I first did a 100 Random Facts post not long after I began this blog. But that was six years ago. I did an update in 2017, and again in 2019, but things continue to change. Because that’s life. The only thing you can be sure of in life is that things will change. Also, since Paul is once again holding his annual Share Your Blog party over at The Captain’s Speech, I figured I’d do an update in case new bloggers want to know all the random things. So for those of you who are brand new to The Confusing Middle and for those who have been around for a while, I give you the updated 100 Random Facts About Me.

Oh, and it would probably help to share a little about why this blog is titled The Confusing Middle. It’s not deep or anything. I just figure, we know that birth comes at the beginning of life. We know that death comes at the end. It’s this middle part that can get confusing. Basically, The Confusing Middle is life. At least, it’s my life. Enjoy!

1. I was born on March 6, 1980.
2. I am single.
3. Frosted Flakes and Cinnamon Toast Crunch hold a very special place in my heart.
4. So does Back to the Future.
5. I love to write.
6. I love photography.
7. When I’m alone in my car, I sing at the top of my lungs and probably look pretty foolish to other drivers. I don’t care.
8. I want to start my own restaurant and call it “I Don’t Care.” This is because so many friend groups have a difficult time deciding where they want to eat and so many people just say, “I don’t care…” So that restaurant should literally be an option.
9. I’m convinced that I absolutely cannot dance. And I’ve seen myself on video. So it’s a near certainty.
10. People think I watch too much TV because of my uncanny ability to quote random movie lines at the drop of a hat. They may be right, but I think I just have one of those funny memories that allows me to recall random, meaningless facts.
11. I’m originally from Roanoke, Virginia.
12. After spending the better part of the last decade in Blacksburg, I’m back in the old home town. Probably for good.
13. I work as Qualified Mental Health Professional and Mental Health Skill Builder for a company that I’m not comfortable sharing on the blog. I need to maintain some sense of anonymity.
14. That job means that I find myself working adults and helping them to learn the skills needed to become more independent.
15. Because of COVID-19, I find that about 50% of my job can be done at home thanks to a little thing called telehealth. Working from home… that’s the dream.
16. I do find myself driving a lot, though. Because my clients often require me to accompany them to various appointments or skill building activities.
17. I have two bachelor’s degrees from Bluefield College: one in Christian Studies, the other in Behavioral Science.
18. When the weather gets cold and everyone around me starts complaining, I start enjoying myself. To me, it’s finally starting to feel good outside.
19. I spent two consecutive spring breaks on mission trips in Brazil during college. I’d love to go back there someday.
20. I’m pretty sure I have a caffeine addiction.
21. But I don’t like to drink coffee.
22. But I love the smell of coffee.
23. I might have an unhealthy obsession with all things Superman.
24. There’s a part of me that still loves to play video games.
25. I’m not a fan of being a grown-up. Therefore I act as immature as possible whenever the opportunity presents itself.
26. There are few vegetables that I actually like to eat. But I’m a grown-up, so you can’t make me!
27. I’ve still never really kissed a girl. Unless you count Angie back in preschool. Some people I know would, but I don’t.
28. Going back and re-reading #27 makes me feel a little pathetic, to be honest.
29. I’ve decided that I like myself better with facial hair than without.
30. I drive a 2009 Toyota Corolla. She’s green. I call her Fiona.
31. Sometimes I laugh at my own jokes because I’m pretty sure no one else will.
32. I have a very dry sense of humor.
33. I’m fluent in sarcasm.
34. I’m a firm believer that someone should create a sarcasm font. Or possibly a new punctuation mark that denotes sarcasm in written form.
35. I’ve been told I have a nice smile. I just don’t do it that often. And what’s the point these days when I’m wearing a mask in public at all times, anyway?
36. The first thing I notice in a woman is her smile. I know that’s hypocritical since smiling is something I just said I don’t do that often. And what’s the point these days when everyone should be wearing a mask in public at all times, anyway?
37. In high school, I learned how to develop my own film and print my own photographs. I sometimes wish I still had access to that kind of equipment. Digital photography still doesn’t feel as real to me.
38. My favorite color is blue.
39. I believe that Kim Kardashian’s kontinued fame is a sign that either the apocalypse is nigh or that we, as a species, are closer than ever to destroying ourselves.
40. I don’t like chocolate. And I receive plenty of ridicule for this fact, thank you.
41. I love to sing. Sadly, the car is the only place I seem to do it these days. But that’s okay. I love a Carpool Karaoke.
42. I used to sing in a few choirs during college. I miss it and my fellow singers more than I can say.
43. If I were to fill out a survey asking about my religion, I would put down that I was a Christian. But I don’t like to call myself a Christian. It’s a title I can never live up to.
44. More often than not, I can get a general idea of what the time is by looking at the position of the sun in the sky. If you don’t believe me, ask my friend Andy. He’s witnessed it.
45. I love to read. This is a love that sure would have come in handy in high school and college. Sadly, it didn’t kick in until later.
46. When it snows and people panic about driving in it, I get confused. Snow’s no problem for me. Common sense tells us that all we have to do is take it slow and don’t get overconfident.
47. I’m certain that common sense is becoming more and more uncommon.
