Welcome to:
A NO-QUESTION PERSONAL SURVEY OF ME BY ME
(check out the parade of snapshots at end of survey)
Preferred Science Fiction: Aldous Huxley, Chrome Yellow
Poet that had the greatest impact on me: Lawrence Ferlinghetti, A Coney Island of the Mind
Favorite artist of all times: Maxfield Parrish, a fellow Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts alumnus
Great polo players:
Cecil Smith
Ray Harrington
the Barry Brothers (my family had one of Ray's old horses, Racer)
Tommy Hitchcock (died testing a fighter plane)
Artist that had the most profound effect on me: Giotto
The group most interesting to me at the moment: The leaders of the New World Order (Governance Group wherever they are; whoever they are)
Former situation: clawing out of the upper middle class
The world group under morphing: The middle class of America
Thought of the moment: Those with "golden umbrellas" should fall to earth under the weight of millions (how dare they)
The future of America: in the hands of the people where it belongs (we must elect representatives who remember who we are)
Current situation: mired in the lower middle class; clawing my way to the bottom (a line used by my friend Richard Raezer of Raezer's Edge speakers for guitarists )...... (www.raezers-edge.com) “RIP Richard”
Future situation: basking in the upper class of the lower class (any higher would be undignified; who am I kidding?)
Polo player who taught me the most: Riggs Jones
Where I played polo: Forney Field in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
My family polo place: Brandywine Polo Club in Toughkennamon, Pennsylvania
Biggest insult to corporate employees: Jeans on Friday (what are we children? Yes.) What’s next….. Skirts on Tuesday?
Most enigmatic dichotomy: ghost writing for the living
My school: Pennsylvania State University (1962 - 1964; 1970 - 1971)
My other school: The Pennsylvania Academy of (the) Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1965 - 1966)
Most compelling annoyance: the falling short of fellow man
Best jam: drums in the family room with my son-in-law Mike
Best jelly: ?
Best friend in any life: my wife, Elizabeth
Favorite pastime: Sailing a broad reach between 4:30 and 6:00 pm on a Summer evening with friends and family
Most dramatic illustrator: N.C. Wyeth
Most-noted artist friends:
Howard Boyle, illustrator supreme, particularly of military systems; Boeing Helicopters in the 1970s
Albert Hampson, painter of Mayor Tate's portrait displayed in Philadelphia City Hall; Saturday Evening Post artist 1930s
Freedom is defined as selling everything and touring America
One of my most miserable periods: living in the Junior School at Admiral Farragut Academy in the 1950s... thanks Mr. Farnlof
Great fun place in his area: Radisson Hotel complex featuring Lily Langtree theater in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
Most recent social downer: The Radisson closed Lily Langtree on April 30, 2006
Best feeling in life: Security; then one can do anything
Worst feeling in life: Fear; then one can do nothing
Number One piece of art in the world: The Pieta
Most enchanting association: face-to-face sex
Favorite well-known song in the world: Sailing by Christopher Cross (my daughter's choice for father dance at her wedding)
Number 1 oldie song: Come Softly to Me by the Fleetwoods
Favorite rock groups:
Led Zeppelin
Toto
Aerosmith
Fleetwood Mac
Gorillaz
The Beatles
The Rolling Stones
Pink Floyd
Santana
White Stripes
The Kinks
Favorite short film: Crazy Frog (Ding Ding) by Kaktus Film
Second Favorite short film: Scrat (and his nut)
Favorite ventriloquist: Jeff Dunham (Peanut)
Favorite animated character: Sid from Ice Age
Favorite techno/rock song of all times; Dare by the Gorillaz
Friends in music: Caryn Lin, Ray Beran, Dave Shockley, Terry McGrath and the Greystone Ramblers
Most interesting couple in history: Captain Bligh and Fletcher Christian
Funniest shows ever on TV:
The Carol Burnett Show with Harvey Korman, Tim Conway and Vicki Lawrence
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-in
Taxi
Married with Children
Soap
Whose Line is it Anyway?
