100 Things About Me

I know you're desperate to know about how fabulous I am....so here's a list of 100 things about me, in no particular order, with a few outside links, mostly from Wikipaedia.

1. I'm Canadian
2. I'm gay, and 'out' to everyone.
3. I met my partner on a blind date in Leceister Square on July 8 2000. He's the man of my dreams.
4. I've been working for the Canadian Government since I moved to London in 1990.
5. I've been playing the piano most of my life - mostly jazz and new age.
6. One of my piano teachers, Louise Rose also taught Diana Krall.
7. I have a royalty cheque in my name framed above my piano.
8. The cost of framing it was more than the cheque!
9. I've seen most of my favourite jazz musicians perform live, except Ella Fitzgerald.
10. I love musicals. (I have to, its in the gay rule book).
11. I've seen the musical "Ain't Misbehavin"" about ten times. I love Fats Waller.
12. I love bowling. My highest 5-pin game is 363 and 10-pin is 225.
13. I love snooker, I learned on my grandad's table. I'm still crap.
14. I used to curl as well. The crack of the rocks hitting each other is very satisfying!
15. I consider myself very fortunate to have known all four of my grandparents very well.
16. I knew two great-grandmothers as well.
17. I love chocolate, especially dark chocolate. Rogers Chocolates are my favourites.
18. I'm a good cook and enjoy doing dinner parties for friends.
19. I love to bake as well and can make bread from scratch.
20. My paternal grandfather owned a bakery for years, so I guess its in the genes.
21. I've seen more of the UK and Europe than I have of Canada.
22. I've been to the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace twice.
23. Tom Cruise, my desktop wallpaper for years has been replaced by Jake Gyllenhaal.
24. I used to work for Eaton's years ago.
25. I used to be a radio DJ on CFUV - University of Victoria radio for a few years.
26. I would love to be a proper radio DJ.
27. I've written, produced and performed in over a dozen pantomimes.
28. I hate bananas. I mean, really hate them. The smell makes me sick.
29. I'd like to have my own holodeck.
30. I own a Brompton folding bike.
31. I don't ride it as often as I should.
32. I don't like beer. I guess that makes me a bad Canadian.
33. I DO like cider. I guess that makes me a cheap date! Mine's a Magners please.
34. I have a thing about cows.
35. My dream piano is a Bosendorfer. I want the one with the extra keys in the bass.
36. I like writing 'letters to the editor' - I've even had one in Life Magazine.
37. I've always wanted to try stand up comedy.
38. A glass of Wolf Blass Black Label red wine is pure bliss.
39. Spiders frighten me.
40. I'd love to live in a warm climate all the time.
41. My dream home would be something like Hearst Castle in California.
42. I love Monty Python's Flying Circus.
43. I used to watch English comedy at my grandparent's house in Canada.
44. My parents were orginally going to name me Jarred (which I quite like actually).
45. One of my favourite holidays was ten days in a villa in Tuscany, Italy.
46. I've been to three Disney Parks: California, Florida and Paris.
47. I could eat butter on its own.
48. I watch too much TV. I blame Sky+ for that.
49. I wish my Sky+ box held more.
50. I like gardening.
51. I wish my garden was a lot bigger.
52. I h8 txt spk on the internet. I hate it only slightly less on a text message.
53. I loved Brokeback Mountain - I cried.
54. It doesn't take much to get me teary.
55. Eddie Izzard is a comedy genius.
56. I'm allergic to aspirin.
57. I had an ambulance ride to the hospital courtesy of a severe appendix attack.
58. I've flown in a helicopter a few times.
59. I wish Tim Horton's would open up stores in the UK.
60. My favourite donought is their chocolate walnut crunch.
61. I own over 300 ties.
62. I don't wear ties anymore since I started my current job eight years ago.
63. I've been in the same room with Queen Elizabeth, Jean Chretien, Bryan Adams and Paul Gross.
64. I have a picture of me (somewhere!) of me holding an actual Academy Award (Oscar).
65. I feel blessed that my family and my partner's family have totally accepted our relationship.
66. I find painting very relaxing - give me a brush, a tin of paint and a picket fence anyday!
67. I could never be a vegetarian. I love a nice steak, be it beef, veal, venison or ostrich.
68. I tried alligator once in Florida. It was great!
69. I've felt the sonic booms from the space shuttle.
70. One of my prized posessions is a personally signed Holy Grail script book from Michael Palin.
71. I know how to play the game Mornington Cresecent.
72. I'm a pretty good poet, I can whip up a good poem on request in a few minutes.
73. I'm always being asked for directions on the street. Usually I know the answer.
74. I like my coffee strong with a bit of milk or cream. No sugar.
75. I like my tea strong, with a bit of milk and two sugars.
76. No one makes meatloaf like my mom.
77. My favourite Ben & Jerry's flavour was Chubby Hubby (with chocolate peanut butter pretzels). Sadly they 'retired' the flavour.
78. I love singing at karaokes - what I lack in tone, I make up for in enthusiasm. I love to sing New York New York the most.
79. I've worked as a bartender.
80. I drink at the Duke of Wellington pub in Soho. I almost always know someone there.
81. I've been to Dublin more times than any other city.
82. I could never go on the London Underground (Tube) again, that would just fine by me.
83. I love rollercoasters.
84. I once sat on the edge of the fountains in Trafalgar Square with my best mate and polished off a bottle of Jack Daniels in the middle of the night.
85. I don't remember anything after that.
86. I'd always meant to visit St.Martin's-in-the-Fields church in London. I finally did in January 2006 - for the funeral of a murdered friend and collegue.
87. I have an annoying habit of point out people and places on the telly and films that are Canadian.
88. Stargate, Battlestar Galatica (the new one) and X-Men are all filmed in Vancouver, BC, Canada. See 87.
89. I have a head for trivia and useless information. I'll give you a damn good run for your money playing Trivial Pursuit or at a pub quiz.
90. My favourite chocolate bar is Coffee Crisp.
91. I've 'taken the waters' at the Kiraly and Gellart Turkish Baths in Budapest.
92. I spend too time time on OutEverywhere's website.
93. I don't like peanut butter - but I like peanut butter in things, esp. chocolate!
94. Its my turn to win big on the lottery.
95. Bacardi White Rum is my spirit of choice. Bombay Sapphire comes a close second.
96. I don't mind being mistaken for an American, but I will correct you.
97. I DO mind when someone says, 'well its the same thing'.
98. I've seen Picasso's "Guernica" in El Prado in Madrid. Its much bigger than I expected!
99. My French is not bad, but could be better.
100. I love poutine.