add you to this post.