Favorite dance steps:
The Pony
The Bristol Stomp
Movies I wish I had today:
Disney's Living Desert
Disney's The Sea Around Us
Disney's Water Birds
Tight Little Island (1949 whiskey fun)
The Golden Age of Comedy (featuring Ben Turpin, Keystone Cops, Laurel and Hardy, et al)
Funniest skit ever: On Dean Martin's Goldigger Show; Marty Feldman as resident fat man at fat farm
Funniest movie scenes ever:
White Chicks (Wayan Brothers), the bathroom scene
Down Periscope when Buckman farts
The Imposters when the sheik dances with Tucci and Platt
Blazing Saddles, the campfire scene
Not now, Kato!" from Pink Panthers
Laurel and Hardy as sailors driving a car in The Golden Age of Comedy
The mission briefing with the girl in the short dress in Catch 22
Nathan Lane as the mother in Birdcage during the dinner scene
The fart scene in Robots with Robin Williams
Favorite classical music piece: Ravel's Bolero'; best version: orchestra conducted by Andre Rieu
Greatest accomplishment so far: My daughters
Greatest disappointment so far: Still no peace in the world, only patches in which to pretend peace exists
Greatest fear to date: the medical profession has sold out to the pharmaceutical industry
Most diabolic twist in advertising: advertising prescription medicines to those watching TV and expecting them to contact their doctors about them. Have you listened to the side effects? No.... not just the medicine; the side effects from the ads themselves.
Most interesting man in history: Imhotep (not the character played in the Mummy, the real man)
Most interesting woman in history: Mary Magdalene
Favorite philosopher: Me
Favorite methodologist: William James
Greatest distinction: making distinctions
Original Greggie: Have you heard about the masochistic schizophrenic who took both the high road and the low road and beat himself there?
Most capturing image: a beautiful, naked 21-year old female from any culture in the world
Most uncapturing image: a beautiful, naked 21-year old female from any culture in the world with no body hair
Highest rank achieved in USAF: Buck Sergeant (E4)
Number of times passed over for promotion in the USAF: twice
Number of times I should have been promoted instead of being passed over: twice
First love: Patricia Stone
Greatest moments in my brief military career (1966 - 1969)
being with the Germans in their own country, Eddie, Jürgen, Klaus and others
serving with Sergeant George Slater
personally taking 7101st MATRON Bench Stock at Wiesbaden Air Base from once-per-month inventory and delivery to once-per-day inventory and delivery
having friends like Irv Drachen from the Confederacy, Keith Michael from Erie, Craig Tober who went back to college, Rosy-Cheeks Brown and his guitar, Chuck who went to Libya (we quite smoking at the same time....."how about a mutchie?"); the marvelous family from the Henniger Quik in Wiesbaden who invited my friends and me for Christmas Eve, knowing we were far from family and home
conversing with and understanding the former Nazi soldiers who remained working at the Air Base after the War
giving kids Kennedy half dollars on the Rhine River Cruise to Koblenz
drinking wine in Rüdesheim (I worked the town into my novel, 22Tango)
enjoying Rosa Montag in Meinz
getting a Dear John letter from Sara Greer (I think she married a sailor, oh well)
thinking about marrying Champ (Joyce Nulton)
not marrying anyone until years after (Elizabeth); 1976
skiing in Fieberbrunn Austria two years in a row .... Hi, Momma Bear: Hi, Major Fuller and Family
having a friend like Herr Kehl (I gave my new 10-speed Raleigh racer to him when I rotated out of Germany)
being written up for moustache violations at his last IG inspection at Wiesbaden Air Base
not reporting to the Commander, Lt. Colonel, Sylvester Blakely (who I saw and talked to by phone later in Syracuse, New York)
surviving a head-on collision in a traffic circle in an Austin Healey 3000 with two other guys, Marlin Neighbor and Norb Heverly (RIP)
drinking beer in the Stag Bar of the Nimbus Club after work
