Oh, boy, where do I start? Well, these are not listed in the order of preference as I am not doing any self-editing before posting. I like meeting interesting, creative people from around the world, SCUBA diving, fly fishing, travel to exotic places, finding new food experiences, eating great food, reading a variety of generes, downhill snow skiing, chatting with my daughter, and keeping in touch with good friends.
I'd like to meet:
On a day to day basis, I desire the company of "real" people, not self-centered narcissists. Neither do I wish to be friends with those who are oriented in darkness. I appreciate those who have fresh ideas about all aspects of life, are dreamers, artists, musicians, lovers of all things living, have a good sense of humor, are honest, positive, genuine, and sharing.
Of all aspects of life, I am facinated by true alturism. It is so foreign to today's egocentric mentality. Therefore, two people I'd like to meet and talk to about life would be Ghandi and the Good Samaritan. I'm not sure I would know how to relate to such selfless people after having been surrounded by the type of gratuitus self-serving I have been surrounded with for the last 20 years of my life! But these two, they transcend selfishness. For instance, this Samaritan, he was a different breed of cat, someone who didn't fit the mold, someone who actually gave a damn about others and was willing to give of his own means to help someone else, someone who, by culture and upbringing, considered him an inferior, a non person. Yet he took action when he saw humanity suffering. And Ghandi, well, there is too much to say. How it was possible for one man to accomplish so much is still an active study of historians.
Music:
I enjoy smooth jazz artists like Bob James and Peter White, 60's & 70's artists like Crosby Stills Nash and Young (the classic "Carry On", "Our House", "Just a Song before I Go", & "Southern Cross"), contemporary adult artists like Sarah Brightman (where do I start?) and Eva Cassidy (love her take on "Song Bird" & "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"), pop/rock artists like Eric Clapton ("Mean ole Frisco", "Pilgrim", & "Father's Eyes") and Billy Joel ("River of Dreams" and "Scenes from an Italian Resturant"), country artists like Alan Jackson ("Little Bitty") and Garth Brooks (can't get enough of "The Dance"), and various classical composers like Vivaldi ("Four Seasons"), Mozart (too many to name), and Bach ("B Minor Mass" & "Little Fugue"). Of course, there are comic singers who should not be left unnoticed, people like Ray Stevens (I love his "Mississippi Squirrel Revival" & "The Haircut Song") and Weird Al Yankavic (with his rips of Michael Jackson's song "Beat It" with "Eat It" & other wonderful nonsense). Of course, I would not be a boomer if I didn't include a Rolling Stones song or two ("Emotional Rescue" and "Angie" are two good ones), just about every thing the Beatles wrote from their Revolver album on ("A Day in the Life" is still an all time favorite), and more then a little of the Doors ("Soft Parade" & "The End" are both mind twisters). And a list of oldies acid rockers just would not be complete without Jimmy Hendrix and his Purple Haze!I could listen for hours to favorites. Often, just hearing a chord or two of such songs sends me back to a time . . . So many songs and so little time!
Movies:
Well, I have been a movie buff ever since my dad first asked me to go with him to "See a man about a horse." I cannot begin to remember all of the good ones I have seen, and I don't know that I have any all time favorites. But following is a listing of some I like and some I still watch on DVD. We will start with Young Doctors in Love. It was a brainless, hoot of a comedy, and I have sore sides after every viewing! Other favorites are Chocolat, French Kiss, When Harry Met Sally (I'll take what she's having!), The Shipping News, You've Got Mail, Fiddler on the Roof, Fried Green Tomatoes, Finding Neverland (Johnny Dep is so good), The Music Man, Batman Begins, Father of the Bride 1 & 2 (ya just gotta love this side of Steve Martin), all The Pink Panther movies, including the Steve Martin version, Constant Gardener, Seabiscuit, Million Dollar Baby, Unforgiven, The Chronicles of Riddick, and the Lord of the Rings series. Once, in another life and time, my nick name was Strider, and Arwen was my love.
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Other films I have ejoyed are The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy, The Saint, Basic (a real mind twister), Taking Lives (very edge of the seat thriller), The Kingdom of Heaven, The Italian Job, Ice Age I & II, Finding Nemo, Micky Blue Eyes, Grumpy Old Men and Grumpier Old Men (you know my favorite Hawaiian island?) and Master Commander, the Far Side of the World.
Television:
I'm pretty much of a CSI, NCIS, and 24 fan.
Books:
My favorite all time book, personally, is The Great Divorce by C S Lewis. Others I like are Michener's Hawaii, Mexico, The Source, Texas, Chesapeak. I also enjoyed reading the The Horse Whisperer and Tuesdays with Mori. Some oldies but goodies are Steinbeck's Travels with Charley, The Red Pony, and The Pearl. There are so many books I have read that pass description. Stainless Steel Rat, Stranger in a Stranger in a Strange Land, Catch 22, One Flew Over the Cookoos Nest, and The Invisible Man (by Ellison) are just a few. Then there are the suspense novels. I have read every single last Robert Ludlum novel. Go figure. I have also read most of Tony Hillerman's work. As I was born and somewhat raised in the Southwest (New Mexico and Arizona), I enjoy Hillerman's descriptions of the area besides the great stories he weaves. And, mercy me, I almost forgot Tom Clancy. I have read all of his books, too. Currently I am reading two books, Never Good Enough and Your Best Life Now. One book I remember fondly is The Bridges of Madison County. I know this sounds corny, but I cried in more than a few places as I read that book. And finally, I enjoy the history in the Old Testement and inspriation for a better, spiritual life in the New Testement.
Heroes:
My dad, Walter C, also known for many years as Fuzzy.
