For several weeks I’ve seen this meme get passed around the blogosphere, and I was both glad and disappointed when I wasn’t tagged to be next, considering how (now) every blog that I regularily read has shared their 8 things.  However, with a tag from Rob, I guess it’s time to air some dirty laundry.

How this works:

  • Each player must post the rules to begin the meme
  • Each player starts with eight random facts about themselves
  • People who get tagged must blog about their eight things and post these rules
  • At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names
  • Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog

Simple enough, right?  Well, in no particuar order, let us begin:

5. I am addicted to DDR (Dance Dance Revolution).  Although it doesn’t look like it, I play this game for at least 14 hours a week, with many games being played on “Heavy x2″.  I have dance pads at home, and there is nothing better than an hour of non-stop DDR followed by a hot shower to put even the worst days at work behind me.

8. I was born and raised in Southern Ontario, living in places such as Georgetown, Hamilton, Caistor Centre and Jarvis.  At 22, I moved to British Columbia in search of a new perspective on life and a chance to clean up my past mistakes.

7. Although I am a computer programmer, I have always wanted to be an archaeologist and astronomer (yes, both).  Human history fascinates me on so many levels, and the stars capture my imagination in very mathematical ways.  I can’t look at human bones without wondering what life was like several hundred (or thousand) years ago, and I can’t look at stars without seeing the absolute mathematical beauty that is found in Hawking’s, Einstein’s and Newton’s equations.

3. I used to drive, but switched to public transit.  I loved driving when I lived in Ontario.  The big open road and soothing sound of the engine (I rarely listened to music while driving) often helped me relax after a long day.  However, the cost of fuel and my unnecessary pollution of the atmosphere forced me to change these ways.  For the last five years I have been able to get to almost anywhere I’ve needed to be with my $95 a month bus pass and, while I might spend an extra 20 minutes a day taking transit instead of driving, I see no reason to purchase a car for my remaining time in Canada.  That said … I will be considering an ultra-efficient car in Japan.

6. I was … umm … “involuntarily sodomized” by someone I had respected and trusted a few weeks after my 19th birthday.  To this day, it is the only thing that gives me nightmares.

1. I am allergic to horses (and potentially other animals) despite the fact that I spent much of my childhood growing up in the country.  After 15 minutes in close proximity of the horse, my vision will degrade and eventually disappear.  Blindness is scary, so please protect your eyes.

4. I am the eldest in my family and have two brothers and six sisters.  Most members of my family are quite loud, however, my voice cannot rise above “normal” volumes.

2. I don’t like wearing clothes, but I love wearing suits.  I can’t explain this any further … it’s just one of “those things”.

So there we go.  Eight things in no particular order.  Unfortunately, I can’t think of eight others who have not already taken part that I could possibly tag, so I’ll invite my good friend Yuni into the meme and let anyone else who hasn’t yet taken part to link back to me.

Here are some of the 8 Things memes from other sites that I enjoyed:

Ms. Danielle’s - 8 Quasi-Interesting Facts About Ms. Danielle: A Meme

Mr. Gary Lee’s - 8 Fun Facts About Gary Lee

Rob Neville’s - Catching Me With My Drawers Down (Not literally, I hope)

Spud Oregon’s - 8 Facts About Spud and Friends