working Night Expedite and driving the flight line on cold winter nights
working with Sergeant Alton Kaiser of Inkster, Michigan (enjoy that Thousand Pipers scotch, Sarge)
playing cards at Jeff Hilligoss's apartment (and losing)
playing cards at Marlin Neighbor's apartment (and losing)
playing cards at Jim Yates' apartment (and losing)
splitting a gut when Stroob blew his gum into his birthday cake while blowing out the candles
splitting my bathing suit in Darmstadt at the pool while performing a gluteus maximus plunge
watching Floyd Guffy read a book
lending Joe English $300 to cut a Dylan demo record; he paid it back too (sent him my copy; never got it back)
getting General Preston's plane flying again by providing a shower nozzle from Civil Engineering
dating Gita Turk from Denmark (who stopped me from climbing up the side of the building to talk to her when she decided I was a nut and didn't want to see me any more)
dating Corinne Lavesque (who dumped me when I didn't write her while on leave to the states)
participating in the Wiesbaden American Ski Club (WASKI) and privileged to know and work with Major Don Fuller's family (we did the magazine together); I still have the cover to the 68/69 yearbook in a frame on my wall
having Clarence Jackson as a friend, who invited me over to his house for Thanksgiving, and who knew that, "the bratwurst grease got to me." and a recipe he left for me: "ham hocks, playground rocks, moose poot and buttered duck butt."
having fun in Basic Training at Lackland AFB in May of 1966 (I really did have fun)... thanks for the fairness, Sergeant Gorten
short-sheeting the big guy from Baltimore who slept over top of me
making friends with a guy who slit another guy's throat at a base bar over race differences (and getting away with it)
getting out of the service 3 months early and avoiding the threats of Vietnam - compliments of President Nixon
wearing a toilet paper tie so I wouldn't be thrown out of the Nimbus Club for dress-code violations
having my first Jack and Ginger
trading Sergeant Randy Cates paint for C-rations to take to Nürbergring to the Grand Touring races
driving Joe Macaluso's VW around (the one that Gary Trostle sold to Mac, nicely modified)
going to Frankfurt with American girls and partying at Storyville
Worst moment in military career: getting a call from my mother telling me that our family boxer, Fergie, had passed away
The most memorable moments in time:
telling a roomful of people in Sparks Building at Penn State that President Kennedy had died (I went to the funeral with Clare Weitzel shortly thereafter)
watching the Towers fall
seeing the destruction in Oklahoma City
sharing the moment with the unnamed soldier who danced and sang on the hood of a Hummer and gave out candy to the Iraqi children during the Iraq War
beating the stigma of diabetes in 139 days
The one thing that can bring peace to the world: Celestial music spread across the canvas of time. That's it.
Best song I cry to every time: Trace Adkin's Arlington
Favorite country star: Trace Adkins
Movie that held my attention the most: Alien (the first one)
Best year of my life: The one I am in
A depth charge: a small can of prune juice first thing in the morning
An A-bomb: two cans of prune juice (or more) first thing in the morning
Greatest loss in my life so far: Loss of my mother, Clementine, on September 22, 2004
Next greatest loss in life so far: Loss of thousands of words in our working American vocabulary since the 1960s
Worst four movies ever made - in my opinion (worst to least worst):
Anchor Man
Cabin Boy
Master of Disguise
Bottle Rockets
Next to the worst four movies ever made: Clash of the Titans
A major creative concern: the continuing decay in quality porn movies (no viable plots to enjoy)
Worst ending for a movie: The old lady throwing the necklace into the ocean in "Titanic." (egads......)
Favorite composer: Ferde Grofé
Favorite country songs:
Get Into Reggae Cowboy (Bellamy Brothers)
Texas Girls (Hank Williams, Jr.)
Dixie on my Mind (Hank Williams, Jr.)
