The most recent craze on Facebook is the note titled “25 Random Things About Me.” As someone who already writes about himself on a semi-regular basis, I obliged and recently posted my own note of 25 random things. For those of you who read the blog but don’t have Facebook, here’s what I wrote:
1. My writing has had a presence on the Web since 2004. Currently, I sporadically operate two blogs. One is about sports (
MattHubert.com) and the other is about my life since moving into an apartment (
aptwriting.blogspot.com). I also continue to pay the hosting for my old site (
HalfCourtHero.com). I guess I’m just nostalgic that way.
2. The fact that the sports blog is the one with my name in the URL should tell you a lot about me. If you get me going about the Lakers, Raiders or Wolverines, I can go on for days.
3. I didn’t start drinking until I was 22. I still don’t drink beer because I just don’t like the taste. And I’ve already heard every comment you’re about to make about me drinking girly drinks, so don’t even bother. If you do, it seriously won’t bother me.
4. I spent three years in high school running a fantasy wrestling league online called the Chat Room Wrestling League (CRWL). Yes, this probably influenced #3 and also strongly contributed to the fact that I didn’t have a girlfriend (or really care that girls existed) until I was 18.
5. I don’t regret #4, even if it meant I missed out on many typical high school experiences. The CRWL was a lot of fun for me, and I’m even Facebook friends with some of the old members. It was also one of the first outlets for my creative writing. To this day, the longest thing I ever wrote was a 16,800-word interview with my wrestler, “3-D” Devious Devon Dawson. It holds up surprisingly well for something I wrote when I was 15.
6. The scariest nightmare I ever had featured a crazed Captain Kangaroo who had locked me in my bedroom, which was doubly scary because neither of the doors in my room had locks on them.
7. Following in my dad’s footsteps, I have a massive music collection. To this day, I still prefer to buy CDs over mp3s. There’s something about having that physical copy. My first music purchase? A cassette tape of Ace of Base’s “The Sign.”
8. I wish I had more musical ability and truly admire those who do. I own an electric and acoustic guitar that have both been gathering dust for years. I took six months of lessons way back in eighth grade, but playing never came easy for me, frustration kicked in, and I just ran out of patience.
9. One of my goals in life is to dunk a basketball. I write that in present tense, but sadly this goal will almost certainly never be accomplished. I was oh-so-close in high school but never quite able to throw one down.
10. My mom always tells me I should write a book. She’s right, I should. And hopefully someday I will.
11. I’ve eaten Town House crackers for lunch/snack (or both) almost every day since first grade. That’s a slight exaggeration but not much of one. I’ve probably eaten 1,000 boxes in my lifetime. You might say I have OCD tendencies, but I don’t think routine and order are bad in principle.
12. There are exceptions, but in general I’d take the romantic comedy over the action movie. Of course, my all-time favorite movie is a documentary (Hoop Dreams).
13. I cannot snap my fingers, curl my tongue or whistle.
14. When I was in grade school, I had this thing called a Herbst appliance put in my mouth in an attempt to fix my overbite. Look it up. Anyway, it was a nuisance and I played with it constantly with my tongue to the point that I got the bars stuck during a school Mass. I had to leave church in a panic unable to close my mouth, my jaw stuck open thanks to this unsightly orthodontic device.
15. During my freshman year at Prep, the school was gathered in the cathedral for confession. As I was waiting patiently in line, I started to feel ill, and before I could make a move to spare myself the shame, it hit me. I threw up in the pew and was immediately the focus of everyone’s attention. A substitute teacher helped me make the lonely, embarrassing walk through the cathedral into the school building, but not before some upperclassmen managed to comment, “Wow, you must have had some really bad sins, man!”
16. Despite 14 & 15, I still make it a point to get to church every week. Several experiences in my life bring me back when my faith wavers, particularly two very meaningful mission trips to Appalachian Kentucky.
17. I’ve never been sledding or skiing. I hibernate in the winter and spend 3-5 months every year questioning why I still live in Erie. (Answer: I love my family…plus the other 7-9 months of non-snow-and-ice-dominated weather are wonderful here.)
18. I’ve been tagged by at least three people and have read more than a dozen of these “25 random things about me” notes in addition to the ones I was tagged in. Personally, I find them fascinating. I hope you find mine at least moderately entertaining and enjoyable to read.
19. Listening to Counting Crows’ epic 15-minute performance of “Round Here” from October 31, 1999, is like an out-of-body experience for me. I can’t help but get all philosophical when listening to it.
20. I’m almost 25, but as recently as last year I was presumed to be as young as 17. I suppose my choice to start each day with a bowl of Reese’s Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Frosted Cheerios or Lucky Charms isn’t helping my case. But I’m pretty OK with the idea of never fully crossing over into the adult world.
21. My dad is a ceramic artist. True story: before I was born, my dad wanted to name me Clayton Arthur. That’s right, Clay Art Hubert. Thankfully Mom won that battle.
22. I once played video games sitting in the same position for so long that I was unable to walk. I don’t know if it was psychosomatic or if I really managed to become temporary paralyzed from the waist down, but my dad literally carried me in and out of the doctor’s office. It’s one of the strangest memories I have, and I don’t remember exactly how/when I walked again, but I’m pretty sure it only lasted a few hours. It was hard to explain then and even harder to comprehend now.
23. I’ve never been good at asking questions. A number of factors contribute and compound this problem. First of all, I’m shy by nature. Secondly, I don’t like to offend, upset or make others feel uncomfortable. Thirdly, I often have a false sense of surety that I can find out what I want to know or someone will tell me without asking.
24. I’m always curious to know what other people think of me. I wonder things like, on an average day, how many people have a thought about me cross their mind? Because of 23, I’m usually left wondering.
25. I’m terrible at keeping in touch with people, but great at Facebook stalking. It’s like the 21st-century, hi-tech version of people watching, and I probably enjoy it a bit too much. I’m sure it would be fun to actually hang out with many of you, but I guess this is the next best thing.