48. I send text messages far more often than I call people.
49. But I’d give just about anything to be able to pick up the phone and talk to my Dad.
50. Despite my deep and abiding love for Back to the Future, I don’t believe that time travel is possible. And if it were, I don’t believe it would be possible to change history.
51. I have one sister, April. I don’t talk to her nearly as often as I should.
52. If I spend an entire day off work sitting at home just watching movies, I don’t consider it a wasted day.
53. I hate sleeping late on my days off. When I do, I feel like I’ve wasted the day.
54. I have a goal in life to read all of Stephen King’s novels. I’m doing this in the order in which the books were published. Thus far, I’ve made it through Misery. I still have a long way to go.
55. I’m a huge comic book geek. I probably know way too much about the history of the DC Universe.
56. I’ve never had a broken bone before.
57. I’ve also never needed stitches.
58. I guess I’m not much of a risk taker.
59. I used to love camping as a kid, but as an adult I’ve only been a couple times.
60. I love to go hiking. My body does not.
61. I once tried to help my sister move a full-size freezer out of my Dad’s basement. Close to the top step, I lost my grip on the freezer and was certain it would fall and crush her beneath it. I have never been more afraid in my entire life.
62. I am terrified of clowns.
63. I road rage like it’s my job.
64. My favorite restaurant is Macado’s. Chances are you only know of its existence if you live in certain parts of Virginia or North Carolina.
65. In spite of it being my favorite, I have to be in a slow down kind of mood to eat at Macado’s because every location is notoriously slow with the service.
66. I’ve spent several of my adult birthdays at Chuck E. Cheese. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.
67. I love Christmas decorations, but I really don’t like being the one to decorate.
68. I’ve come to accept the fact that I can be kind of a jerk.
69. In college, I would spend lots of free time looking at people’s away messages on Instant Messenger. Looking at Facebook status updates and tweets on the Twitter just isn’t the same.
70. When my hair gets long, the front goes into the Superman spit curl.
71. But eventually, my hair stops getting longer. It just gets thicker. It’s kind of obnoxious.
72. I’m a pretty decent cook when I want to be.
73. I hate helping people move, but I do it so I’ll have someone to call when I inevitably have to move for the 183rd time.
74. Netflix was my idea. I just can’t prove it.
75. Seriously though, that whole instant viewing thing? Best thing to happen to movies since Technicolor.
76. Someone I used to work with used the word “seriously” way to often. It was really annoying. For a long time, I made a conscious effort not to say “seriously” at all. Seriously.
77. I’ve lived life with and without a DVR. Going from having one to not having one was a painful transition.
78. Someday, when I’m all growed up, I want to have a house with a library. And a secret passage behind one of the bookcases.
79. I thought the Twilight books were horrible. I believe in the depths of my soul that Bella Swan is the worst character in literary history. But that’s mostly because I’ve never read the 50 Shades series, which I’ve heard are actually worse.
80. I love snow.
81. But I can’t ski.
82. I love the beach.
83. But I can’t swim.
84. Also, I burn very easily. 15 minutes on the sand and I’m coming home looking like a lobster.
85. I am of the firm belief that if you make a late night trip to the Omelet Shoppe, Waffle House, or some other all-night eatery, and walk away without an epic story to tell, you wasted a trip.
86. I’ve tried learning to play the guitar, but I’m not very good at it.
87. Sometimes I look at people in relationships and think that’s something I’d like to have. Other times, I look at those same people and think, no, I’m doing all right on my own.
88. I hate when people don’t use a turn signal. Biggest pet peeve.
89. Of all the different types of cookies in the world, Snickerdoodles are, by far, the greatest.
90. I have some really weird, vivid dreams sometimes.
91. I don’t date very often. In fact, my last real date was nearly three years ago. And that was two years after the one before that.
92. When I was a kid, I bowled on a Saturday morning league team. I was pretty good for a 10-year-old.
93. I haven’t owned a watch in many years. I pretty much just use my cell phone to tell the time. Or, on a clear day, look for the position of the sun.
94. When I was a drive-thru bank teller, I used to love it when people would drive up and forget to roll down their windows. When people would hit their hand against the glass, you couldn’t have paid me to stop laughing.
95. I am a child of divorce. And other than the whole cynical attitude toward the existence of true love thing, I think I turned out just fine.
96. Despite my cynicism, I would like to know what it’s like to fall in love and have that love returned. I hear it’s nice.
97. I love key lime pie. But I hate that it’s got the reputation of only being a summer dessert. Just because it’s served cold. What’s that all about?
98. Laundry is my least favorite chore. If I ever get married I hope my wife is open to a deal wherein I do the dishes and deal with any garbage issues as long as she does the clothes. I’ll even throw in cooking and vacuuming to sweeten the deal.
99. I don’t think I can have a real conversation without slipping in a movie line at some point.
100. Maintaining this blog is probably the only really consistent thing I’ve done for any significant period of time.

There you have it, planet earth. 100 random facts about me. If there’s anything else you want to know about me, just wait around. I’m kind of an open book when it comes to blogging. If I haven’t revealed it yet, I’m sure I will eventually.

Feature Photo by Mona Eendra on Unsplash