Cotton-Eye Joe (The Rednex); I play mean spoons to this Bluegrass classic
Arlington (Trace Adkins) Spillman/Turnbull
Favorite light opera: The Pirates of Penzance
Favorites of the light opera: Gilbert and Sullivan
Greatest fear: Fear itself
Person who says the most by saying the least: Silent Bob (could ruin a great thing by coming out and talking)
Most enduring quality of man: Survivability
Biggest drop in quality: the current stereotype for young American men and women (doesn't anyone have any pride anymore?)
Favorite concert: The Grand Canyon Suite by Ferde Grofé
The stupidest stride in the world: models on the catwalk (major strike against real women)
Current disappointment in industry: the decline in the shapes and images of Victoria Secret models - skinny is not good
Top movies of all times (number one is number one on my list; others are randomly listed)
No. 1: The Imposters (Stanley Tucci, Oliver Platt, Lillie Taylor, Campbell Scott)
No. 2: A League of Their Own
No. 3: The Pirates of Penzance (Kevin Kline, Linda Ronstadt version)
No. 4: Soldier in the Rain (Steve McQueen and Jackie Gleason)
No. 5: Men in Black 1
No. 6: Independence Day
No. 7: Love, Valor, Compassion
No. 8: Down Periscope
No. 9: Trip to Bountiful
No. 10: Gigot starring Jackie Gleason
No. 11: Das Boot, Jurgen Proknow
No. 12: Snow White from Disney
No. 13: White Chicks from the Wayan Brothers
No. 14: King Arthur
No. 15: The Birdcage (Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman and Robin Williams)
No. 16: Young Frankenstein (Gene Wilder and Marty Feldman; Peter Boyle and the incomparable Madeleine Kahn)
No. 17: Ice Age I and II and III
No. 18: I, Robot
No. 19: Robots
No. 20: Shrek
No. 21: Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang
No. 22: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Zero Mostel)
No. 23: Cars
No. 24: Stranger Than Fiction (Will Farrell)
Top actor of all times: Charles Laughton
One of the finest performances ever; Heath Ledger as the Joker in Batman
Top candidate for replacing top actor of all times: Stanley Tucci
The actor who should have been asked to be the Inspector in Pink Panther: Stanley Tucci (even though I liked Steve Martin)
Most enjoyed role of all times: Nathan Lane as the mother in The Birdcage
Top actress of all times: Angela Landsbury
Book that shook me up the most: Treblinka
The only movies I ever turned off before they were over:
Natural Born Killers (bad role models)
Bad Lieutenant (unnecessary depravity)
The most troubling scene ever in a movie: White Squall when the idiot captain watches his wife sink out of sight
Interesting family facts (my father's side):
grandmother and friends used to play with the Czar's children in Russia
grandfather used to play guitar with Andres Segovia
we are Cossacks from Irkutsk, Siberia (perhaps Kuban)
famous actress and writer of The Wolf Man, Maria Ouspenskya, taught my father how to play chess
Hollywood's biggest bloopering: lost hubcaps in car chases (I don't believe driver stops in mid-chase to put one back on for next scene)
Interesting family facts (my mother's side):
related to Jonathan Swift
had a bishop who condemned Mary Queen of Scots
have a castle in Ireland (two walls still standing)
related to General O'Meara buried in Christ's Church in Philadelphia
descended from the Druidry through the Cullinan family (O'Cullinaine)
inherited a bit of fey
Favorite contemporary classical guitarist: Christopher Parkening
Favorite concert on Blue Ray: Bruce Springsteen and the Sessions Band in Dublin
Next favorite concert on Blue Ray: Toto in concert in Holland
Next favorite concert on Blue Ray: The Last Waltz, the last concert of The Band
Biggest concern: Would time stop if the ball falling in Times Square on New Years got stuck halfway down?
Finest violinists:
Itzak Perelman
Isaac Stern
Jack Benny
Sam Bardfeld of the Sessions Band
Most memorable philosophical statement: (paraphrasing George Burns on turning 100) The first step to becoming 100 is becoming 99.
Best ice dancers ever: Torvill and Dean (Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean)
Best on-stage piano player in my opinion: Charles Giordano of the Sessions Band
Favorite drummers:
Joe Morello (Dave Brubeck Quartet)
Gene Krupa (Benny Goodman Orchestra and his own later)
John Bonham of Led Zeppelin
Me
Favorite albums of all times (not in order of preference):
Raggea album by Herbie Mann
Graceland by Paul Simon
Tubthumper by Chumbawamba (I would make a Broadway Musical out of this if I had the money)
The Lords of Metal by O.M.S.F. (local group in Philadelphia and New York in 1990s; disbanded some years after - friends of mine)
Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens
Memory Years by Ray Beran (friend of mine)
The Dance, Fleetwood Mac
The Call, Caryn Lin (friend of mine)
The Greystone Ramblers (friend of mine): Terry McGrath
Person in this day and age I would like to sit down and talk with right now: President George W. Bush
Best blue-eyed soul singers:
George Michael
Van Morrison
Retire? Never
Sports: Competitive swimmer in high school (asked to go to '64 Olympics as breaststroker....didn't accept; kept stroking breasts informally as a side interest); mediocre polo player; good sailor; poor track and field (discus)
Least favorite social happenings: A woman whining, a guest complaining, drunken behavior, no dancing, asking questions without giving a poop what the answer is....
Favorite American cars: 57 Chevrolet convertible (turquoise and white) with a Continental kit, lake pipes and skirts; 59 Oldmobile 98 convertible and four-door sedan (square back window); 61 Oldsmobile Starfire convertible
Favorite International car: 55 Mercedes Benz 300SL convertible
Favorite yacht: a fully found John Trumpy
Most interesting current yacht: Etap's 1100, an unsinkable cruiser (from Belgium)
Most enchanting place to be: On the fantail of a turn-of-the-century Geary yacht at anchor in a beautiful harbor
Favorite clear drink: double shot of Jack Daniel's (black label) in Seagram's ginger ale (with four cubes of ice) in a large glass
Favorite "hang out" Duffers on 352 in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. Hi, Mike
Favorite exotic drinks:
Pink Squirrel or Grasshopper in larger-than-normal glasses (over too quickly otherwise)
anisette, straight up; ice on the side (watching it fog as the ice is added)
Most wonderful black female voices in song:
Kathleen Battle
Aretha Franklin
Roberta Flack
Most wonderful white female voices in song:
Anne Murray
Celine Dion
Joan Baez
Dolly Parton
Sara Brightman
Most wonderful black male voices in song:
Lou Rawls
Johnny Mathis
Paul Robeson
Al Hibbler
Favorite singer of all times: Sara Brightman
Best Tour Band ever put together: The Seeger Sessions Band (in Dublin)
Bruce Springsteen - lead vocals, acoustic guitar, occasional harmonica
Marc "Chocolate Genius" Thompson - acoustic guitar, background vocals, some featured lead vocals
Patti Scialfa - acoustic guitar, background vocals, some featured duet vocals (Bruce's wife)
Frank Bruno - acoustic guitar, some background vocals, occasional drums and washboard
Soozie Tyrell - violin, background vocals
Sam Bardfeld - violin (wow - what entertainment and talent)
Greg Liszt - banjo
Marty Rifkin - pedal steel guitar
Charles Giordano - accordion, piano, organ
Jeremy Chatzky - upright bass, occasional electric bass
Larry Eagle - drums (love the washboard vest)
Lisa Lowell - background vocals
Curtis King - background vocals
Cindy Mizelle - background vocals
Art Baron - tuba, occasional trombone
Eddie Manion - saxophones
Mark Pender and/or Curt Ramm - trumpet
Richie "La Bamba" Rosenberg and/or Clark Gayton - trombone
Most capturing song writer combo of all times: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice
Most enchanting song ever sung: Unchained Melody by Al Hibbler
Most amusing word in the English language: Fart
Most meaningful word in the English language: Friend
The most enchanting and capturing sound in the world: The belly laugh of a one-year-old child
The most beautiful face in the world: A woman's after a satisfying sexual interlude
Happiest moments: The one just before and the one after
Best line in an advertisement: "I don't throw a party; I cast one." (Orson Welles in wine ad)
Most entertaining musician: Victor Borge on the piano
The perfect face: Alistair Sims in A Christmas Carol
Most capturing and inspiring spoon players on You Tube: The Amazing Scotty Brothers
Favorite Dancer: Michael Flatly in Riverdance
Favorite Musics:
Dixieland Jazz
Bluegrass
Techno
Best jazz piece ever done: Desmond's Take 5, Dave Brubeck Quartet
Favorite Tap Dancers:
The Nicholas Brothers
Gregory Hines
Michael Flatly
Most wonderful white male voices in song:
Michael Crawford
Luciano Pavarotti
Frank Sinatra
Michael Ball
Trace Adkins
Will Smith
Most underrated movie: The Professional, Leon & Mathilda; Jean Reno and Natalie Portman (among other greats); fascinating relationship under the most unusual circumstances; quite surreal
Favorite Broadway Musical score: Big River (Roger Miller)
Hardest things to get: Friends and Money
Easiest things to get: Air and Water (not necessarily clean)
Reason for women: Filling one half of the guest list
Reason for men: Filling the other half of the guest list
Best version of "The Saints Go Marching In" The Bruce Springsteen Sessions Band version in Dublin
Most inviting dinner: Lobster tails with butter after a shrimp cocktail, chilled white zinfandel and an anisette a bit later
Favorite bar and restaurant: Casey's Grill and Seafood in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania; Hi, Peter
Favorite diner: West Chester Diner, Route 3, West Chester, Pennsylvania; Hi Alex; Hi Steve
Most moving songs:
Memories (Betty Buckley)
Our Love Will Go On (Celine Dion)
I'll Catch a Yesterday (Ray Beran)
Requiem (Sara Brightman)
Arlington (Trace Adkins)
Person I would like to know: Benjamin Franklin (I read his autobiography)
My fraternity: Kappa Sigma (Alpha Delta, Penn State); I remember them; they do not remember me
Favorite site for books: www.classicaldoorway.com
My online clipart name: Deedles
My hero? The Druid who decided to invent a world for the oncoming Celts instead of dying at their hands. Long live Brigitte and oak.
Best people show: Inside the Actors Studio hosted by the incomparable James Lipton
Best people show 2: Ellen Degeneres Show
Best hope for America (at the present time)... you (are you up to the task?)
Most interesting personal observation (from 1970): "I am destined to become what I have always been."
My DNA identity: Riplikin the Druid
A delightful and amusing musical piece: The Bricklayer's Song by Pat Cooksie presented by the Corries.
Presidents:
President who would make the best next-door neighbor: Jimmy Carter
President who would make the worst next-door neighbor: Teddy Roosevelt
President who would be the most interesting to talk to: Richard Nixon
President who would be the best party pal: Bill Clinton
President who would be most likely to lend me money: Thomas Jefferson
President most likely to tell me the truth about things: Harry Truman
President most likely to nominate me for President: none
President most likely to understand the world we live in: Dick Cheney
President most likely to be President now: Barack Obama
President most likely to do something about the world we live in: none
Some interesting people I would like to have drop by the house as friends to have a drink or two by the pool just because I would like to be in their company, no reason other than some interesting chit chat and relaxation:
Stanley Tucci
Oliver Platt
Ellen DeGeneres
James Lipton (of Actor's Studio)
Will Smith
The entire cast of The Imposters (this is the only cast where I have liked everyone)
Any 10 Playboy bunnies under 25 (who am I kidding?)
Mike Meyers
Sean Connery
Bill Clinton
Margaret Thatcher
Bill Cosby
Barbara Bush
Celine Dion
James Earl Jones
John Madden
The Wayan Brothers
Nathan Lane
Kevin Kline
Kevin Klash (Elmo)
Steve Martin
Mary Carillo
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Trace Adkins
Glenn Beck
Kappa
Sigma
AEKDB
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